Princeton University

Princeton Satellite Systems, Inc.

Samuel A Cohen

Michael A Paluszek

Yosef Razin

Eric M Ham

Gary A Pajer

Matthew K Chu-Chueong

Matthew K Chu Cheong

Daren Stotler

Michael Buttolph

According to some embodiments, a system for widening and densifying a scrape-off layer (SOL) in a field reversed configuration (FRC) fusion reactor is disclosed. The system includes a gas box at one end of the reactor including a gas inlet system and walls of suitable heat bearing materials. The system further includes an exit orifice adjoining the gas box, wherein the exit orifice has a controllable radius and length to allow plasma to flow out from the gas box to populate the SOL with the plasma. The system may also include fusion products, which decrease in speed in the plasma in the SOL, allowing energy to be extracted and converted into thrust or electrical power and further allowing ash to be extracted to reduce neutron emissions and maintain high, steady-state fusion power.

System and method for small, clean, steady-state fusion reactors

According to various embodiments, an FRC fusion reactor is disclosed. The FRC fusion reactor includes a main chamber containing an FRC core and an energy and ash removal shell (EARS). The FRC fusion reactor further includes at least one divertor chamber connected to the main chamber via a divertor throat. The divertor chamber includes a plasma extruder positioned on a major axis of the FRC fusion reactor and a controllable distance along the major axis from the divertor throat. The plasma extruder has a diameter approximately &#xbd; a diameter of the divertor throat and is configured to block plasma flow towards the FRC core to create a gap region between the FRC core and the EARS.

System and method for reducing heat loss from FRC bulk plasma

A system and method for fueling a fusion reactor. The system includes a reactor chamber containing a stable plasma including a fusion fuel; a heating system configured to heat the plasma and increase an ion energy of the plasma to a level sufficient for producing net power from fusion reactions in the stable plasma; a plurality of magnets coaxial to the reactor chamber, the plurality of magnets producing a magnetic field sufficient to confine the stable plasma and promote rapid loss of fusion products into a scrape off layer; and a neutral beam injection system configured to inject additional quantities of the fusion fuel to sustain the power output of the fusion reaction.

Fueling method for small, steady-state, aneutronic FRC fusion reactors

The invention is for a startup system for nuclear fusion engines in space. The combustion of hydrogen and oxygen produces heat that is used by a heat engine to produce electricity. This can be supplemented by electricity from other operating engines. The exhaust from the combustion is condensed and electrolyzed to produce hydrogen and oxygen once the engine is in operation. This provides a constant source of energy for future startups. The engine is started up at partial power in electricity generation mode and this power replaces the power from the combustion as it grows. The combustor uses the same heat engine as the nuclear engine uses for power generation.

In space startup method for nuclear fusion rocket engines

A system and method for producing and controlling high thrust and desirable specific impulse from a continuous fusion reaction is disclosed. The resultant relatively small rocket engine will have lower cost to develop, test, and operate that the prior art, allowing spacecraft missions throughout the planetary system and beyond. The rocket engine method and system includes a reactor chamber and a heating system for heating a stable plasma to produce fusion reactions in the stable plasma. Magnets produce a magnetic field that confines the stable plasma. A fuel injection system and a propellant injection system are included. The propellant injection system injects cold propellant into a gas box at one end of the reactor chamber, where the propellant is ionized into a plasma. The propellant and fusion products are directed out of the reactor chamber through a magnetic nozzle and are detached from the magnetic field lines producing thrust.

Method and apparatus to produce high specific impulse and moderate thrust from a fusion-powered rocket engine

The invention is for a system and method to reduce neutron production from a deuterium-helium-3 (D-He) fueled, steady-state, small nuclear fusion reactor. The reactor employs a field-reversed configuration (FRC) magnetic confinement scheme and an odd-parity rotating magnetic field (RMF) that produces periodic, co-streaming, energetic ion beams which heat the plasma. This is accomplished through radio-frequency (RF) heating, which can effectively heat and maintain the plasma. Use of this method will lessen damage to and activation of reactor components and, in doing so, can advance the development of fusion reactors for electrical, power and propulsion applications by alleviating the need for both nuclear-materials and tritium-breeding-technology testing programs.

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Princeton, NJ, United States of America

Samuel A Cohen