Plasma generation system, and nuclear fusion reaction system and method

Abstract

A plasma generation system (10), and a nuclear fusion reaction system and method. The plasma generation system (10) comprises: a plasma generation assembly (101) and a motion assembly (102) connected to the plasma generation assembly (101), wherein the motion assembly (102) is configured to drive the plasma generation assembly (101) to move in a target direction; and the plasma generation assembly (101) is configured to emit plasma once same moves to a target position. The plasma generation system (10) can be used in a nuclear fusion reaction chamber (20) to generate a plasma ring therein, thereby reducing the difficulty in generating a plasma ring in the nuclear fusion reaction chamber (20), and thus improving the effect of a nuclear fusion reaction.

Description

Plasma generation system, nuclear fusion reaction system and method

[0001] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of China on January 23, 2024, with application number "202410097267.0" and invention name "Plasma Generation System, Nuclear Fusion Reaction System and Method", the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

[0002] The present application relates to the field of nuclear fusion technology, and in particular to a plasma generation system, a nuclear fusion reaction system and a method. Background Art

[0003] Currently, nuclear fusion technology is being widely studied due to its advantage of being able to produce large amounts of clean energy using low-cost materials.

[0004] A nuclear fusion reactor, such as a tokamak, uses a central solenoid to generate a varying magnetic field, which in turn induces a toroidal electric field in the reaction chamber. This toroidal electric field ionizes the gas to produce plasma. This plasma is then heated to fusion temperature, whereupon a fusion reaction occurs, releasing energy.

[0005] In this method, since the resistance of the gas is greater than the resistance of the reaction chamber wall, a lot of energy will be absorbed by the reaction chamber wall during the electromagnetic induction process, resulting in low energy utilization during the plasma excitation process and high difficulty in generating plasma, which in turn affects the effect of the nuclear fusion reaction.

[0006] Summary of the Invention

[0007] In view of this, the present application provides a plasma generation system, a nuclear fusion reaction system and a method, which can be applied to a nuclear fusion reaction chamber to generate a plasma ring therein, thereby reducing the difficulty of generating plasma in the nuclear fusion reaction chamber and thereby improving the nuclear fusion reaction effect.

[0008] In one aspect, the present application provides a plasma generating system, comprising: a plasma generating assembly and a motion assembly connected thereto;

[0009] The motion component is configured to drive the plasma generating component to move in a target direction;

[0010] The plasma generating assembly is configured to emit plasma when moved to a target location.

[0011] On the other hand, the present application provides a nuclear fusion reaction system, comprising: a reaction chamber and the above-mentioned plasma generation system;

[0012] The motion component in the plasma generating system is configured to drive the plasma generating component to move in a target direction;

[0013] The plasma generating assembly is configured to inject plasma into the reaction chamber when moved to a target position in the reaction chamber, so as to form a plasma ring in the reaction chamber to perform a fusion reaction.

[0014] In another aspect, the present application provides a nuclear fusion reaction method, which is applied to the above-mentioned nuclear fusion reaction system, wherein the nuclear fusion reaction system further includes a central solenoid and a poloidal magnetic field coil, and the method includes:

[0015] The plasma generating assembly is driven by the motion assembly to move along the target direction to the target position in the reaction chamber;

[0016] Injecting plasma into the reaction chamber through the plasma generating assembly to generate an initial plasma current loop in the reaction chamber;

[0017] energizing the central solenoid to generate a main plasma current loop based on the initial plasma current loop;

[0018] The poloidal magnetic field coil is energized to move and compress the main plasma current loop until fusion conditions are reached to generate a fusion reaction.

[0019] In the plasma generation system provided herein, a motion component can drive the plasma generation component to move in a target direction, and the plasma generation component emits plasma when it moves to the target position. This plasma generation system can be applied to a nuclear fusion system, so that when the plasma generation component moves to the target position in the reaction chamber, plasma is injected into the reaction chamber to generate a plasma ring in the reaction chamber. This eliminates the need to consume additional energy to ionize gas in the nuclear fusion reaction chamber to generate plasma, thereby reducing the difficulty of generating plasma in the nuclear fusion reaction chamber and improving the nuclear fusion reaction effect. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] FIG1 is a schematic structural diagram of a plasma generating system provided in one embodiment of the present application;

[0021] FIG2 is a schematic structural diagram of a nuclear fusion reaction system provided in one embodiment of the present application;

[0022] FIG3 is a schematic structural diagram of another nuclear fusion reaction system provided in one embodiment of the present application;

[0023] FIG4 is a schematic structural diagram of another nuclear fusion reaction system provided in one embodiment of the present application;

[0024] FIG5 is a schematic structural diagram of another nuclear fusion reaction system provided in one embodiment of the present application;

[0025] FIG6 is a schematic structural diagram of a nuclear fusion reaction system provided in another embodiment of the present application;

[0026] FIG7 is a flow chart of a nuclear fusion reaction method provided in one embodiment of the present application;

[0027] FIG8 is a flow chart of another nuclear fusion reaction method provided in one embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] The following description sets forth many specific details to facilitate a thorough understanding of the present application. However, the present application can be implemented in many other ways than those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar generalizations without violating the scope of the present application. Therefore, the present application is not limited to the specific implementations disclosed below.

[0029] The terms used in one or more embodiments of the present application are for the purpose of describing specific embodiments only and are not intended to limit one or more embodiments of the present application. The singular forms of "a", "said" and "the" used in one or more embodiments of the present application and the appended claims are also intended to include plural forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should also be understood that the term "and / or" used in one or more embodiments of the present application refers to and includes any or all possible combinations of one or more associated listed items. The term "at least one" in one or more embodiments of the present application refers to "one or more" and "a plurality" refers to "two or more". The term "including" is an open description and should be understood as "including but not limited to", and may include other content on the basis of the content already described.

[0030] It should be understood that although the terms "first", "second", etc. may be used to describe various information in one or more embodiments of the present application, such information should not be limited to these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish information of the same type from each other. For example, without departing from the scope of one or more embodiments of the present application, "first" may also be referred to as "second", and similarly, "second" may also be referred to as "first". Depending on the context, the word "if" as used herein may be interpreted as "at the time of" or "when" or "in response to determining".

[0031] Currently, nuclear fusion is considered an ideal solution to humanity's energy needs. It can provide a large amount of clean energy, and the fuel required for fusion reactions is widely available and relatively low-cost. Consequently, nuclear fusion reactors are being widely researched, with the tokamak being a particularly popular option.

[0032] A tokamak uses a central solenoid to generate a varying magnetic field, inducing a toroidal electric field in the reaction chamber. This toroidal electric field ionizes the gas in the reaction chamber, generating plasma. The tokamak also uses other magnets to generate magnetic fields to confine the plasma and control its movement, heating it to the fusion temperature to initiate nuclear fusion reactions. In this method, because the electrical resistance of the gas in the reaction chamber is greater than that of the reaction chamber walls, much of the energy during electromagnetic induction is absorbed by the reaction chamber walls, resulting in low energy utilization during plasma excitation.

[0033] In related technologies, a filament can be used to generate seed electrons, which collide with gas-phase molecules to generate plasma, but this method is suitable for production in a relatively low-temperature environment. However, the temperature required in the reaction chamber of a nuclear fusion reaction scenario is relatively high, and the filament cannot be set inside the reaction chamber. The plasma generated by this method is difficult to meet the needs of nuclear fusion reactions. In another way, microwave pre-ionization gas can also be used to generate plasma, but microwave systems are often large in size and complex in structure, and the energy utilization efficiency is still low.

[0034] The present invention provides a plasma generation system that can be used to pre-ionize plasma in nuclear fusion reaction scenarios, thereby reducing the difficulty of plasma generation in nuclear fusion reaction scenarios and generating plasma with high energy utilization efficiency, thereby ensuring a good nuclear fusion reaction effect. The present invention also provides a nuclear fusion reaction system and a nuclear fusion reaction method.

[0035] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a plasma generating system according to one embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 1 , the plasma generating system 10 includes a plasma generating assembly 101 and a connected motion assembly 102. Motion assembly 102 can move plasma generating assembly 101 in a target direction. Plasma generating assembly 101 can generate plasma upon reaching a target position.

[0036] The plasma generating assembly 101 can be connected to the first end of the motion assembly 102, and the second end of the motion assembly 102 can be fixed at a certain position. The target direction is the arrangement direction of the plasma generating assembly 101 and the motion assembly 102, such as the y-direction in Figure 1. The movement of the plasma generating assembly 101 in the target direction can also be referred to as the extension and retraction of the plasma generating assembly 101. During this movement, the plasma generating assembly 101 can have an extended state and a retracted state. The states can be determined based on the relative positions of the plasma generating assembly 101 and the second end of the motion assembly 102. For example, the retracted state of the plasma generating assembly 101 can be close to the second end, while the extended state of the plasma generating assembly 101 can be away from the second end.

[0037] The plasma generating assembly 101 generates plasma when it moves to the target position and stops generating plasma when it moves away from the target position (eg, in a retracted state). In some embodiments, the plasma generating assembly 101 can also generate plasma at other positions besides the target position.

[0038] The plasma generation system 10 can be applied to nuclear fusion reaction scenarios. For example, the motion component 102 can drive the plasma generation component 101 to move to the target position in the nuclear fusion reaction chamber and output plasma into the nuclear fusion reaction chamber, thereby forming a plasma ring in the nuclear fusion reaction chamber, which facilitates the subsequent confinement and control of the plasma by the magnets in the nuclear fusion reaction device to achieve a nuclear fusion reaction. Through this plasma generation system, plasma can be generated in the nuclear fusion reaction chamber in a relatively simple and efficient manner, and thus, there is no need to consume additional energy to ionize gas in the nuclear fusion reaction chamber to generate plasma, which can reduce the difficulty of plasma generation in the nuclear fusion reaction scenario and improve the nuclear fusion reaction effect.

[0039] In some embodiments, after a plasma ring is formed in the nuclear fusion reaction chamber, the motion component 102 can drive the plasma generating component 101 to leave the nuclear fusion reaction chamber. This can prevent the plasma generating component 101 from affecting the subsequent plasma control process, and can also prevent the heat generated during the plasma control process from damaging the plasma generating component 101.

[0040] In the embodiment of the present application, the plasma generating system 10 can also be used to generate plasma in other scenarios besides nuclear fusion reactions, which is not limited here.

[0041] Continuing with FIG1 , the plasma generating assembly 101 may include a plasma chamber 1011. The plasma chamber 1011 is a hollow structure in which the plasma generating assembly 101 may generate plasma. The plasma chamber 1011 may have openings at opposite ends (e.g., K1 and K2 in FIG1 ). The plasma generated in the plasma chamber 1011 may be output from the openings at both ends, thereby forming a plasma ring.

[0042] The plasma chamber 1011 in the plasma generating assembly 101 can be a tubular structure. As shown in FIG1 , the plasma chamber 1011 can be a straight tubular structure; alternatively, the plasma chamber can be a curved tubular structure. In some embodiments, the plasma chamber 1011 can be a circular tube, a square tube, or other tubular structures.

[0043] The material of the plasma chamber 1011 can be an insulating material, such as quartz or glass. The volume of the plasma chamber 1011 is relatively small. The diameter of the plasma chamber 1011 can range from 3 cm to 5 cm, and the length can range from 6 cm to 9 cm. For example, the diameter of the plasma chamber 1011 is 4 cm and the length is 8 cm. The diameter and length of the plasma chamber 1011 can be positively correlated with the volume of the target device requiring plasma (such as the reaction chamber of a nuclear fusion reactor). For different target devices, the diameter and length of the plasma chamber 1011 can be adjusted accordingly.

[0044] Continuing with FIG1 , the plasma generating system 10 may further include a gas injection assembly 104. The gas injection assembly 104 is connected to the plasma chamber 1011 and is configured to inject a working gas into the plasma chamber 1011. When the working gas is subjected to energy breakdown, it can generate plasma in the plasma chamber 1011. For example, the working gas may include hydrogen or deuterium.

[0045] In some embodiments, in addition to the aforementioned opposite ends K1 and K2 having openings, the plasma chamber 1011 may further have a third end protruding between the opposite ends. The third end also has an opening, which can be used to inject the working gas required to generate the plasma. For example, the third end is connected to the gas injection assembly 104. In some embodiments, the plasma chamber 1011 may only have a gas injection port between the opposite ends without having a protruding structure.

[0046] The gas injection assembly 104 may include an injection pipe 1041 and a gas containment component 1042. The injection pipe 1041 is connected to the plasma chamber 1011 and the gas containment component 1042 at both ends, respectively. The injection pipe 1041 may communicate with the interior of the plasma chamber 1011. The gas containment component 1042 is used to contain a working gas, which is injected into the plasma chamber 1011 through the injection pipe 1041. The gas containment component 1042 may be a gas cylinder.

[0047] The gas injection assembly 104 may further include a valve (not shown). The valve is located between the plasma chamber 1011 and the gas containment component 1042, such as on the injection pipe 1041 or at the connection between the injection pipe 1041 and the gas containment component 1042. When the valve 1041 is open, the working gas in the gas containment component 1042 is injected into the plasma chamber 1011 through the injection pipe 1041.

[0048] The density of the plasma excited in the plasma chamber 1011 may be positively correlated with the gas pressure in the plasma chamber 1011. In the embodiment of the present application, the amount and rate of gas injected into the plasma chamber 1011 by the gas injection assembly 104 may be determined based on the desired plasma density.

[0049] In the embodiment of the present application, after the working gas is injected into the plasma chamber 1011, the gas pressure in the plasma chamber 1011 reaches, for example, 1 to 10 Pa (Pa), which is sufficient to generate the required plasma. When a nuclear fusion reaction occurs in the nuclear fusion reaction chamber, a vacuum state must be maintained, and the gas pressure therein is maintained at approximately 1E-5 Pa. The volume of the plasma chamber 1011 is relatively small, and the gas contained therein is also relatively small. Even if the working gas in the plasma chamber 1011 is completely diffused into the nuclear fusion reaction chamber, the overall gas pressure in the nuclear fusion reaction chamber will only reach 1E-3 Pa, which is still within the working gas pressure range in which the nuclear fusion reaction can be normally achieved. Therefore, the influence of the working gas on the state of the nuclear fusion reaction chamber can be avoided, and the normal progress of the nuclear fusion reaction can be ensured.

[0050] The plasma generating assembly 101 in the embodiments of the present application can be a structure prepared based on any method for generating plasma. Accordingly, there are multiple ways to generate plasma in the plasma chamber 1011. In one method, a voltage can be applied between a cathode plate and an anode plate to generate plasma in the plasma chamber 1011. In another method, the plasma generating assembly 101 can be a helicon plasma source, which can generate helicon plasma in the plasma chamber 1011. The plasma generating assembly 101 and other components of the plasma generating system 10 will be described in detail below with reference to FIG. 1 for this method.

[0051] Continuing with reference to FIG1 , the plasma generating assembly 101 may further include a helical wave antenna 1012. The helical wave antenna 1012 surrounds the interior space of the plasma chamber 1011. The helical wave antenna 1012 can generate a helical wave in the plasma chamber 1011 to inject energy into the plasma chamber 1011 based on the helical wave. This energy can ionize the gas in the plasma chamber 1011 (such as the working gas injected by the breakdown gas injection assembly 104), thereby generating plasma in the plasma chamber 1011 (this plasma can be referred to as helical wave plasma). The generation density and efficiency of the helical wave plasma can be high, and the plasma energy can be controlled by controlling the helical wave antenna. Therefore, by using the plasma generating assembly 101, a higher quality plasma can be obtained, thereby improving the nuclear fusion reaction effect.

[0052] Continuing with reference to FIG1 , the plasma generating system 10 may further include an energy source, to which a spiral wave antenna 1012 is connected, which transmits energy (e.g., a current under certain conditions) to the spiral wave antenna 1012. The spiral wave antenna 1012 couples the received energy and feeds it into the interior of the plasma chamber 1011. The density of the plasma excited in the plasma chamber 1011 may be positively correlated with the power of the energy source. In the embodiments of the present application, the power of the energy source may be determined based on the desired plasma density.

[0053] For example, referring again to FIG. 1 , the energy source in plasma generating system 10 can be a radio frequency wave source 103 for emitting radio frequency waves. Radio frequency wave source 103 transmits radio frequency wave energy to helical wave antenna 1012. Helical wave antenna 1012 couples the received radio frequency wave energy to the helical waves it emits, causing the helical waves to ionize the gas within plasma chamber 1011, generating plasma. In some embodiments, the energy source can also be a microwave source, or other energy source capable of exciting the helical wave antenna to generate helical waves.

[0054] In the embodiment of the present application, the energy of the excited plasma can be controlled by adjusting the parameters of the RF wave source 103 to control the energy transmitted by the RF wave source 103 to the helical wave antenna. The parameter modulation range of the RF wave source 103 can be relatively wide, thereby achieving more comprehensive control over the plasma.

[0055] In the embodiment of the present application, it is sufficient to ensure that the helical wave antenna 1012 surrounds the interior space of the plasma chamber 1011, thereby enabling energy injection into the interior space. In one embodiment, the helical wave antenna 1012 can be placed outside the plasma chamber 1011, surrounding the entire plasma chamber 1011. In another embodiment, the helical wave antenna 1012 can also be embedded in the wall of the plasma chamber 1011.

[0056] As shown in FIG1 , helical wave antenna 1012 is uniformly wound helically around plasma chamber 1011. The portion of helical wave antenna 1012 indicated by dashed lines in FIG1 is the portion obscured by plasma chamber 1011 from the perspective of FIG1 . The winding method of helical wave antenna 1012 may differ from that shown in FIG1 , as long as it ensures that helical wave antenna 1012 can emit a helical wave that meets the requirements. For example, the winding of helical wave antenna 1012 around plasma chamber 1011 may be uneven, or the number of turns around plasma chamber 1011 may be greater or less than that shown in FIG1 .

[0057] In the embodiment of the present application, the plasma generating assembly 101, the RF wave source 103, and the gas injection assembly 104 can collectively constitute a plasma generator, which can also independently generate plasma. In some embodiments, the plasma generating system 10 may also not include the RF wave source 103 and / or the gas injection assembly 104.

[0058] Regarding the plasma generating assembly 101, the motion assembly 102 can be connected to the plasma chamber 1011. Continuing with FIG1 , the motion assembly 102 can drive the plasma chamber 1011 to move in a target direction. This target direction (e.g., the y-direction in FIG1 ) can intersect with the arrangement direction of the opposite ends of the plasma chamber 1011 (e.g., the x-direction in FIG1 ). The arrangement direction of the opposite ends of the plasma chamber 1011 can be the longitudinal direction of the plasma chamber 1011. For example, the target direction is perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the opposite ends.

[0059] The motion component 102 can be connected to the portion between the opposite ends of the plasma chamber 1011. If the motion component is connected to the middle area of ​​the plasma chamber 1011, the plasma generating system 10 can be a T-shaped structure. The positions at which the injection pipe 1041 in the gas injection component 104 and the motion component 102 are connected in the plasma chamber 1011 can be staggered with each other. The motion component 102 and the plasma chamber 1011 can be an integral structure, or they can be snap-fitted or threadedly connected to the plasma chamber 1011. In Figure 1, the motion component 102 is in the shape of a long strip as an example. The cross-section of the motion component 102 can be circular, square or any other shape, which is not limited here. The motion component 102 can also be in the shape of a plate or other shapes.

[0060] In one embodiment, the motion assembly 102 is a retractable structure. For example, the motion assembly 102 may include multiple hinged motion sections, each of which can be rotated to fold and unfold to adjust the overall length of the motion assembly 102 in the target direction. For another example, the motion assembly 102 may include multiple motion sections of different diameters connected in sequence, each of which can be retracted in the target direction to adjust the overall length of the motion assembly 102 in the target direction. Of two adjacent motion sections with different diameters, the larger diameter motion section may be hollow, and the smaller diameter motion section can be retracted within the larger diameter motion section.

[0061] In another embodiment, the motion assembly 102 can be a fixed-shape structure, and the motion assembly 102 can move as a whole in a target direction to drive the plasma chamber 1011 to move accordingly in the target direction. For example, the motion assembly 102 includes a connected base and a motion portion, the base is fixed in position, and one end of the motion portion is connected to the plasma generating assembly 101. The motion portion can move relative to the base in the target direction to drive the plasma generating assembly 101 to move in the target direction. For another example, the motion assembly 102 includes a connecting rod and a slot, a portion of the connecting rod is located in the slot, and the connecting rod can move in the slot, and one end of the connecting rod is connected to the plasma generating assembly 101. The connecting rod can be moved relative to the slot in the target direction to drive the plasma generating assembly 101 to move in the target direction.

[0062] In the embodiment of the present application, the maximum telescopic distance of the motion component 102 in the target direction can reach 10 cm. This maximum telescopic distance can be adjusted according to actual needs, such as the maximum telescopic distance can also reach 20 cm or even greater, which is not limited here. The motion speed of the motion component 102 can reach 20 meters per second (m / s), which can ensure that the plasma chamber 1011 achieves a displacement of 10 cm within 5 milliseconds, facilitating rapid control of the plasma generating component 101. The motion speed of the motion component 102 can also be 15 m / s, 30 m / s, or other speeds, which are not limited here.

[0063] In the embodiment of the present application, the connecting wire between the helical wave antenna 1012 and the RF wave source 103 can be flexible, and the injection pipe 1041 in the gas injection assembly 104 can also be flexible. This prevents the connecting wire and the injection pipe 1041 from restricting the movement of the plasma chamber 1011 when the plasma chamber 1011 moves, thereby ensuring the operational reliability of the plasma generating system 10.

[0064] Continuing with FIG1 , the plasma generating system 10 may further include a control unit 105. The control unit 105 may be connected to the RF source 103, the gas injection assembly 104, and the motion assembly 102. This connection may be a communication connection or a direct connection via wires. FIG1 only illustrates the connection between the control unit 105 and the motion assembly 102; the connection between the control unit 105 and the RF source 103 and the gas injection assembly 104 is not illustrated.

[0065] The control unit 105 can control the RF wave source 103 to transmit RF wave energy to the helical wave antenna 1012, causing the helical wave antenna 1012 to inject energy into the plasma chamber 1011, thereby controlling the plasma generating assembly 101 to emit plasma. The control unit 105 can be connected to a valve in the gas injection assembly 104 to control the opening and closing of the valve, thereby controlling the injection of working gas into the plasma chamber 1011.

[0066] For other forms of plasma generating components 101 , the control unit 105 may also be directly connected to the plasma generating component 101 to directly control the plasma generating component 101 to emit plasma.

[0067] In summary, in the plasma generation system provided in the embodiments of the present application, the motion component can drive the plasma generation component to move in a target direction, and the plasma generation component emits plasma when it moves to the target position. This plasma generation system can be applied to a nuclear fusion system, so that when the plasma generation component moves to the target position in the reaction chamber, plasma is injected into the reaction chamber to generate a plasma ring in the reaction chamber. This eliminates the need to consume additional energy to ionize gas in the nuclear fusion reaction chamber to generate plasma, thereby reducing the difficulty of generating plasma in the nuclear fusion reaction chamber and improving the nuclear fusion reaction effect.

[0068] FIG2 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a nuclear fusion reaction system provided in one embodiment of the present application, and FIG3 is a schematic diagram of the structure of another nuclear fusion reaction system provided in one embodiment of the present application. FIG2 may be a schematic diagram of a cross section of the nuclear fusion reaction system, and FIG3 may be a schematic diagram of a longitudinal section of the nuclear fusion reaction system. As shown in FIG2 and FIG3 , the nuclear fusion reaction system may include a reaction chamber 20 and the above-mentioned plasma generating system 10, and the reaction chamber 20 is annular. FIG2 and FIG3 only illustrate a portion of the reaction chamber 20. Since it is usually necessary to put the reaction chamber 20 in a vacuum state when conducting a nuclear fusion reaction, the reaction chamber 20 may also be called a vacuum chamber.

[0069] The motion assembly 102 in the plasma generating system 10 can drive the plasma generating assembly 101 to move in a target direction, such as moving the plasma generating assembly 101 to a target position in the reaction chamber 20. In this case, the plasma generating assembly 101 can generate plasma, which can enter the reaction chamber 20 and form a plasma ring in the reaction chamber 20, and then a fusion reaction can be subsequently achieved based on the plasma ring. For example, the plasma generating assembly 101 includes a plasma chamber 1011 and a helicon wave antenna 1012. The plasma generating assembly 101 can be moved into the reaction chamber 20, allowing the plasma generated in the plasma chamber 1011 to enter the reaction chamber 20.

[0070] In one embodiment, the plasma generating assembly 101 may be fixedly disposed in the reaction chamber 20. In another embodiment, the plasma generating assembly 101 may be moved into the reaction chamber 20 only at certain times. For example, after forming an initial plasma current loop, the plasma generating assembly 101 may be moved outside the reaction chamber 20 to prevent the plasma generating assembly 101 from affecting the subsequent plasma control process and to prevent damage to the plasma generating assembly 101 from heat generated during the plasma control process.

[0071] The nuclear fusion reaction system may include a plurality of toroidal magnetic field coils longitudinally surrounding the reaction chamber 20, and the toroidal magnetic field coils may generate a toroidal magnetic field in the reaction chamber 20. Direction b in FIG. 2 represents the direction of the toroidal magnetic field. Under the action of the toroidal magnetic field, the plasma entering the reaction chamber 20 from the plasma chamber 1011 may form an initial plasma current loop. The arc indicated by the dotted line in FIG. 2 represents the initial plasma current loop. The initial plasma current loop may reduce the resistance of the gas in the reaction chamber 20, so that the gas in the reaction chamber 20 is more easily broken down.

[0072] The nuclear fusion reaction system may further include a central solenoid and a poloidal magnetic field coil. The reaction chamber 20 surrounds the central solenoid, and the central solenoid may be arranged along the central axis of the reaction chamber 20. The poloidal magnetic field coil may be located at the periphery of the reaction chamber 20, laterally surrounding the reaction chamber 20. The central solenoid and the poloidal magnetic field coil may respectively generate corresponding magnetic fields. The magnetic field generated by the central solenoid may induce an electric field in the annular direction of the reaction chamber 20, and the electric field further ionizes the gas with reduced resistance in the reaction chamber 20 to form a main plasma current loop. The current value of the main plasma current loop may be higher than the current value of the initial plasma current loop. The magnetic field generated by the poloidal magnetic field coil may drive the main plasma current loop to move and compress until fusion conditions are reached (such as the plasma is heated to the fusion reaction temperature) to produce a fusion reaction.

[0073] As shown in FIG2 , when the plasma generating assembly 101 is moved into the reaction chamber 20 (e.g., to a target position in the reaction chamber 20), the arrangement direction (e.g., the x-direction in FIG2 ) of the opposite ends K1 and K2 of the opening in the plasma chamber 1011 intersects both the radial direction (e.g., the y-direction in FIG2 ) and the axial direction (e.g., the z-direction in FIG3 ) of the reaction chamber 20. For example, this arrangement direction can be perpendicular to the radial and axial directions of the reaction chamber 20. In this way, the plasma output from the opening of the plasma chamber 1011 can be directly distributed in the direction of the toroidal magnetic field, facilitating the more efficient formation of a plasma current loop that propagates along the toroidal magnetic field under the action of the toroidal magnetic field.

[0074] The plasma generating assembly 101 can be moved to a radially intermediate region within the reaction chamber 20, such as the target position located within this intermediate region. In the embodiments of the present application, this intermediate region may refer to the radial midpoint of the width of the reaction chamber 20. In this manner, the plasma output from the opening of the plasma chamber 1011 can be directly located within this intermediate region, eliminating the need for additional radial position adjustment of the plasma, thereby facilitating the formation of a plasma current loop that meets the requirements.

[0075] In an embodiment of the present application, plasma is generated in a nuclear fusion reaction system by a relatively small plasma chamber 1011. In one example, the plasma chamber 1011 is in the shape of a circular tube with a diameter of 4 cm and a length of 8 cm, and its volume is 32π cubic centimeters. The radius of the initial plasma current loop is 0.5 meters, the cross-sectional area is 4π square centimeters, and the volume is approximately 400π2 cubic centimeters. The volume ratio of the two is approximately 1 / 40, and the working pressure of the spiral wave plasma is approximately 1 Pa (Pa). Therefore, the pressure to which the plasma is subjected after entering the reaction chamber 20 is approximately 0.025 Pa, which meets the requirement for the breakdown gas to discharge in the fusion reaction system.

[0076] As shown in FIG3 , the nuclear fusion reaction system may include two plasma generating systems 10, which may be located at the top and bottom of a reaction chamber 20, respectively. The specific placement of the plasma generating systems 10 at the top and bottom of the reaction chamber 20 may be determined based on the desired location of the initial plasma current loop. For example, if the plasma generating system 10 is located at the top of the reaction chamber 20, it may be located at one-third of the height of the upper half of the reaction chamber 20, or may be located at one-half or one-quarter of the height, without limitation.

[0077] The two ion generating systems 10 can be aligned in the axial direction of the reaction chamber 20. As shown in FIG3 , the orthographic projections of the two ion generating systems 10 on a reference plane can overlap, and the reference plane can be a plane perpendicular to the z-axis. In some embodiments, the two ion generating systems 10 can also be staggered, such as being located on different sides of the reaction chamber 20.

[0078] The nuclear fusion reaction system can be used to perform multi-stroke fusion compression fusion. Under the action of the two plasma generating systems 10, two localized and complete initial plasma current loops can be formed at the top and bottom of the reaction chamber 20, respectively. Based on the initial plasma current loop, two main plasma current loops can be induced at the top and bottom of the reaction chamber 20. The poloidal magnetic field can push the two main plasma current loops to move toward the equatorial plane of the reaction chamber 20, so that the two main plasma current loops merge into one plasma current loop at the equatorial plane, and then further compress to reach fusion conditions, thereby generating a fusion reaction. This is a one-stroke fusion compression fusion, after which the current of each coil can be reduced to zero and the plasma will dissipate. This process can then be repeated to achieve multiple-stroke fusion compression fusion.

[0079] 3 takes the example that both the two ion generating systems 10 include corresponding control units 105. In some embodiments, the control units 105 in the two ion generating systems 10 may also be shared.

[0080] Continuing with Figures 2 and 3 , the sidewall of the reaction chamber 20 may be provided with a window C to facilitate entry of the plasma generating assembly 101 into the reaction chamber 20, driven by the motion assembly 102. At least a portion of the motion assembly 102 in the plasma generating system 10 may be located outside of window C (i.e., on a side of window C facing away from the interior of the reaction chamber 102), thereby driving the plasma generating assembly 101 in a target direction to switch between a first state and a second state. Window C is located in the target direction, and in the first state, the plasma generating assembly 101 is located outside of window C. In the second state, the plasma generating assembly 101 passes through window C to reach the target position in the reaction chamber 20.

[0081] Figure 2 shows the plasma generating assembly 101 in its second state, while Figure 3 shows the plasma generating assembly 101 in its first state. As shown in Figure 3 , in the first state, the plasma generating assembly 101 can be located at the edge of window C, substantially flush with the wall of the reaction chamber 20. In some embodiments, compared to the diagram in Figure 3 , in the first state, the plasma generating assembly 101 can be positioned closer to the outside of window C. The first state can be the initial state and normal state of the plasma generating assembly 101. When plasma output to the reaction chamber 20 is desired, the assembly switches to the second state, and then returns to the first state.

[0082] In some embodiments, the shape and size of the window C can be set based on the shape and size of the plasma generating assembly 101. For example, the shape of the window C can be rectangular, trapezoidal, or other shapes that allow the plasma generating assembly 101 to pass freely.

[0083] In some embodiments, a corresponding opening and closing sealing assembly may be provided at the edge of the window C. The sealing assembly may be closed to cover the window C when the plasma generating assembly 101 is in the first state, thereby further isolating the plasma generating assembly 101 from the interior space of the reaction chamber 20 and preventing damage to the plasma generating assembly 101 due to the nuclear fusion reaction.

[0084] In an embodiment of the present application, when preparing to supply power to the magnets in the nuclear fusion reaction system, the control unit 105 can control the movement of the motion assembly 102, driving the plasma generating assembly 101 to move through the window C into the reaction chamber 20, thereby changing the plasma generating assembly 101 from the first state to the second state. FIG4 is a schematic diagram of the structure of another nuclear fusion reaction system provided in an embodiment of the present application. The control unit 105 can control the movement of the motion assembly 102 to change the plasma generating assembly 101 from the state shown in FIG3 to the state shown in FIG4. The arrow in FIG4 indicates the direction of movement of the motion assembly 102.

[0085] Next, the plasma generating assembly 101 can be controlled to inject plasma into the reaction chamber 20. For example, the gas injection assembly 104 is controlled to inject working gas into the plasma chamber 1011, and the radio frequency wave source 103 is controlled to transmit radio frequency wave energy to the helical wave antenna 1012, so that the helical wave antenna 1012 feeds the radio frequency wave energy into the plasma chamber 1011 to ionize the working gas and generate helical wave plasma. The helical wave plasma is discharged from the openings at both ends of the plasma chamber 1011 to the reaction chamber 20, and forms a circular initial plasma current. Figure 5 is a structural schematic diagram of another nuclear fusion reaction system provided by an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 5, a circular initial plasma current can be formed at the plasma chamber 1011 in the reaction chamber 20, wherein the concentric circles indicated by dotted lines represent the initial plasma current.

[0086] FIG6 is a schematic structural diagram of a nuclear fusion reaction system provided by another embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG6 , after the initial plasma current is formed in the reaction chamber 20, the control unit 105 can then control the movement of the motion component 102 to drive the plasma generating component 101 to move through the window C to the outside of the reaction chamber 20, that is, the plasma generating component 101 changes from the second state back to the first state. After the initial plasma current is formed, the plasma generating component 101 can stop emitting plasma. For example, the control unit 105 can control the gas injection component 104 to stop injecting working gas into the plasma chamber 1011, and control the radio frequency wave source 103 to stop transmitting radio frequency wave energy to the spiral wave antenna 1012.

[0087] Afterwards, the initial plasma current can be controlled. For example, after the plasma generating assembly 101 leaves the target position, the initial plasma current can be controlled to reduce the risk of plasma diffusion and disappearance. Alternatively, the initial plasma current can be controlled after the plasma generating assembly 101 moves outside the reaction chamber 20. For details on controlling the initial plasma current, please refer to the above description of the central solenoid and poloidal magnetic field coil, which will not be repeated here.

[0088] In the nuclear fusion reaction system of the embodiment of the present application, helicon waves are used for pre-ionization of the plasma, which can efficiently obtain high-density plasma. The plasma can be independently controlled from the magnets in the nuclear fusion reaction system, and more extensive control can be performed on the plasma.

[0089] Since the operating voltage requirement of the spiral wave is relatively high, if the method of forming plasma by the spiral wave is directly applied to the nuclear fusion plasma system, a large spiral wave antenna will usually be installed in the reaction chamber. In this way, when the spiral wave breaks through the gas, the entire reaction chamber will be at a relatively high voltage, which will cause the discharge components in the nuclear fusion reaction system to be unable to discharge normally, and therefore it is incompatible with the discharge components in the nuclear fusion reaction system. In the embodiment of the present application, a plasma generating system is used to form a local high pressure in a smaller glass tube, and then use the spiral wave to break through the gas to generate plasma, so as to generate plasma in a large-volume reaction chamber. In this way, the entire reaction chamber can be prevented from operating in a high pressure, thereby avoiding the impact on the discharge components in the nuclear fusion reaction system.

[0090] If the helicon wave is directly transmitted into the reaction chamber, plasma will be generated in a larger space from top to bottom in the reaction chamber, making it difficult to generate a complete plasma current loop locally. The plasma generation system used in the embodiment of the present application includes a plasma chamber with open ends and an externally nested helicon wave antenna. In this way, the helicon wave plasma generated in the plasma chamber will quickly pass through the two ends into the reaction chamber, thereby forming a complete plasma current loop locally. This method is very suitable for use in a dual-ring fusion compression fusion reaction system to generate two localized and complete plasma current loops at the top and bottom of the reaction chamber.

[0091] If the plasma generating assembly is directly arranged inside the reaction chamber, then after high-temperature plasma is generated in the reaction chamber, the plasma generating assembly (such as the spiral wave antenna therein) will have an impact on the subsequent discharge process (such as causing plasma rupture), and the high-temperature plasma may also damage the spiral wave antenna. The plasma generating system used in the embodiment of the present application includes a retractable motion assembly, which can drive the plasma generating assembly into the reaction chamber before the discharge component starts to discharge, generate an initial plasma current loop, and then quickly leave the plasma area and wait until the next discharge to re-enter. The movement speed of the motion assembly is relatively fast, such as being able to complete a 10 cm reciprocating motion process within 5 milliseconds, which is much less than the discharge time of the discharge component in the nuclear fusion reaction system. Therefore, the impact on the discharge process is very small, and it can ensure that the impact on other working processes is avoided on the basis of efficient plasma generation. This method is very suitable for multi-stroke fusion reactors where plasma needs to be generated and disappeared periodically.

[0092] In summary, in the nuclear fusion reaction system provided in the embodiment of the present application, a plasma generating system is used to generate plasma, wherein the motion component drives the plasma generating component to move in the target direction, and the plasma generating component emits plasma when it moves to the target position in the reaction chamber. In this way, plasma can be injected into the reaction chamber to generate a plasma ring in the reaction chamber, and then the nuclear fusion reaction chamber does not need to consume additional energy to ionize the gas to generate plasma, which can reduce the difficulty of generating plasma in the nuclear fusion reaction chamber and thus improve the nuclear fusion reaction effect. Moreover, after the plasma ring is generated, the motion component can drive the plasma generating component to move out of the reaction chamber, which can avoid the influence of the plasma generating component on the nuclear fusion reaction process and avoid damage to the plasma generating component by the nuclear fusion reaction process.

[0093] The present application also provides a nuclear fusion reaction method in an embodiment. This method can be applied to any of the nuclear fusion reaction systems shown in Figures 2 to 6 , and can be executed by a control unit controlled by a worker. This nuclear fusion reaction method can be cross-referenced with the aforementioned working process of the plasma generation system and the process of performing a nuclear fusion reaction, and will not be further described below.

[0094] FIG7 is a flow chart of a nuclear fusion reaction method provided in one embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG7 , the method may include the following steps:

[0095] Step 702: The plasma generating assembly is driven by the motion assembly to move along the target direction to the target position in the reaction chamber.

[0096] The plasma generating assembly of the plasma generating system may remain in the reaction chamber, or the control unit in the nuclear fusion reaction system may control the plasma generating assembly of the plasma generating system to move from the state outside the reaction chamber to the reaction chamber, and in this case, step 702 is performed. For example, the control unit may be the control unit in the plasma generating system.

[0097] Step 704: Inject plasma into the reaction chamber through the plasma generating assembly to generate an initial plasma current loop in the reaction chamber.

[0098] The control unit can control the plasma generating assembly to generate plasma and inject the plasma into the reaction chamber, so as to generate an initial plasma current loop in the reaction chamber.

[0099] Step 706 : Power is supplied to the central solenoid to generate a main plasma current loop based on the initial plasma current loop.

[0100] The control unit can control the power module of the central solenoid to supply power to the central solenoid, so as to generate a corresponding magnetic field in the reaction chamber, and then generate a main plasma current loop based on the initial plasma current loop under the action of the magnetic field.

[0101] Step 708: Power is supplied to the poloidal magnetic field coil to move and compress the main plasma current loop until fusion conditions are met to generate a fusion reaction.

[0102] The control unit can control the power module of the poloidal magnetic field coil to supply power to the poloidal magnetic field coil, so as to generate a corresponding magnetic field in the reaction chamber, and then under the action of the magnetic field, the main plasma current ring is driven to move and compress until the fusion conditions are met to produce a fusion reaction.

[0103] FIG8 is a flow chart of another nuclear fusion reaction method provided by an embodiment of the present application. The plasma generating assembly included in the nuclear fusion reaction system to which the method is applied may be a helicon plasma generating source, and the nuclear fusion reaction system also includes a gas injection assembly. As shown in FIG8 , the method may include the following steps:

[0104] Step 802: The plasma generating assembly is driven by the motion assembly to move through the window provided on the side wall of the reaction chamber to a target position in the reaction chamber.

[0105] For example, step 802 may correspond to the state of the nuclear fusion reaction system shown in FIG. 4 .

[0106] Step 804: Inject working gas into the plasma chamber of the plasma generating assembly through the gas injection assembly.

[0107] Step 806: Inject energy into the plasma chamber through the helical wave antenna of the plasma generating assembly to generate plasma in the plasma chamber. The plasma enters the reaction chamber through the opening of the plasma chamber to generate an initial plasma current loop.

[0108] For example, step 806 may correspond to the state of the nuclear fusion reaction system shown in FIG. 5 .

[0109] Step 808: Use the motion component to move the plasma generating component out of the window.

[0110] For example, step 808 may correspond to the state of the nuclear fusion reaction system shown in FIG. 6 .

[0111] Step 810 : Power is supplied to the central solenoid to generate a main plasma current loop based on the initial plasma current loop.

[0112] Step 812: Power is supplied to the poloidal magnetic field coil to move and compress the main plasma current loop until fusion conditions are met to generate a fusion reaction.

[0113] It should be noted that the steps in Figure 8 are merely illustrative and do not necessarily require execution in the order shown, nor do they require the previous step to be completed before proceeding to the next step. Taking steps 808 and 810 as an example, as the motion assembly drives the plasma generating assembly out of the reaction chamber, the central solenoid can be energized as soon as the plasma generating assembly leaves the plasma region, i.e., as the plasma generating assembly completely leaves the reaction chamber. This ensures that the primary plasma current loop is generated as quickly as possible based on the initial plasma current loop, while also ensuring that energizing the central solenoid does not damage the plasma generating assembly.

[0114] In summary, in the nuclear fusion reaction method provided in the embodiment of the present application, a plasma generating system is used to generate plasma, wherein the motion component drives the plasma generating component to move in the target direction, and the plasma generating component emits plasma when it moves to the target position in the reaction chamber. In this way, plasma can be injected into the reaction chamber to generate a plasma ring in the reaction chamber, and then the nuclear fusion reaction chamber does not need to consume additional energy to ionize the gas to generate plasma, which can reduce the difficulty of generating plasma in the nuclear fusion reaction chamber and thus improve the nuclear fusion reaction effect. Moreover, after the plasma ring is generated, the motion component can drive the plasma generating component to move outside the window, which can avoid the influence of the plasma generating component on the nuclear fusion reaction process and avoid damage to the plasma generating component by the nuclear fusion reaction process.

[0115] The foregoing description describes specific embodiments of the present application. Other embodiments are within the scope of the appended claims. In some cases, the actions or steps recited in the claims can be performed in an order different from that described in the embodiments and still achieve the desired results. Furthermore, the processes depicted in the accompanying drawings do not necessarily require the specific order shown or the sequential order to achieve the desired results. In certain embodiments, multitasking and parallel processing are also possible or may be advantageous.

[0116] Those skilled in the art should also be aware that the embodiments described in the specification are all preferred embodiments, and the actions and modules involved are not necessarily required by this application. In the above embodiments, the description of each embodiment has its own emphasis. For parts not detailed in one embodiment, please refer to the relevant description of other embodiments.

[0117] The preferred embodiments disclosed above are intended only to help illustrate the present application. The optional embodiments do not exhaustively describe all details, nor do they limit the present application to the specific embodiments described. Obviously, many modifications and variations can be made based on the content of the present application. The present application selects and describes these embodiments in detail in order to better explain the principles and practical applications of the present application, thereby enabling those skilled in the art to better understand and utilize the present application.

Claims

1. A plasma generation system, comprising: Plasma generation component and its connected moving component; The moving component is configured to drive the plasma generation component to move in a target direction; The plasma generation component is configured to emit plasma when moving to a target position.

2. The plasma generation system according to claim 1, wherein, The plasma generation component includes: a plasma chamber, and the moving component is connected to the plasma chamber; The opposite ends of the plasma chamber have openings, plasma is generated in the plasma chamber, and the plasma is output from the openings.

3. The plasma generating system according to claim 2, wherein: The target direction intersects the arrangement direction of the opposite ends.

4. The plasma generation system according to claim 2, wherein, The plasma generation component further includes: a helical wave antenna; The helical wave antenna surrounds the inner space of the plasma chamber and is configured to inject energy into the plasma chamber to generate plasma in the plasma chamber.

5. The plasma generation system according to any one of claims 2 to 4 further includes: A gas injection component, connected to the plasma chamber and configured to inject a working gas into the plasma chamber; when the working gas is broken down by energy, plasma is generated in the plasma chamber.

6. The plasma generation system according to claim 4 further includes: A radio frequency wave source, connected to the helical wave antenna and configured to transmit radio frequency wave energy to the helical wave antenna; The helical wave antenna is configured to couple and inject the radio frequency wave energy into the plasma chamber.

7. The plasma generation system according to any one of claims 1 to 4 further includes: A control unit, configured to control the movement of the moving component along the target direction and control the plasma generation component to emit plasma.

8. A nuclear fusion reaction system, comprising: A reaction chamber and the plasma generation system according to any one of claims 1 to 7; The moving component in the plasma generation system is configured to drive the plasma generation component to move in a target direction; The plasma generation component is configured to inject plasma into the reaction chamber when moving to a target position in the reaction chamber, so as to form a plasma ring in the reaction chamber for a fusion reaction.

9. The nuclear fusion reaction system according to claim 8, wherein, A window is provided on the side wall of the reaction chamber; the moving component in the plasma generation system is configured to drive the plasma generation component to switch between a first state and a second state; The plasma generation component is located outside the window in the first state and moves through the window to the target position in the reaction chamber in the second state.

10. The nuclear fusion reaction system according to claim 8 or 9, wherein The plasma generation component includes: a plasma chamber, and the opposite ends of the plasma chamber have openings; The reaction chamber is annular, and when the plasma chamber moves to the target position in the reaction chamber, the arrangement direction of the opposite ends intersects both the radial direction and the axial direction of the reaction chamber.

11. The nuclear fusion reaction system according to claim 8 or 9, wherein: The reaction chamber is annular, and the target position is located in the middle region in the radial direction of the reaction chamber; And / or, the nuclear fusion reaction system includes two plasma generation systems, and the two plasma generation systems are respectively located at the top and bottom of the reaction chamber.

12. A nuclear fusion reaction method, applied to the nuclear fusion reaction system according to any one of claims 8 to 11, the nuclear fusion reaction system further comprising a central solenoid and a poloidal magnetic field coil, the method comprising: Driving a plasma generating assembly to move along a target direction to a target position in a reaction chamber by a motion assembly; Injecting plasma into the reaction chamber through the plasma generating assembly to generate an initial plasma current loop in the reaction chamber; Applying an electric current to the central solenoid to generate a main plasma current loop based on the initial plasma current loop; Applying an electric current to the poloidal magnetic field coil to move and compress the main plasma current loop until a fusion condition is reached to generate a fusion reaction.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein, A window is provided on a side wall of the reaction chamber in the nuclear fusion reaction system, and driving the plasma generating assembly to move along a target direction to a target position in the reaction chamber by the motion assembly includes: Driving the plasma generating assembly to move through the window to a target position in the reaction chamber by the motion assembly; After generating the initial plasma current loop in the reaction chamber, the method further comprises: Driving the plasma generating assembly to move outside the window by the motion assembly.

14. The method according to claim 12 or 13, wherein: The plasma generating assembly includes a plasma chamber and a helical wave antenna, and the nuclear fusion reaction system further includes a gas injection assembly; injecting plasma into the reaction chamber through the plasma generating assembly includes: Injecting a working gas into the plasma chamber through the gas injection assembly; Injecting energy into the plasma chamber through the helical wave antenna to generate plasma in the plasma chamber, and the plasma enters the reaction chamber through an opening of the plasma chamber.

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