Spheromak reactor with poloidal flux-amplifying transformer

Patent · Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:866447

Furth, Harold P ^[1]; Janos, Alan C ^[2]; Uyama, Tadao ^[3]; Yamada, Masaaki ^[4]

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1. Princeton, NJ
2. East Windsor, NJ
3. Osaka, JP
4. Lawrenceville, NJ

An inductive transformer in the form of a solenoidal coils aligned along the major axis of a flux core induces poloidal flux along the flux core's axis. The current in the solenoidal coil is then reversed resulting in a poloidal flux swing and the conversion of a portion of the poloidal flux to a toroidal flux in generating a spheromak plasma wherein equilibrium approaches a force-free, minimum Taylor state during plasma formation, independent of the initial conditions or details of the formation. The spheromak plasma is sustained with the Taylor state maintained by oscillating the currents in the poloidal and toroidal field coils within the plasma-forming flux core. The poloidal flux transformer may be used either as an amplifier stage in a moving plasma reactor scenario for initial production of a spheromak plasma or as a method for sustaining a stationary plasma and further heating it. The solenoidal coil embodiment of the poloidal flux transformer can alternately be used in combination with a center conductive cylinder aligned along the length and outside of the solenoidal coil. This poloidal flux-amplifying inductive transformer approach allows for a relaxation of demanding current carrying requirements on the spheromak reactor's flux core, reduces plasma contamination arising from high voltage electrode discharge, and improves the efficiency of poloidal flux injection.

• Research Organization: Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-76CH03073
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4713208
• OSTI ID: 866447
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

spheromak
reactor
poloidal
flux-amplifying
transformer
inductive
form
solenoidal
coils
aligned
major
axis
flux
core
induces
current
coil
reversed
resulting
swing
conversion
portion
toroidal
generating
plasma
equilibrium
approaches
force-free
minimum
taylor
formation
independent
initial
conditions
details
sustained
maintained
oscillating
currents
field
plasma-forming
amplifier
stage
moving
scenario
production
method
sustaining
stationary
heating
embodiment
alternately
combination
center
conductive
cylinder
length
outside
approach
allows
relaxation
demanding
carrying
requirements
reduces
contamination
arising
voltage
electrode
discharge
improves
efficiency
injection
poloidal flux
major axis
field coils
current carrying
toroidal field
field coil
plasma reactor
voltage electrode
spheromak plasma
solenoidal coil
conductive cylinder
flux core
approach allows
plasma formation
moving plasma
flux swing
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