Inertial nuclear fusion fuel pellet, inertial nuclear fusion method, inertial nuclear fusion burner, and inertial nuclear fusion system

Abstract

A spherical body 10 has magnesium as a principal component and the outer surface thereof is coated with a magnesium oxide coating film. An inertial nuclear fusion fuel 11 includes a combination of deuterium water and tritiated water, only deuterium water, a combination of light hydrogen water and boron, or a mixture thereof, and is filled in a fuel hole provided in advance in the vicinity of the center of the spherical body. In addition, as a result of an inertial nuclear fusion fuel pellet 1 according to the present invention being charged into carbon dioxide at a high temperature equal to or higher than a predetermined combustion temperature at which the magnesium and carbon dioxide are combusted, the spherical body is expanded, the magnesium oxide coating film is broken, the magnesium of the spherical body reacts with the carbon dioxide, shock wave heating is performed, and the nuclear fusion reaction of the inertial nuclear fusion fuel occurs.

Description

Inertial fusion fuel pellets, inertial fusion method, inertial fusion burner, and inertial fusion system

[0001] The present invention relates to fuel pellets for inertial fusion, to an inertial fusion method, to an inertial fusion burner, and to an inertial fusion system.

[0002] In recent years, technologies related to nuclear fusion have been developed. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2019-124578 (Patent Document 1) discloses a nuclear fusion fuel pellet formed of a fuel core and an outer layer. Here, the fuel core includes a fuel containing a substance with an atomic number of 3 to 8 or / and a compound of a substance with an atomic number of 3 to 8, and a reaction aid containing a metal oxide. The outer layer is formed around the fuel core and includes deuterium or / and a compound of deuterium and oxygen. The metal oxide included in the reaction aid is calcium oxide or / and magnesium oxide. This allows the reaction to continue, enabling more energy to be obtained with a smaller laser output, improving energy efficiency.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2022-017306 (Patent Document 2) discloses a system for controlled nuclear fusion reactions of materials. The system includes a housing, an inner housing, a first material, a second material, an ionizer, a rotation induction assembly, and a rotation chamber. The first housing has an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface defining a cavity. The inner housing is disposed within the cavity and has an inner surface, the inner surface defining the rotation cavity. The first material forms a weakly ionized plasma disposed within the rotation cavity, and the second material is associated with the rotation cavity. The ionizer is operably associated with the first material to generate plasma by ionizing components of the first material, and the rotation induction assembly is operably associated with the ionizer, the first housing, and the rotation chamber to rotate the plasma at high speed in the rotation chamber. The rotation chamber provides a nuclear fusion reaction between the first material and the second material during high-speed rotation of the plasma. This makes it possible to carry out nuclear fusion reactions by utilizing the high-speed rotation of matter, and to create a state in which the energy and matter produced by these reactions can be utilized.

[0004] Furthermore, JP 2023-521715 A (Patent Document 3) discloses a nuclear energy conversion method for converting nuclear energy by nuclear fusing deuterium or tritium nuclei. This nuclear energy conversion method includes an initial step of providing a first hydrogen atom, which in turn includes a first deuterium or tritium nucleus and a first electron, and a second hydrogen atom, which in turn includes a second deuterium or tritium nucleus and a second electron. The nuclear energy conversion method further includes the following steps: First, the first nucleus and the second nucleus are coupled at a distance of up to 7 Å, and then the resulting total magnetic field (B) is arranged to align the first spin of the first nucleus with the second spin of the second nucleus. Then, a first magnetic field is applied so that the spin axes of the first and second spins are antiparallel, pointing toward or away from each other, and so that the first and second spins are projected onto a common line between the first and second nuclei, where the common line is parallel or antiparallel to the total magnetic field (B). Next, a first hydrogen atom is ionized, or the electron trajectory of the first electron is modified, so that the spatial distribution of the first electrons is such that the probability that the first electron will be present in the region between the first and second nuclei along the common line is smaller than in the case of a spherically symmetric spatial distribution. Finally, a second hydrogen atom is ionized, or the electron trajectory of the second electron is modified, so that the spatial distribution of the second electrons is such that the probability that the second electron will be present in the region between the first and second nuclei along the common line is smaller than in the case of a spherically symmetric spatial distribution. Here, the steps above can be performed in any order, but can be performed so that the first and second atomic nuclei are provided at once and simultaneously in a spin-oriented and ionized or electron-orbit-corrected state at a distance, thereby enabling nuclear fusion at low temperatures.

[0005] Furthermore, Non-Patent Document 1 (H. Abu-Shawareb et al., "Achievement of Target Gain Greater Than Unity in an Inertial Fusion Implosion," Physical Review Letters: Vol. 132, No. 6 (2024) 065102) discloses that a target gain of 1.5 times was achieved through indirect-drive fusion implosion at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) using laser fusion. Laser fusion refers to the process of irradiating fusion fuel with powerful laser light to initiate a fusion reaction and extract energy. Non-Patent Document 1 reports that the number of shock wave heating events was four. This demonstrates that laboratory fusion based on fundamental physics principles is possible.

[0006] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2019-124578 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2022-017306 Special Publication No. 2023-521715

[0007] H. Abu-Shawareb et al, “Achievement of Target Gain Greater Than Unity in an Inertial Fusion Implosion”, Physical Review Letters : Vol. 132, No. 6 (2024) 065102

[0008] Currently, research and development is being conducted on two types of nuclear fusion: tokamak fusion (or helical fusion), which achieves fusion by confining high-temperature plasma in a magnetic field, and inertial fusion (also known as laser fusion), which ignites the fusion reaction in fusion fuel sealed in a spherical pellet using a laser or other device.

[0009] However, both tokamak fusion and inertial fusion require a large amount of power to initiate a fusion reaction, and the initial energy required is greater than the energy obtained from the fusion reaction, resulting in an energy imbalance and making it difficult to obtain effective power. Furthermore, although vast amounts of research equipment have already been invested in both tokamak fusion and inertial fusion, there is no clear outlook for actual power generation, making them unsuitable for practical use.

[0010] Here, the technology described in Patent Document 1 is a fuel pellet for inertial confinement fusion, the technologies described in Patent Documents 2 and 3 are systems or methods for tokamak-type fusion, and the technology described in Non-Patent Document 1 achieves 1.5 times the target gain for inertial confinement fusion. However, it is unclear whether these technologies achieve an energy balance.

[0011] Furthermore, in both tokamak fusion and conventional inertial fusion, flammable hydrogen gases such as deuterium and tritium must be handled carefully. Furthermore, in the inertial fusion experiment reported in Non-Patent Document 1, in order to increase the fuel density, the deuterium and tritium contained in the diamond shell must be cooled to -270 degrees to solidify, which poses the problem of requiring enormous costs and labor to solidify the inertial fusion fuel.

[0012] Furthermore, in both tokamak fusion and laser fusion, when deuterium and tritium are compressed at high temperatures and pressures, they become a plasma state, accompanied by free electrons. These free electrons emit bremsstrahlung radiation (sometimes approximated by the blackbody radiation formula) and are released into the surroundings as light or X-rays, resulting in a rapid loss of the compression energy in a short period of time. This energy loss is a major factor in the difficulty of reaching the temperatures and confinement times required for fusion.

[0013] Furthermore, with conventional inertial fusion, there is a risk that the sphere may crack or explode before fusion occurs as it contracts and expands, posing a safety issue.

[0014] Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide inertial fusion fuel pellets, an inertial fusion method, an inertial fusion burner, and an inertial fusion system that can utilize the explosive energy of magnesium to achieve practical inertial fusion.

[0015] The inertial fusion fuel pellet of the present invention comprises a sphere and inertial fusion fuel. The sphere is primarily composed of magnesium, and its outer surface is coated with a magnesium oxide film. The inertial fusion fuel contains a combination of deuterium water and tritium water, deuterium water alone, a combination of protium water and boron, or a mixture of these, and is filled into a fuel hole pre-drilled near the center of the sphere.

[0016] The inertial confinement fusion method according to the present invention comprises a loading step, a preheating step, a refining step, a shock wave heating step, and a fusion step. In the loading step, inertial fusion fuel pellets are loaded into a carbon dioxide atmosphere at a high temperature equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature at which magnesium and carbon dioxide react. In the preheating step, the inertial fusion fuel pellets are expanded by the high temperature of the carbon dioxide, peeling off the magnesium oxide coating, and the magnesium exposed in the peeled off portion reacts with the carbon dioxide, generating shock wave heating and heating the hydrogen-based water corresponding to deuterium water, tritium water, or protium water in the fuel holes to 100°C or higher. The purification process involves generating deuterium, tritium, or protium by reacting the hydrogen-containing water with the magnesium inside the sphere, repeatedly subjecting the outer surface of the sphere to intermittent shock wave heating, and rotating the inertial fusion pellet at high speed to collect the deuterium, tritium, or protium and the boron contained in the inertial fusion fuel at the center of the sphere by centrifugal force as purified fusion fuel. The shock wave heating process involves burning the magnesium, decomposing the carbon dioxide into oxygen and carbon when the temperature of the outer surface of the sphere exceeds the decomposition temperature of the carbon dioxide, reacting the decomposed oxygen with the magnesium on the outer surface to detonate the magnesium, shock wave heating the purified fusion fuel, and then, when the sphere exceeds the detonation stop temperature of the magnesium, the detonation of the magnesium stops. The outer surface of the sphere is cooled by expansion cooling to the decomposition temperature of the carbon dioxide, causing another detonation of the magnesium. In the nuclear fusion process, the nuclear fusion refined fuel collected at the center of the sphere is heated by repeating the shock wave heating process until the Lawson condition is satisfied, thereby inducing nuclear fusion.

[0017] Furthermore, the inertial fusion burner according to the present invention is an inertial fusion burner that uses an inertial fusion method and includes a boiler, a carbon dioxide circulation line, a compressor and heating device, a carbon dioxide accumulator tank, a fuel pellet storehouse, and a steam pipe. The boiler stores carbon dioxide, and the carbon dioxide circulation line is connected to two points of the boiler and circulates the carbon dioxide from the boiler. The compressor and heating device receive carbon dioxide from the carbon dioxide circulation line, pressurize the carbon dioxide to a predetermined pressure, and heat it to a predetermined temperature. The carbon dioxide accumulator tank accumulates high-pressure and high-temperature carbon dioxide produced by the compressor and heating device, and controls the supply of carbon dioxide to the boiler. The fuel pellet storehouse is provided downstream of the carbon dioxide circulation line, stores the inertial fusion fuel pellets, and supplies the stored inertial fusion fuel pellets into the carbon dioxide circulation line. The steam pipe passes through the boiler and contains water inside. The steam pipe absorbs the fusion heat emitted from the inertial fusion fuel pellets fused in the boiler, converts the water into steam, and sends the steam to the turbine.

[0018] Furthermore, when the sphere is subjected to shock wave heating, the magnesium in the sphere separates into magnesium ions and free electrons, and the carbon dioxide around the sphere is decomposed into carbon ions, oxygen ions, and free electrons. The refined nuclear fusion fuel sealed in the center of the sphere also becomes ionized, accompanied by free electrons (high-temperature plasma, or simply, plasma). Here, by placing a negatively charged electrode rod in the center of the boiler and charging the entire boiler positively, these free electrons are attracted to and absorbed by the boiler, and the sphere becomes positively charged. As a result, bremsstrahlung radiation can be significantly suppressed.

[0019] In addition, the positively charged spheres attract the spheres near the electrode rods, causing the fusion-refined fuel to undergo nuclear fusion near the center of the boiler, and preventing the boiler walls from becoming too hot or too high in pressure.

[0020] In addition, in an inertial fusion system using an inertial fusion burner according to the present invention, the inertial fusion burner feeds inertial fusion pellets into the boiler, ignites them, and vaporizes the water in the steam pipe into steam, which then rotates the turbine, generating electricity in the generator. The generated electricity has its voltage adjusted by a transformer and is sent to a power line via a switch. The power line delivers the electricity to places where it is used, such as homes and factories.

[0021] The steam discharged from the turbine is cooled in a condenser to become water, which is then returned to the steam pipe. The condenser has a cooling function using seawater, and the seawater that has absorbed heat from the steam is returned to the sea using a discharge pump.

[0022] A carbon recovery line is connected to the boiler, and a carbon recovery fan is provided on the carbon recovery line. When the carbon recovery fan rotates, it sucks carbon from the boiler, captures the carbon in a carbon recovery filter, and recovers the carbon in a carbon recovery unit. Here, carbon dioxide that is not recovered by the carbon recovery filter is returned to the boiler.

[0023] Here, in the carbon recovery filter, fine carbon particles are collected by an electrostatic precipitator connected to the carbon recovery filter, and the carbon collected by the electrostatic precipitator is recovered in the carbon recovery section.

[0024] Impurities and carbon dioxide not collected by the electrostatic precipitator are collected by an exhaust fan and recovered by a cryopump. The cryopump has two stages: a liquid nitrogen cooling section and a liquid helium cooling section. The liquid nitrogen cooling section converts carbon dioxide into dry ice, collects it, vaporizes the dry ice, and returns the carbon dioxide to the carbon dioxide inlet. The liquid helium cooling section liquefies the remaining impurities, and the purified and separated harmless impurity gas is released to the outside through the exhaust tower, while harmful impurities are combined with other substances and isolated. In addition, a recovery hopper is installed below the boiler to recover unreacted and unburned magnesium oxide and magnesium, and the magnesium recovered in the recovery hopper is reused.

[0025]

[0026] According to the present invention, it is possible to realize practical inertial confinement fusion by utilizing the explosive energy of magnesium.

[0027] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a fuel pellet for inertial fusion according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a method for manufacturing fuel pellets for inertial fusion according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a flow diagram showing the steps of the inertial fusion method according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the states in each step of the loading, preheating, and refining steps of the inertial fusion method according to the present invention. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an example of shock wave heating of the inertial fusion method according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a self-sustained detonation cycle of the inertial fusion method according to the present invention. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of free electron absorption and central induction of fuel pellets in an inertial fusion burner according to the present invention. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an inertial fusion burner according to the present invention. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an inertial fusion system according to the present invention.

[0028] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings to help understand the present invention. Note that the following embodiment is an example of the present invention and is not intended to limit the technical scope of the present invention.

[0029] As shown in Figure 1, an inertial fusion fuel pellet 1 according to the present invention comprises a sphere 10 and inertial fusion fuel 11. The sphere 10 is primarily composed of magnesium, and its outer surface 10a is coated with a magnesium oxide film. The component of the sphere 10 can be, for example, magnesium or a magnesium alloy.

[0030] The inertial fusion fuel 11 contains a combination of deuterium water and tritium water, deuterium water alone, a combination of protium water and boron, or a mixture of these, and is filled into a fuel hole 10b pre-installed near the center of the sphere 10.

[0031] Here, fuel holes 10b of sphere 10 are primarily filled with inertial fusion fuel 11, but solid carbon dioxide (dry ice), for example, may also be mixed in in addition to inertial fusion fuel 11. By mixing dry ice into fuel holes 10b, when the interior of sphere 10 is heated by the combustion of magnesium on the outer surface of sphere 10, the dry ice in fuel holes 10b will sublimate inside fuel holes 10b, causing the magnesium and carbon dioxide inside sphere 10 to react, accelerating the combustion of magnesium from within sphere 10 as well.

[0032] Furthermore, in addition to the inertial fusion fuel 11, for example, magnesium powder may be mixed into the fuel holes 10b of the sphere 10. By mixing magnesium powder into the fuel holes 10b, when the inside of the sphere 10 heats up, the heat is immediately transferred to the magnesium powder, causing it to explode and accelerating the heating of the inertial fusion fuel 11. The burning time of magnesium powder is several milliseconds.

[0033] The components of the sphere 10 can be magnesium or a magnesium alloy, such as a magnesium alloy containing a predetermined concentration of aluminum. The melting temperature of magnesium is 650°C (923K). As mentioned above, while magnesium has extremely high explosive energy, its explosive power is short-lived and unstable. Aluminum, on the other hand, burns with carbon dioxide at 2000°C (2273K). The explosive energy of aluminum and carbon dioxide at high temperatures (hereinafter referred to as aluminum's explosive energy) is 20.1 kJ per gram of aluminum. In other words, aluminum's explosive energy is 4.6 times that of TNT. The melting temperature of aluminum is 660°C (933K), and its explosive power is long-lasting and stable. Therefore, by using a magnesium alloy containing a predetermined concentration of aluminum in magnesium as a component of the sphere 10, the explosive power of magnesium and that of aluminum can be combined to make use of the opposing properties of the two metals, optimizing the burn time, i.e., the confinement time, and ensuring the stability of the explosion of the fuel pellet 1. Here, the burn time can be controlled by adjusting the concentration of aluminum relative to magnesium (alloy ratio).

[0034] In addition to the alloy of magnesium and aluminum, examples of the magnesium alloy include an alloy of magnesium and zinc, an alloy of magnesium and lead, and an alloy of magnesium and tin.

[0035] Furthermore, the magnesium oxide coating 10a is formed naturally if the main component of the sphere 10 is magnesium. Furthermore, the fuel hole 10b is provided near the center of the sphere 10, but there is no particular limitation on the shape of the fuel hole 10b, and examples of the shape include a sphere and an ellipsoid. Furthermore, there is no particular limitation on the position of the fuel hole 10b as long as it is near the center of the sphere 10, and it may be at the center of the sphere 10 or at a position a predetermined distance away from the center of the sphere 10 in either the up, down, left, or right direction.

[0036] Here, the method for manufacturing the fuel pellets 1 is not particularly limited, but for example, as shown in Figure 2, a user drills a through-hole 10c in the central axis C of the sphere 10 and prepares a rod 10d whose main component is magnesium and whose diameter is the same as the diameter of the through-hole 10c or a predetermined length longer than the diameter of the through-hole 10c. Here, it is preferable that the rod 10d has the same length as the longitudinal direction of the through-hole 10c. Then, a user drills a fuel hole 10b near the center of the rod 10d, places inertial fusion fuel 11 in the fuel hole 10b, and inserts the rod 10d into the through-hole 10c of the sphere 10, thereby manufacturing the fuel pellets 1.

[0037] Here, if the diameter of the rod 10d is greater than the diameter of the through-hole 10c by a predetermined length, when inserting the rod 10d into the through-hole 10c of the sphere 10, the rod 10d can be immersed in liquid nitrogen, cooled with liquid nitrogen, and the rod 10d will shrink overall before being inserted into the through-hole 10c of the sphere 10 in a cold fitting process, thereby enabling the rod 10d to be firmly attached to the through-hole 10c. Also, if the inertial fusion fuel 11 to be placed in the fuel hole 10b of the rod 10d contains water, the water may be frozen.

[0038] Alternatively, a movement axis H may be set at a position offset a predetermined distance D from the central axis C of the sphere 10, a through-hole 10c formed along the movement axis, a rod 10d corresponding to the through-hole 10c prepared, a fuel hole 10b formed near the center of the rod 10d, inertial fusion fuel 11 placed in the fuel hole 10b, and the rod 10d inserted into the through-hole 10c of the sphere 10. By moving the rod 10d along the movement axis H of the sphere 10, the center of the sphere 10 and the center of the fuel hole 10b are offset, causing the center of gravity of the sphere 10 to become eccentric from the center of the sphere 10. When a fuel pellet 1 with an eccentric center of gravity burns, asymmetric pressure is applied to the sphere 10 during magnesium detonation, causing the sphere 10 to rotate at high speed in all directions, equalizing the combustion of magnesium on the outer surface and the propagation of shock waves. Note that "omnidirectional" refers to all directions. This enables stable combustion of the inertial fusion fuel pellets 1. In other words, with the above-described configuration, the center of gravity of the sphere 10 is offset from the center of the sphere 10, and when the inertial fusion fuel pellets 1 rotate due to shock waves, the sphere 10 rotates in all directions, promoting uniform heating and combustion of the sphere surface.

[0039] The inertial fusion method according to the present invention uses inertial fusion fuel pellets, and as shown in FIG. 3, the process is comprised of five steps: a loading step 50, a preheating step 51, a refining step 52, a shock wave heating step 53, and a fusion step 54.

[0040] First, in the first stage, throwing process 50, as shown in FIG. 4, the inertial confinement fusion fuel pellet 1 according to the present invention is thrown into high-temperature carbon dioxide at or above a predetermined combustion temperature (e.g., 1200°C = 1473K) at which magnesium and carbon dioxide combust. However, since the sphere 10 is coated with the magnesium oxide coating 10a, it does not burn immediately after being thrown.

[0041] Next, in the second stage preheating process 51, the sphere 10 expands, the magnesium oxide coating 10a breaks, the outside of the sphere 10 burns, and the resulting shock waves heat and pressurize the deuterium water, tritium water, or protium water in the inertial fusion fuel 11 in the fuel hole 10b, exceeding 100 degrees.

[0042] Next, in the third refining step 52, when the temperature exceeds 650°C (923K), it reacts with carbon dioxide and burns (explodes) with extremely high explosive power. Here, the explosive energy of magnesium and carbon dioxide at high temperatures (hereinafter referred to as the explosive energy of magnesium) is 24.7 kJ per 1 g of magnesium. Note that the explosive energy of trinitrotoluene (TNT) is 4.4 kJ per 1 g of TNT, so the explosive energy of magnesium is 5.6 times that of TNT. In other words, the explosive energy of magnesium is so high that the outside of the sphere 10 burns.

[0043] The heated water, tritium water, or protium water reacts with the surrounding magnesium to produce deuterium, tritium, or protium, and intermittent combustion on the outer surface of the sphere 10 blows out in the tangential direction of the sphere 10, causing the sphere 10 to rotate at high speed. The deuterium, tritium, or protium in the combustion hole 10b, and in the case of a combination of protium water and boron, the boron, are collected in the center of the fuel hole 10b by centrifugal force as nuclear fusion purified fuel 11a, and the nuclear fusion purified fuel 11a is refined.

[0044] Next, in the fourth shock wave heating step 53, as shown in Figure 5, several microseconds after the magnesium combustion (explosion), the explosive energy of the magnesium causes the outer surface of the sphere 10 to exceed the decomposition temperature T1 of carbon dioxide (e.g., 10,000 K = 9,727 degrees Celsius). The surrounding carbon dioxide decomposes into oxygen and carbon, and the oxygen reacts with the magnesium on the outer surface of the sphere 10, causing the magnesium to detonate. Here, detonation means that the thermal expansion of a substance propagates rapidly, exceeding the speed of sound, so the detonation of the magnesium means that the magnesium heats up accompanied by a shock wave. The purified nuclear fusion fuel 11a refined inside the sphere 10 is then shock wave heated by the detonation of the magnesium.

[0045] The sphere 10 rapidly heats up due to the detonation of the magnesium, and when the temperature exceeds the detonation stop temperature T2 (for example, 15,000 K = 14,727 degrees), the magnesium stops burning with the surrounding oxygen and carbon dioxide, and the detonation of the magnesium stops. At this point, at the same time that the detonation of the magnesium stops, the sphere 10 expands due to the internal pressure of the purified nuclear fusion fuel 11a in the sphere hole 10b, and the outer surface of the sphere 10 cools down to the decomposition temperature T1 (10,000 K) of carbon dioxide due to expansion cooling.

[0046] When the outer surface of sphere 10 cools to the decomposition temperature T1 (10,000 K) of carbon dioxide, the magnesium in sphere 10 resumes combustion with the surrounding oxygen and carbon dioxide, causing another detonation of the magnesium, which contracts sphere 10. Then, when the magnesium detonation reaches the magnesium detonation stop temperature T2 (15,000 K), the detonation stops and the sphere expands due to internal pressure, and sphere 10 is cooled to the decomposition temperature T1 (10,000 K) of carbon dioxide due to expansion and cooling.

[0047] By repeatedly detonating and stopping the magnesium, the sphere 10 repeatedly expands and contracts over a displacement d, resulting in repeated shock wave heating of the purified nuclear fusion fuel 11a. This shock wave heating is repeated as a self-sustaining detonation cycle, which is a cycle of detonation 55, detonation stop 56, and expansion / cooling 57, as shown in Figure 6. Here, the self-sustaining detonation cycle, including re-ignition, periodically controls the reaction of the inertial confinement nuclear fusion fuel pellet 1 by sequentially repeating the detonation state, detonation stop state, expansion / cooling state, and re-ignition state. During detonation 55, the sphere 10 exceeds the melting point of magnesium and liquefies. The liquefied sphere 10 then exceeds the boiling point of magnesium and gasifies, losing its structural rigidity and becoming a balloon-like membrane structure. The magnesium detonation causes the membrane-structured sphere 10 to contract, while during the magnesium detonation stop, the membrane-structured sphere 10 expands without bursting. Here, the membrane-structured sphere 10 compresses and heats the fusion refined fuel 11a placed inside due to the external pressure caused by intermittent magnesium detonations, and during periods when the magnesium detonations temporarily stop, the membrane-structured sphere 10 expands without bursting and continues to contain the fusion refined fuel 11a.

[0048] When the sphere 10 is heated by the shock wave, the magnesium in the sphere 10 forms a plasma film structure and separates into magnesium ions 66 and free electrons, as shown in Figure 7, and the carbon dioxide around the sphere is also decomposed into carbon ions 58, oxygen ions 59, and free electrons 62. The purified nuclear fusion fuel 11a sealed in the center of the sphere 10 is also ionized, accompanied by deuterium ions 60, tritium ions 61, and free electrons 62. Here, by charging the entire boiler 20 positively 63, these free electrons 62 are attracted to and absorbed by the boiler 20, resulting in significant suppression of bremsstrahlung radiation.

[0049] In addition, the positively charged sphere 10 moves toward the negatively charged electrode rod 64 and explodes near the center of the boiler 20, suppressing the effects of high temperature and high pressure that are concentrated on the wall of the boiler 20 during detonation.

[0050] Then, in the fifth stage, the nuclear fusion process, the shock wave heating process is repeated, and the nuclear fusion between hydrogen and boron reaches 800,000,000 K (approximately 800 million degrees), satisfying the Lawson condition, and nuclear fusion is induced. The Lawson condition is an index showing the relationship between plasma temperature, density, and confinement time required to sustain a nuclear fusion reaction, and generally requires a temperature of 100 million degrees (approximately 8.6 keV) for deuterium and tritium, a density of 10^14 atoms / cm3, and a confinement time of 1 second.

[0051] Next, we will explain an inertial fusion burner that uses the inertial fusion method of the present invention. As shown in Figure 8, the inertial fusion burner 2 includes a boiler 20, an ignition unit 21, a steam pipe 22, a carbon dioxide circulation line 23, a compressor and heating device 24 (simply referred to as the compressor), a carbon dioxide storage tank 25, a fuel pellet storehouse 26, a carbon recovery line 40, a carbon dioxide injection port 49, and electrode rods 64.

[0052] Here, the boiler 20 has excellent heat resistance and pressure resistance, and accommodates carbon dioxide. The ignition section 21 is where the fuel pellets 1 are heated and explode. A steam pipe 22 passes through the boiler 20, has water poured into it, and is connected to a turbine (not shown). By rotating the turbine, electricity is generated by a generator connected to the turbine.

[0053] Furthermore, the carbon dioxide circulation line 23 is connected to two locations of the boiler 20, and circulates the carbon dioxide in the boiler 20. Specifically, the carbon dioxide circulation line 23 connects the carbon dioxide from the boiler 20 to a compressor 24 and a carbon dioxide accumulator tank 25, and then reconnects to the boiler 20, thereby circulating the carbon dioxide.

[0054] The compressor 24 receives carbon dioxide from the boiler 20, pressurizes it to a predetermined pressure (e.g., 0.5 MPa), and heats it to a predetermined temperature (e.g., 1200°C). The carbon dioxide accumulator tank 25 accumulates the high-pressure, high-temperature carbon dioxide produced by the compressor 24, and controls the supply of carbon dioxide to the boiler 20 by adjusting a predetermined valve 25a.

[0055] In addition, a fuel pellet warehouse 26 is connected downstream of the carbon dioxide circulation line 23. The fuel pellet warehouse 26 stores fuel pellets 1, and by adjusting a predetermined valve 26a, the stored fuel pellets 1 are supplied into the carbon dioxide circulation line 23, thereby controlling the supply of fuel pellets 1 to the boiler 20.

[0056] The carbon recovery fan also draws in carbon dioxide and carbon drawn into the carbon recovery line 40 from the boiler 20, recovers the carbon in a carbon recovery filter, and returns the drawn carbon dioxide to the boiler 20. A carbon dioxide inlet 49 is connected to this return carbon recovery line and supplies carbon dioxide as needed.

[0057] Here, the fuel pellet storehouse 26 appropriately supplies the fuel pellets 1 to the carbon dioxide circulation line 23. Here, the fuel pellet storehouse 26 has, for example, a refrigeration function, and cools the fuel pellets 1 to a predetermined freezing temperature (for example, -70 degrees), and then supplies the cooled fuel pellets 1 to the carbon dioxide circulation line 23. This allows the carbon dioxide circulation line 23 to suck the fuel pellets 1 from the fuel pellet storehouse 26 by the Pitot tube effect and feed them into the boiler 20. After being fed, the fuel pellets 1 are rapidly heated by the high-temperature carbon dioxide in the boiler 20, causing the fuel pellets 1 to undergo the above-mentioned feeding process, preheating process, refining process, shock wave heating process, and nuclear fusion process.

[0058] Here, the entire flow of fuel pellets 1 will be explained. First, compressor 24 draws in carbon dioxide from boiler 20, heats it to a high temperature and pressure, and returns it to carbon dioxide circulation line 23. The high-temperature and high-pressure carbon dioxide passes through carbon dioxide circulation line 23 and is sent to carbon dioxide pressure storage tank 25. By adjusting a predetermined valve 25a, carbon dioxide pressure storage tank 25 draws in high-temperature and high-pressure carbon dioxide from fuel pellet warehouse 26 through carbon dioxide circulation line 23 and feeds it into boiler 20.

[0059] The fuel pellets 1 are then attracted to the electrode rod 64, and nuclear fusion occurs at the ignition section 21. The heat of nuclear fusion heats the steam pipe 22, which absorbs the fusion heat emitted from the fuel pellets 1, causing the water in the steam pipe 22 to vaporize into steam. This steam then rotates a turbine, generating electricity in a generator. The inertial fusion burner according to the present invention may also be used in a general thermal power plant. In other words, the inertial fusion fuel pellets 1 according to the present invention can be easily implemented in a thermal power plant that burns pulverized coal by using the inertial fusion fuel pellets 1 instead of the pulverized coal, since the other components can, in principle, be adapted to the thermal power plant's configuration.

[0060] Next, an inertial fusion system using the inertial fusion burner according to the present invention will be described. As shown in Figure 9, the inertial fusion system 3 incorporates the inertial fusion burner 2 described above. In the inertial fusion burner 2, the ignition unit 21 ignites the nuclear fusion of the fuel pellets 1, vaporizing the water in the steam pipe 22 into steam. This steam rotates the turbine 30, generating electricity in the generator 31. The generated electricity has its voltage adjusted by the transformer 32 and is sent to the power transmission line 34 via the switch 33. The power transmission line 34 delivers the electricity to electricity users 35, such as homes and factories.

[0061] The steam released from the turbine 30 is cooled in a condenser 36 to become water, which is returned to the steam pipe 22. Here, the condenser 36 has a cooling function using seawater, and the seawater that has absorbed heat from the steam is returned to the sea 38 using a water intake pump 37 and a discharge pump 39.

[0062] Incidentally, a carbon recovery line 40 is connected to the boiler 20 of the inertial fusion burner 2, and a carbon recovery fan 41 is provided on the carbon recovery line 40. When the carbon recovery fan 41 rotates, it sucks in carbon from the boiler 20, captures the carbon in a carbon recovery filter 42, and recovers the carbon in a carbon recovery unit 43. Here, carbon dioxide that is not recovered by the carbon recovery filter 42 is returned to the boiler 20. A carbon dioxide inlet 49 is connected to this return carbon recovery line 40, and carbon dioxide is appropriately replenished to the boiler 20.

[0063] Here, in the carbon recovery filter 42, fine carbon particles are collected by an electrostatic precipitator 44 connected to the carbon recovery filter 42. The electrostatic precipitator 44 is provided at the outlet of the carbon recovery line, and the carbon collected by the electrostatic precipitator 44 is recovered in the carbon recovery section 43.

[0064] Impurities and carbon dioxide not recovered by the electrostatic precipitator 44 are collected by an exhaust fan 45 and recovered by a cryopump 46. The cryopump 46 converts the carbon dioxide exhausted from the outlet of the electrostatic precipitator 44 into dry ice, vaporizes the dry ice, and returns the resulting carbon dioxide to the boiler 20. Specifically, the cryopump 46 has two stages: a liquid nitrogen cooling section and a liquid helium cooling section. The liquid nitrogen cooling section converts the carbon dioxide into dry ice, recovers it, vaporizes the dry ice, and returns the carbon dioxide to the carbon dioxide inlet 49. The liquid helium cooling section liquefies most of the impurities, and the purified and separated harmless impurity gas is released to the outside through an exhaust tower 47. Harmful impurities are isolated by combining with other substances. A recovery hopper 48 is also provided below the boiler 20 to recover unreacted or unburned magnesium oxide and magnesium. The magnesium and other materials recovered by the recovery hopper 48 are reused. The inertial fusion system may further include a control device that monitors the temperature, pressure, or number of detonations within the boiler 20, and adjusts the amount of carbon dioxide supplied, the drive of the compressor and heating device, or the operation of the ignition unit based on predetermined control parameters. The inertial fusion fuel pellets 1 according to the present invention can also be used in a way that by throwing the inertial fusion fuel pellets 1 into a carbon dioxide atmosphere at 1200 degrees or higher, the inertial fusion fuel pellets 1 will rotate while repeatedly burning and detonating, inducing a fusion reaction in the center of the sphere.

[0065] Examples and comparative examples of the present invention will be specifically described below, but the application of the present invention is not limited to these examples.

[0066] First, Comparative Example 1 was laser fusion using the technology described in Non-Patent Document 1. In this laser fusion, a 2-mm-diameter diamond sphere was used, resulting in a confinement time of 10^-10 (sec). In this case, the fusion fuel, deuterium water and tritium water (weight of deuterium water and tritium water = 0.22 mg), was cooled to -270°C to solidify, and the laser was converted into X-rays, irradiating the diamond sphere with 2 MJ of X-rays. Here, X-ray irradiation results in heteronomous heating. The solidified deuterium water and tritium water (0.22 mg) were then filled into the diamond sphere. Heating by 2 MJ, far greater than the theoretically required energy of 132 J for ignition, yielded 3.15 MJ of fusion energy. The gain was 3.15 / 2 = 1.57. Furthermore, NIF takes into account the tunneling effect and claims that the energy required to fuse deuterium and tritium is 100 kJ per gram. However, NIF required 2 MJ of laser irradiation energy to fuse 0.22 milligrams of fusion fuel, which is 9,090 MJ per gram, or approximately 90,000 times the theoretical value, making it extremely inefficient.

[0067] Next, in Example 1, a simulation software was used to estimate the fusion energy generated when an inertial fusion fuel pellet 1 according to the present invention was burned. First, when a magnesium sphere 10 with an outer diameter of 6 mm and an inner diameter of 2 mm was used, the confinement time was 10^-3 (sec). In this case, deuterium-containing water and tritium-containing water (weight of deuterium-containing water and tritium-containing water = 0.37 mg) of inertial fusion fuel 11 was placed in the fuel hole 10b and stored at room temperature. Then, the fuel pellet 1 was placed in high-temperature carbon dioxide, causing an explosion of the magnesium and carbon dioxide. Here, as described above, preheating occurs, causing the magnesium oxide coating 10a to break, and the exposed magnesium reacts with the carbon dioxide, resulting in an explosion. Then, due to the magnesium explosion, the deuterium-containing water and tritium-containing water of the inertial fusion fuel 11 react with the magnesium, producing heavy water and tritium (0.088 mg). Furthermore, the sphere 10 rotates at high speed due to the magnesium explosions on its surface and inside, and the heavy water and tritium are centrifuged in all directions and collected at the center of the sphere 10. Next, shock wave heating occurs. When the outer surface of the sphere 10 reaches the carbon dioxide decomposition temperature T1, the magnesium detonates, and the heavy water and tritium are shock wave heated. When the sphere 10 reaches the magnesium detonation stop temperature T2, the magnesium detonation stops, and the sphere 10 expands, cooling it to the carbon dioxide decomposition temperature T1 through expansion cooling. This is where autonomous heating occurs in the present invention. This shock wave heating is repeated, and the heavy water and tritium satisfy the Lawson condition, resulting in nuclear fusion. According to the simulation software, the energy required to ignite deuterium and tritium (0.088 mg) in the magnesium sphere 10 is 8.8 J based on the theoretical value of NIF. Even if the system is heated sufficiently to 3,157 J, which is about 358 times the theoretical value, 238 MJ of fusion energy can be obtained. The energy balance is 238 MJ / 3,157 J = 75,388. Thus, in Example 1, the energy balance can be significantly improved compared to Comparative Example 1.

[0068] Furthermore, when the magnesium sphere 10 has an outer diameter of 15 mm, the diameter of the fuel hole 10b is 3 mm, and the inertial fusion fuel 11 is hydrogen water and boron, and the hydrogen water and boron are fused, the thermal output of one fuel pellet 1 is calculated to be 110 MJ. In this way, with inertial fusion fuel pellets 1 containing magnesium as the main component, it is possible to obtain enormous amounts of fusion energy with a small amount of energy.

[0069] As described above, the inertial fusion fuel pellets, inertial fusion method, inertial fusion burner, and inertial fusion system of the present invention are useful not only for thermal power plants but also for existing power plants, and are effective as inertial fusion fuel pellets, inertial fusion method, inertial fusion burner, and inertial fusion system that can utilize the explosive energy of magnesium to achieve practical inertial fusion.

[0070] 1 Inertial fusion fuel pellet 10 Sphere 10a Magnesium oxide coating 10b Fuel hole 11 Inertial fusion fuel

Claims

1. An inertial fusion fuel pellet comprising: a sphere whose main component is magnesium and whose outer surface is coated with a magnesium oxide film; and inertial fusion fuel containing a combination of deuterium water and tritium water, deuterium water only, a combination of protium water and boron, or a mixture thereof, the inertial fusion fuel being filled into a fuel hole provided near the center of the sphere.

2. The inertial fusion fuel pellet according to claim 1, wherein when the inertial fusion fuel pellet is placed in an atmosphere of high-temperature carbon dioxide above a predetermined temperature at which magnesium and carbon dioxide react, the sphere expands, the magnesium oxide coating breaks, and the magnesium in the sphere reacts with the carbon dioxide, causing shock wave heating, heating the hydrogen-based water corresponding to the deuterium water, tritium water, or protium water in the fuel hole to 100 degrees or more, and producing deuterium, tritium, or protium through the reaction between the hydrogen-based water and the magnesium inside the sphere.

3. A fuel pellet for inertial fusion according to claim 1, wherein the sphere is rotated at high speed by intermittently repeating the shock wave heating, and the deuterium, tritium, or protium produced by the high speed rotation and the boron contained in the inertial fusion fuel are refined as fusion refined fuel in the center of the sphere by centrifugal force.

4. The fuel pellet for inertial confinement fusion according to claim 1, wherein the component of the sphere is magnesium alone or a magnesium alloy, and the magnesium alloy is an alloy of magnesium and aluminum, an alloy of magnesium and zinc, an alloy of magnesium and lead, or an alloy of magnesium and tin.

5. The inertial fusion fuel pellet according to claim 1, wherein dry ice or magnesium powder is mixed into the fuel holes of the sphere in addition to the inertial fusion fuel.

6. A method for manufacturing inertial fusion fuel pellets as set forth in claim 1, comprising the steps of: forming a through hole in the central axis of the sphere; preparing a rod made primarily of magnesium having a predetermined length and larger than the diameter of the through hole; forming a fuel hole in the center of the rod; filling the fuel hole with the inertial fusion fuel; and cooling the rod with liquid nitrogen before inserting it into the through hole of the sphere.

7. The method for manufacturing inertial fusion fuel pellets as set forth in claim 1, comprising: setting a moving axis at a position offset a predetermined distance from the central axis of the sphere; forming a through-hole along the moving axis; preparing a rod corresponding to the through-hole; forming a fuel hole in the center of the rod; filling the fuel hole with inertial fusion fuel; and inserting the rod into the through-hole of the sphere, thereby constructing the inertial fusion fuel pellet; with this configuration, the center of gravity of the sphere is eccentric from the center of the sphere; and when the magnesium on the surface of the sphere rotates by burning with the surrounding carbon dioxide, the sphere rotates in all directions, promoting uniform heating and burning of the sphere surface.

8. A method of inertial fusion using inertial fusion fuel pellets as set forth in claim 1, comprising the following steps: (1) an injection step of injecting the inertial fusion fuel pellets into an atmosphere of high-temperature carbon dioxide at or above a predetermined combustion temperature at which magnesium and carbon dioxide react; (2) a preheating step of expanding the inertial fusion fuel pellets to break the magnesium oxide coating, causing shock wave heating by the reaction between the exposed magnesium and carbon dioxide, and heating the hydrogen-based water in the fuel hole to 100 degrees or more; (3) a refining step of reacting the heated hydrogen-based water with magnesium to produce the refined fusion fuel, rotating the sphere at high speed by shock wave heating, and collecting the refined fusion fuel at the center of the sphere by centrifugal force; (4) A shock wave heating process in which, when the outer surface temperature of the sphere exceeds the decomposition temperature of carbon dioxide, the carbon dioxide is decomposed into oxygen and carbon, and the oxygen is caused to detonate by reacting with magnesium, compressing and heating the fusion refined fuel, and when the temperature of the sphere reaches a temperature at which the reaction between magnesium and carbon dioxide no longer occurs, the detonation stops, the sphere expands and cools due to internal pressure, and when it reaches a temperature at which it can again react with carbon dioxide, it detonates again; (5) A nuclear fusion process in which the fusion refined fuel collected at the center of the sphere reaches the Lawson condition through the shock wave heating process, causing a nuclear fusion reaction.

9. The inertial confinement fusion method according to claim 8, wherein the shock wave heating process according to claim 8, sequentially repeats a detonation state, a detonation stop state, an expansion cooling state, and a re-ignition state, thereby periodically controlling the reaction of the inertial confinement fusion fuel pellets and forming a self-sustaining detonation cycle.

10. The inertial confinement fusion method according to claim 8, wherein the shock wave heating process comprises the sphere liquefying above the melting point of magnesium, and then vaporizing above the boiling point, thereby losing structural rigidity and becoming a membrane structure, the membrane structured sphere compresses and heats the refined fusion fuel placed inside due to the external pressure generated by the detonation of magnesium, and even during the period when the temperature reaches the detonation stop temperature and the detonation temporarily stops, the membrane structured sphere expands without rupturing and continues to contain the refined fusion fuel.

11. An inertial fusion burner that uses the inertial fusion method described in claim 8, comprising: a boiler that stores carbon dioxide; a carbon dioxide circulation line that is connected to two locations on the boiler and that circulates the carbon dioxide; a compressor and a heating device that are connected to the carbon dioxide circulation line; an accumulator tank that accumulates high-temperature, high-pressure carbon dioxide and controls its supply; a fuel pellet storehouse that stores fuel pellets for inertial fusion and supplies them to the circulation line; electrode rods that are located near the center of the boiler; and a steam pipe that extracts fusion heat as steam and supplies it to a turbine.

12. An inertial fusion burner as described in claim 11, which negatively charges an electrode rod installed in the center of the boiler and positively charges the boiler wall, thereby absorbing free electrons from the high-temperature plasma-like refined fusion fuel and directing them to the boiler wall, and collecting the remaining positive ions near the electrode rod to induce detonation, thereby reducing energy loss due to bremsstrahlung of the fuel and preventing the local high temperature and high pressure generated during detonation from concentrating on the boiler wall.

13. An inertial nuclear fusion system using the inertial nuclear fusion burner according to claim 11.

14. The inertial fusion system of claim 13, comprising: the inertial fusion fuel pellets of claim 1; an inertial fusion burner equipped with an ignition unit that heats and explodes the inertial fusion fuel pellets; a heat- and pressure-resistant boiler connected to the inertial fusion burner and containing carbon dioxide; a carbon recovery line that recovers carbon from the boiler; a carbon dioxide inlet that injects carbon dioxide into the boiler; electrode rods that absorb free electrons released from the purified fusion fuel that has been converted into plasma in the boiler; a steam pipe installed in the boiler and through which water is passed to generate heated steam; and a turbine connected to the steam pipe and a generator connected to the turbine.

15. An inertial confinement fusion system as defined in claim 13, comprising: a carbon recovery line connected to the boiler; an electrostatic precipitator provided at the outlet of the carbon recovery line; and a cryopump that converts carbon dioxide discharged from the outlet of the electrostatic precipitator into dry ice and returns the dry ice to the boiler as vaporized carbon dioxide.

16. A method of using the inertial fusion fuel pellets described in claim 1, wherein the inertial fusion fuel pellets described in claim 1 are introduced into a carbon dioxide atmosphere at 1200 degrees or higher, causing the inertial fusion fuel pellets to rotate while repeatedly burning and detonating, inducing a nuclear fusion reaction in the center of the sphere.

17. The inertial confinement nuclear fusion system according to claim 13, further comprising a control device that monitors the temperature, pressure, or number of detonations within the boiler, and adjusts the amount of carbon dioxide supplied, the drive of the compressor and heating device, or the operation of the ignition unit based on predetermined control parameters.

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