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Title: System and method for generating current by selective minority species heating

Abstract

A system for the generation of toroidal current in a plasma which is prepared in a toroidal magnetic field. The system utilizes the injection of low-frequency waves into the plasma by means of phased antenna arrays or phased waveguide arrays. The plasma is prepared with a minority ion species of different charge state and different gyrofrequency from the majority ion species. The wave frequency and wave phasing are chosen such that the wave energy is absorbed preferentially by minority species ions traveling in one toroidal direction. The absorption of energy in this manner produces a toroidal electric current even when the injected waves themselves do not have substantial toroidal momentum. This current can be continuously maintained at modest cost in power and may be used to confine the plasma. The system can operate efficiently on fusion grade tokamak plasmas.

Inventors:
 [1]
  1. Princeton, NJ
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
864819
Patent Number(s):
4423001
Assignee:
United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
H - ELECTRICITY H05 - ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR H05H - PLASMA TECHNIQUE
Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
DOE Contract Number:  
AC02-76CH03073
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
method; generating; current; selective; minority; species; heating; generation; toroidal; plasma; prepared; magnetic; field; utilizes; injection; low-frequency; waves; means; phased; antenna; arrays; waveguide; charge; gyrofrequency; majority; wave; frequency; phasing; chosen; energy; absorbed; preferentially; traveling; direction; absorption; manner; produces; electric; injected; substantial; momentum; continuously; maintained; modest; cost; power; confine; operate; efficiently; fusion; grade; tokamak; plasmas; operate efficiently; toroidal direction; toroidal magnet; toroidal current; toroidal magnetic; electric current; magnetic field; wave energy; tokamak plasma; toroidal electric; phased waveguide; modest cost; frequency wave; continuously maintained; wave frequency; waveguide array; guide array; generating current; /376/

Citation Formats

Fisch, Nathaniel J. System and method for generating current by selective minority species heating. United States: N. p., 1983. Web.
Fisch, Nathaniel J. System and method for generating current by selective minority species heating. United States.
Fisch, Nathaniel J. Sat . "System and method for generating current by selective minority species heating". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/864819.
@article{osti_864819,
title = {System and method for generating current by selective minority species heating},
author = {Fisch, Nathaniel J},
abstractNote = {A system for the generation of toroidal current in a plasma which is prepared in a toroidal magnetic field. The system utilizes the injection of low-frequency waves into the plasma by means of phased antenna arrays or phased waveguide arrays. The plasma is prepared with a minority ion species of different charge state and different gyrofrequency from the majority ion species. The wave frequency and wave phasing are chosen such that the wave energy is absorbed preferentially by minority species ions traveling in one toroidal direction. The absorption of energy in this manner produces a toroidal electric current even when the injected waves themselves do not have substantial toroidal momentum. This current can be continuously maintained at modest cost in power and may be used to confine the plasma. The system can operate efficiently on fusion grade tokamak plasmas.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1983},
month = {Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1983}
}