Compact Fusion Reactor Magnetic Coil Configuration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional fusion reactors are large and complex, making them unsuitable for mounting on vehicles or deployment in decentralized power systems, limiting their applications and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A compact fusion reactor design featuring internal and encapsulating magnetic coils that confine plasma using a novel magnetic field configuration, allowing for a smaller, more efficient, and cost-effective system that can be mounted on vehicles or used in various power generation applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If traditional fusion reactor designs are used, then plasma confinement and fusion reactions are achieved, but the reactor size becomes large and complex, making it unsuitable for vehicle mounting or decentralized power systems
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic confinement system is divided into multiple independent coil sets (toroidal field coils, poloidal field coils, and divertor coils) that work together to create the necessary magnetic field geometry. This segmentation allows each coil set to be optimized independently while achieving overall compact confinement
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from traditional two-dimensional cross-sectional views of tokamak reactors to a three-dimensional compact configuration where the plasma chamber is suspended within a multi-coil magnetic field system, enabling compact volume while maintaining confinement stability through spatial optimization
2Reliability
If traditional fusion reactor designs are used, then plasma confinement is achieved, but the device complexity increases with multiple large components and systems
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple magnetic field functions (toroidal field generation, poloidal field generation, and plasma shaping) are combined into an integrated coil system where the same physical coil structures serve multiple purposes simultaneously, reducing the total number of separate components
Solution Approach 2:
The magnetic coils are designed to perform multiple functions: confining plasma, shaping the plasma boundary, controlling plasma position, and enabling divertor operations, thereby eliminating the need for separate dedicated components for each function
3Temperature
If neutral beam injection is used for plasma heating, then plasma temperature increases for fusion reactions, but energy losses must be minimized to maintain efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic field configuration and coil current systems are designed to respond to plasma conditions in real-time, adjusting field geometry and strength to maintain optimal confinement and minimize particle losses that would otherwise carry away thermal energy
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts magnetic field parameters (strength, geometry, configuration) to optimize plasma confinement and reduce energy losses, allowing the plasma to reach and maintain the temperatures necessary for fusion reactions while minimizing thermal and particle losses
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The compact fusion reactor achieves global MHD stability, minimizes particle losses, and reduces capital costs, enabling smaller size and faster development, while providing a decentralized power solution and extended operating capabilities for vehicles.
Implementation Method 1
one or more heat injectors operable to inject a beam of neutral particles toward the center of the enclosure
Implementation Method 2
two internal magnetic coils suspended within an enclosure, a center magnetic coil coaxial with the two internal magnetic coils, a plurality of encapsulating magnetic coils coaxial with the internal magnetic coils, and two mirror magnetic coil coaxial with the internal magnetic coils
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a fusion reactor includes two internal magnetic coils suspended within an enclosure, a center magnetic coil coaxial with the two internal magnetic coils and located proximate to a midpoint of the enclosure, a plurality of encapsulating magnetic coils coaxial with the internal magnetic coils, and two mirror magnetic coil coaxial with the internal magnetic coils. The fusion reactor further includes one or more heat injectors operable to inject a beam of neutral particles toward the center of the enclosure.