[go: up one dir, main page]

WO2001039199A2 - Materiaux pour ameliorer les reactions de cavitation electrolytique et leurs procedes de fabrication - Google Patents

Materiaux pour ameliorer les reactions de cavitation electrolytique et leurs procedes de fabrication Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2001039199A2
WO2001039199A2 PCT/US2000/031506 US0031506W WO0139199A2 WO 2001039199 A2 WO2001039199 A2 WO 2001039199A2 US 0031506 W US0031506 W US 0031506W WO 0139199 A2 WO0139199 A2 WO 0139199A2
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
core
fuel
chamber
arrangement
acoustic energy
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/US2000/031506
Other languages
English (en)
Other versions
WO2001039199A3 (fr
Inventor
Ross Tessien
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Burst Laboratories Inc
Original Assignee
Burst Laboratories Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Burst Laboratories Inc filed Critical Burst Laboratories Inc
Priority to AU29050/01A priority Critical patent/AU2905001A/en
Publication of WO2001039199A2 publication Critical patent/WO2001039199A2/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Publication of WO2001039199A3 publication Critical patent/WO2001039199A3/fr
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G21—NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
    • G21C—NUCLEAR REACTORS
    • G21C1/00—Reactor types
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G21—NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
    • G21B—FUSION REACTORS
    • G21B3/00—Low temperature nuclear fusion reactors, e.g. alleged cold fusion reactors
    • G21B3/008—Fusion by pressure waves
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E30/00—Energy generation of nuclear origin
    • Y02E30/10—Nuclear fusion reactors
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E30/00—Energy generation of nuclear origin
    • Y02E30/30—Nuclear fission reactors

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to materials for enhancing cavitation reactions and, more particularly to materials for enhancing electrolytic cavitation reactions and related nuclear reactions and to processes for making the materials.
  • Cavitation is a well known phenomena in which small bubbles are formed and subsequently caused to expand and collapse through the application of acoustic energy.
  • the appropriately driven collapsing bubble causes a shock wave to be formed ahead of the collapsing bubble wall, resulting in a rapid increase in the temperature and the pressure within the bubble. If a sufficient temperature is reached, the bubble will briefly emit radiation, the spectrum of which is dependent upon the bubble temperature as well as the gas or gases within the bubble.
  • the conversion of acoustic energy to optical energy is commonly referred to as sonoluminescence.
  • a reactor core is positioned within a chamber containing a liquid medium
  • the reactor core includes a host mate ⁇ al with a fuel matenal interspersed therein Acoustic energy is applied to the chamber at the resonant frequency of the chamber to d ⁇ ve cavitation in the liquid medium surrounding the core The bubbles of liquid cavitate and collapse on the core, thereby d ⁇ ving acoustic energy into the core
  • the host mate ⁇ al of the core has a higher acoustic impedance than the fuel mate ⁇ al so that the acoustic energy applied to the reactor core is refracted and concentrated m the fuel mate ⁇
  • a mate ⁇ al arrangement for enhancing electrolytic cavitation reactions
  • the mate ⁇ al arrangement typically compnses a core including a host mate ⁇ al having a first acoustic impedance, and a fuel mate ⁇ al interspersed within the host mate ⁇ al so as to form the core
  • the fuel mate ⁇ al typically has an acoustic impedance that is lo er than the acoustic impedance of the host mate ⁇ al
  • the mate ⁇ al arrangement also typicallv includes a plurality of microcavities defined withm the core by applying acoustic energy to the core, wherein the microcavities are located in the vicinity of particles of the fuel mate ⁇ al In preferred aspects, a plurality of the microcavities are in contact w ith a plurality of the particles of the fuel mate ⁇ al
  • a method of making a mate ⁇ al arrangement for use in enhancing electrolytic cavitation reactions is provided The method typically compnses
  • Figure 1 illustrates a reactor system including a chamber filled with a liquid host medium surrounding a reactor structure in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention
  • Figure 2 is a schematic illustration of a developing pressure wave intensity pattern withm a CNR
  • Figure 3 illustrates an example of a d ⁇ ving circuit of Figure 1
  • Figure 4 illustrates several CNR configurations
  • Figure 5 is an illustration of an acoustic d ⁇ ver utilizing one or more streams of particles
  • F ure 6 is an illustration of an acoustic d ⁇ ver similar to that shown in Figure 5 except that the particles from the d ⁇ ver impact a coupler which determines the impulse shape d ⁇ ven into the chamber,
  • Figure 7 is an illustration of an acoustic d ⁇ ver utilizing a jet of liquid droplets
  • Figure 8 is an illustration of a CNR that includes an inner core region surrounded by an outer shell
  • Figure 9 illustrates a cross section (spherical or cylindrical) of a reactor wherein the density of fuel particles decreases with increasing distance from the center of the reactor according to one embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a reactor system 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
  • CNR solid cavitation reactor structure
  • CNR 101 is comprised principally of a solid material.
  • CNR 101 is located in a reactor chamber 110 which is filled, at least in part, with a liquid 120.
  • chamber 110 is a glass flask, but may be made of any material, such as a metal or ceramic composition, that allows the liquid 120 to be pressurized to a static pressure different from the ambient static pressure.
  • CNR 101 is a disk, but any other geometry can be used, e.g., spherical, cylindrical, planar, etc., as desired.
  • liquid 120 is heavy water (including deuterium and/or tritium) and CNR 101 is a disk comprised primarily of gadolinium loaded with deuterium, e.g., by electrolysis in a deuterium environment, by heating in a deuterium gas environment, etc.
  • the gadolinium reactor structure is loaded with deuterium in a D 2 0 environment using electrolysis run at 60V using a platinum anode 125.
  • CNR 101 can be loaded with fuel using electrolysis and cavitation. It will be apparent that other liquids, and other reactor structures including any other host material loaded with a fuel material, as desired for the desired reaction can be used as will be described in more detail below.
  • a pulsed acoustic shock wave is introduced into liquid 120 using acoustic horn 130.
  • Driving elements 135 couple acoustic energy to the hom 130.
  • driving elements 135 include piezoelectric crystals coupled to a driving circuit 140 that applies a voltage waveform to the piezoelectric crystals.
  • the voltage level and driving frequency is set with a waveform generator 145.
  • RF amplifier 150 provides amplification for the generated waveform.
  • waveform generator 145 is an ETC model M321 waveform generator
  • RF amplifier 150 is a ENI model 2100L RF amplifier.
  • An example of a useful driving circuit is shown in Figure 3.
  • Oscilloscope 160 is provided to measure the voltage and current applied to the piezocrystals.
  • Horn 130 is preferably made of titanium, but any other rigid material can be used. Additionally, as shown, thin steel plates 170 can be used to make the connection between the piezocrystal 135 and hom 130. Copper wires 175 support the system while minimizing acoustic damping. When the voltage and current are in phase, the horn will be in resonance. By adjusting the voltage and current, it is possible to fine tune the acoustic horn so that the resonant frequency of the hom matches the resonance of liquid-filled chamber 110.
  • f r the resonant frequency
  • c m the speed of sound in the material
  • d the diameter of the spherical structure (e.g., spherical chamber, spherical reactor).
  • c the speed of sound in the liquid
  • d is the diameter of the chamber. Glass will generally cause the actual resonant frequency to be about 10% higher.
  • the resonance can be measured empirically by fixing a piezocrystal to the side of the chamber to act as a microphone. Observing the voltage across this piezocrystal while driving different frequencies with the driver horn will yield the chamber's resonant frequency.
  • the resonant frequency for a solid sphere can be calculated in the same manner by dividing the speed of sound in the material by the diameter of the sphere. For example, for a two inch diameter titanium sphere, the resonant frequency is about lOOKHz. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that other geometries and topologies may be used, with appropriate changes in the formulas for determining resonance frequencies as are well known.
  • antinodes are preferentially focused in the vicinity of CNR 101 so that bubbles in liquid 120 will cavitate and collapse on CNR 101.
  • the cavitation and collapse of bubbles on CNR 101 will drive acoustic energy into CNR 101. It is therefore possible to d ⁇ ve secondary cavitation reactions within CXR 101 with the appropriate selection of materials and dimensions of chamber 110 and with the appropriate selection of materials and dimensions of CNR 101 relative to chamber 110, with an antinode distribution dependent upon the material(s) and geometry of CNR 101.
  • the cavitating and collapsing bubbles therefore, act as a driving mechanism for driving acoustic energy into CNR 101.
  • the applied acoustic energy results in a pressure intensity pattern within CNR 101.
  • the exact characteristics of the intensity pattern are dependent upon, among other factors, the size, shape, and material(s) comprising CNR 101 ; the frequency(ies) of energy applied by the bubbles collapsing on CNR 101; and the mechanical and thermal history of CNR 101 (e.g., how long CNR 101 has been in operation, the locations of previously formed cavities, etc.).
  • the intensity pattern at numerous locations within CNR 101 the energy is high enough to form small cavities or "bubbles" within solid material, the "bubbles" being between about 0.1 and about 100 micrometers in diameter depending on the material(s) used.
  • the applied acoustic energy causes the newly formed bubbles to oscillate.
  • the bubbles first expand and then collapse.
  • the spherically converging material associated with the collapse process attains supersonic velocities, thus leading to a density and temperature in excess of that required to drive the desired reaction, e.g., the desired nuclear reaction(s) or desired chemical catalytic reaction(s). Temperatures attained are typically between about 10,000°K and about 1,000,000°K or greater.
  • the bubbles or cavities repetitively undergo the expansion/collapse cycles. It should be understood, however, that under the appropriate conditions, e.g., sufficient input energy, appropriate fuel, etc., a single collapse cycle for a given bubble is sufficient to cause the desired reaction to take place within that bubble.
  • the pressure intensity pattern within the CNR is dependent upon a variety of geometrical, topographic, topological, material and driver (e.g. liquid 120 in chamber 110) characteristics. Accordingly, a variety of pressure intensity patterns can be created within the CNR. For example, in a CNR having a spherical geometry as illustrated in Figure 2, if CNR 201 is driven at a frequency that is greater than the resonant frequency of the reactor, a pressure intensity pattern develops in which pressure anti-nodes exist throughout the reactor. These anti-nodes, two of which are shown in Figure 2 at a pair of locations 205, occur where there is a convergence of acoustic energy (i.e., basically the phenomena of constructive interference in three dimensions).
  • CNR 201 can be coupled to a driver 207 operating at the resonant frequency of the reactor or, at harmonics or sub-harmonics of the resonant frequency. Due to the resonance of the structure, the strongest pressure anti-node will exist at the center of CNR 201 at a location 209 with the intensity of the pressure anti- nodes decreasing with increasing distance from the center of the reactor.
  • the CNR may be comprised of two or more individual structures such as an inner sphere 211 of one material composition surrounded by an outer shell 213 of another material composition.
  • the reactor is preferably driven at the resonant frequency, or some integer multiple thereof, or it can be driven at a non-resonant frequency.
  • spherical reactors are shown in Figure 2, the invention is not so limited.
  • CNR 101 can utilize any of a variety of different shapes.
  • CNR 101 can have a spherical shape 301, a cylindrical shape 303, a conical shape 304, a rectangular shape 305, or an irregular shape 307.
  • a CNR in accordance with the present invention can also utilize one or more hollow portions 309, which penetrate through the reactor core, thus providing improved cooling and heat extraction.
  • Such a structure, with one hole is known in mathematics as a non-simple topology, or, a topology having one handle. Examples of such configurations include a cylinder 311, a donut-shaped CNR 313, and a rectangular shape 315.
  • CNR 101 is operated in a mode designed to achieve a gradient in the intensity of the pressure anti-nodes with the intensity of the pressure anti-nodes decreasing with increasing distance from the center of the reactor. Given that the material around individual cavities becomes mechanically weakened due to repetitive stress cycling, a benefit of a gradient CNR configuration
  • a GCNR is to provide a relatively strong outer shell in which the mechanical stresses are at a minimum, thereby keeping the reactor intact for an extended period of time.
  • a reactor that is not operated utilizing the intensity gradient configuration e.g., CNR 201
  • CNR 201 will form cavities through the volume, including at or near the surface of the reactor, leading to relatively rapid reactor failure primarily due to material fatigue fractures similar to those observed in materials subjected to ultrasonic radiation for extended periods of time.
  • Another benefit of the GCNR design is to provide nuclear radiation shielding. Depending upon the type of nuclear reaction that is promoted within the CNR, one or more radioactive by-products can be formed.
  • the outer layer of the reactor will provide radiation shielding, the efficiency of which depends upon the radioactive byproducts formed as well as the thickness and material of the outer layer.
  • the reactor can be driven (e.g. via cavitation of bubbles in liquid 120) at the resonant frequency, or an integer multiple thereof, resulting in a gradient in the intensity of the pressure anti-nodes.
  • the maximum pressure anti-node intensity is at the center of the reactor and decreases with increasing distance from the center of the reactor.
  • the gradient can be achieved in the number, rather than the intensity, of the pressure anti- nodes.
  • the highest density of pressure anti-nodes is located near the center of the reactor, with the density decreasing with increasing distance from the center of the reactor.
  • the composition of the reactor can be varied in such a manner as to achieve a GCNR.
  • a fuel material having a low acoustic impedance can be loaded into a host material having a high acoustic impedance such that the fuel material density is highest at the center of the reactor, decreasing with increasing distance from the center of the reactor.
  • Figure 9 illustrates a cross section of a reactor structure (spherical or cylindrical), according to one embodiment, wherein the density of fuel particles decreases as the distance from the center increases (i.e. increasing r).
  • the density profile of fuel material can be uniform throughout or it can be increasing with increasing distance from the center of the reactor, as desired.
  • suitable fuel and host material combinations include, but are not limited to, gadolinium deuteride (GdD2) and tungsten (W), lithium deuteride (LiD) and W, LiD and Gd, deuterium (D) and titanium (Ti), and D and lead (Pd).
  • GdD2 gadolinium deuteride
  • W tungsten
  • LiD lithium deuteride
  • LiD and Gd LiD and Gd
  • D deuterium
  • Ti titanium
  • D and lead (Pd) D and lead
  • the host material has a high thermal conductivity and a high sound speed thus promoting high shock wave velocities and the attendant generation of high temperatures.
  • the host material is a metal.
  • the CNR is fabricated from titanium, tungsten, or gadolinium, although a variety of other host materials can be used such as cadmium, molybdenum, rhenium, or osmium. Additional host materials include europium, tantalum, uranium, boron, niobium, ruthenium, dysprosium, iridium, Plutonium, Samarium, Platinum, Thorium, chromium, mercury, cobalt, hafnium and gold. In order to accomplish the desired nuclear reaction, the proper reactants, e.g., nuclear fuels, must be loaded into CNR 101.
  • the proper reactants e.g., nuclear fuels
  • Powder metallurgy is one technique by which the desired reactants are loaded into the host lattice structure material comprising the CNR.
  • a powder of a fuel reactant e.g., LiD, LiT, CdD, CdT or GdD2
  • a powder of the host material e.g., Ti, W, Os, Mo, Gd
  • a hot isostatic press, cold isostatic press, or other means e.g., a sphere, cylinder, disk, etc.
  • the powders include particles having diameters in the range of about 1 to about 100 micrometers, more preferably in the range of about .1 to about 1 micrometers, and even more preferably in the range of about 1 to about 100 nanometers, or even smaller.
  • Host material particles are preferably as small as possible, e.g., nanophase powders, but commercially available sizes are adequate and will reduce costs.
  • powder metallurgy provides an easy technique for controlling both the concentration and placement of the reactants within the host material lattice of the CNR.
  • Another technique for loading reactants is to bubble the desired reactant, for example deuterium, into the melted host material. After the host material is loaded with the reactant, it is either cast or drawn into the desired shape. If necessary, the cast or drawn material can be further shaped by machining.
  • Yet another technique for loading reactants is to expose the host material to a high pressure gas of the desired reactant in a deuterium furnace. For example, a titanium or tungsten host material can be exposed to high pressure deuterium using this technique. Alternately, a source of a high pressure gas of deuterium or other reactant can be attached to a host material which is then placed within a furnace.
  • the reactant e.g., deuterium
  • the reactant will flow through the metal lattice, particularly if the host material is in the form of a drawn bar. Once loaded, the host material is machined into the desired reactor shape.
  • reactant loading is improved by loading at a high temperature or by using a glow discharge to ionize the reactant and break-up the molecules into free atoms that can more easily penetrate into the metal lattice.
  • Still other techniques for loading reactants include electrolysis and cavitation, for example using electrolysis within chamber 110 using electrode 125.
  • electrolysis and/or cavitation By performing electrolysis and/or cavitation on the exterior surface of the host material, the reactants can be driven into the interior. Migration of the reactants through the host material typically follows imperfections in the grain structure. For example, using the arrangement shown in Figure 1, CNR 101 can be loaded with deuterium through electrolysis in a deuterium environment such as heavy water.
  • secondary cavitation effects as described above provide a technique for creating microcavities and loading deuterium into a reactor structure in heavy water.
  • the loaded reactor is placed in a vacuum oven or in an oven utilizing a high pressure inert gas such as argon.
  • Inert gases e.g., argon
  • the purpose of this heating step is to allow the reactant atoms (e.g., D and/or T) to diffuse out of the exterior of the reactor. Since the reactant atoms will diffuse first from the outermost layer of the reactor and last from the center of the reactor, the reactor will develop a reactant concentration gradient wherein the lowest reactant concentration is at the exterior surface and the highest reactant concentration is at the center of the reactor.
  • a GCNR is formed as previously described, thus providing a reactor in which the mechanical integrity of the exterior surface has been improved, leading to increased reactor life.
  • a host material having a high sound speed and a high thermal conductivity it is advantageous to use a fuel material having a high sound speed to promote the formation of microcavities in the vicinity of fuel particles and to promote high shock wave velocities in the collapsing cavities.
  • a host material having a high acoustic impedance relative to the acoustic impedance of the loaded fuel material In general, acoustic energy tends to be refracted and concentrated upon crossing a boundary from a high acoustic impedance area to a lower acoustic impedance area.
  • v c is the speed of sound in the material
  • p the density of the material.
  • T me i t melting temperature
  • T vap temperature at which the fuel material vaporizes
  • An example of a preferred selection of materials for use in a CNR is a sintered mixture of tungsten as a host material and GdD2 (having a low acoustic impedance relative to tungsten) as a fuel material.
  • Application of acoustic energy will result in the formation of localized regions of fuel particles of low acoustic 0 impedance into which applied acoustic energy is preferentially refracted and concentrated thereby creating pressure antinodes in the vicinity of the fuel particles.
  • the regions containing GdD2 are typically the first to melt, both due to the concentration of energy in these regions as well as the lower melting temperature of GdD2 as compared to tungsten.
  • the concentration of acoustic energy in the fuel material will cause cavitation within the fuel material.
  • the materials in the perimeter of the “bubble” are slammed together at supersonic velocities creating enough heat to ignite any fuel particle in the vicinity of the collapse (i.e., within about .1 micrometer to about 10 micrometers of the "bubble” or microcavity).
  • the present invention can utilize any of a variety of acoustic driver arrangements for applying acoustic energy to chamber 1 10.
  • the acoustic driver is coupled to a frequency source (e.g., driving circuit 140).
  • the desired frequency depends upon the characteristics of chamber 1 10 and liquid 120 as well as the characteristics of the host material of CNR 101 and the desired pressure intensity pattern, although for a metal host preferably the frequency is in the range of 1 kHz to 1 GHz, and more preferably in the range of 100 kHz to 10 MHz.
  • the output of the frequency source is adjustable over a relatively large range, thus allowing the frequency to be fine tuned to the characteristics of a specific chamber and CNR.
  • the output of the frequency source is periodically altered to at least a small degree, e.g., ⁇ 10%, thereby changing the acoustic interference pattern within chamber 110, and therefore within CNR 101, and insuring that the locations of the cavities formed within the CNR vary.
  • a small degree e.g., ⁇ 10%
  • Varying the cavity locations also allows regions in the CNR containing unused fuel to be excited, thereby providing efficient fuel usage. It should be noted, however, that due to the continual formation and collapse of cavities within the CNR, the frequency characteristics of the CNR are continually changing, thus automatically varying the locations of cavitation within the CNR and reducing the need to vary the output of the frequency source.
  • CNR 101 has well defined frequency characteristics, e.g., fundamental frequency, that are dependent upon not only the material(s) comprising the CNR but also the size and shape of the CNR.
  • the fundamental frequency can be estimated using the sound speed of the material(s) comprising the CNR as well as the dimensions of the CNR.
  • An initial driver frequency i.e., frequency of collapsing bubbles in liquid 120
  • Solid metal or ceramic CNR structures are preferred when resonance is desired.
  • the driving frequency can then be fine tuned by monitoring some aspect of the reactor, such as the amount of acoustic or white noise generated by the collapsing cavities within the reactor, and adjusting the driving frequency to maximize the selected characteristic.
  • some aspect of the reactor such as the amount of acoustic or white noise generated by the collapsing cavities within the reactor, and adjusting the driving frequency to maximize the selected characteristic.
  • the fundamental frequency of the reactor can be experimentally determined using techniques well known by those of skill in the art.
  • resonant standing waves are generated within CNR 101, thus leading to the formation of large numbers of cavities, e.g., on the order of 10 6 /cm 3 to 10 l2 /cm .
  • a frequency greater than the fundamental frequency of the CNR is coupled into the CNR.
  • a reactor system in accordance with the present invention can use one or more drivers. It is understood, however, that preferably more than one driver, and typically more than two drivers, are used to generate pressure intensity patterns in chamber 110 with a large number of pressure anti-nodes.
  • the resonance pattern i.e., pressure intensity pattern
  • the resonance pattern is also controlled by the driver locations and the manner in which the drivers are coupled to the chamber. It has been found that the mounting locations are virtually limitless (e.g., opposed drivers, multiple adjacent drivers, etc.). If multiple drivers are used they can be of either the same or different type and of either the same or different frequency.
  • piezoelectric crystals are used to couple acoustic energy to chamber 110.
  • piezoelectric elements are used to couple acoustic energy to hom 103, which in turn drive acoustic waves within chamber 110.
  • Figures 5-7 illustrate alternate embodiments for coupling acoustic energy to chamber 1 10.
  • Figure 5 illustrates an acoustic driver system 600 based on a shot peening technique.
  • System 600 utilizes one or more particle discharge systems 601 , each directing a stream of individual particles 603 at chamber 110. As each particle 603 collides with the surface of chamber 110. an acoustic wave impulse is generated.
  • Driver system 600 may also implement laser peening in which a pulsed laser source is directed at chamber 110, resulting in the generation of acoustic pulses
  • d ⁇ ver system 700 shown m Figure 6 includes a coupler 701 mounted to chamber 110
  • the stream of particles 603 impact coupler 701 rather than the outer surface of chamber 110
  • Coupler 701 controls the shape of the impulse generated withm chamber 1 10 as well as providing a wear surface that can be designed to be easily replaceable
  • FIG. 7 is an illustration of an acoustic d ⁇ ver system 800 including one or more pulsed liquid jet generators 801
  • Each liquid jet generator 801 directs a liquid jet, for example comp ⁇ sed of water, at chamber 1 10
  • a vanety of techniques can be used to pulse liquid jet generators 801 in order to form a stream of liquid droplets 803 that generate acoustic impulses withm the reactor upon impact against chamber 1 10 or a suitable coupler 805
  • an ultrasonically excited needle rest ⁇ ction can be placed within the jet causing modulation of the fluid flowing through the jet, and thus the formation of droplets 803
  • the fluid can be ultrasonically d ⁇ ven, resulting in modulation of the pressure at the tip of the jet as well as modulation of the fluid flow rate
  • jet generator assemblies 801 can be acoustically modulated, thereby alte ⁇ ng the mass flow rate of the fluid exiting the jets
  • one or more magnetost ⁇ ctive devices are used to supply acoustic energy when it is desired to apply high power acoustic energy at low frequencies
  • CNR 1200 shown in Figure 8 improves upon this concept by utilizing a layered design
  • CNR 1200 shown in Figure 8 surrounds an inner core region 1203 with a single layer 1205, it is understood that the core can be surrounded by more than a single layer
  • the acoustic energy is delivered to inner core 1203 through the outer layer or layers
  • a sphe ⁇ cal configuration is shown, the inv ention is not so limited
  • a layered cube, a layered cylinder, a la ered rectangular shape, and a layered random shape are also envisioned.
  • the unifying aspect of this embodiment is the confinement of the desired fuel material within one or more exterior layers of a different, preferably non-fuel material.
  • the inner confined region can be spherical, cubic, or otherwise shaped.
  • Inner core 1203 is preferably fabricated from the desired fuel material while outer layer 1205 is fabricated from a lower cost, high tensile strength host material, thereby lowering the overall manufacturing cost while simultaneously extending reactor life through the reduction of stress fatigue failures. Also preferably the acoustic impedance of core 1203 is lower than that of layer 1205 thus improving the shock tendencies of the reactor.
  • inner core 1203 is made of a fuel material including a fuel component mixed with the host material used to make outer layer 1205, so that acoustic impedance mismatches between core 1203 and outer layer 1205 are essentially eliminated.
  • layer 1205 is made of tungsten and core 1203 is made of LiD or LiT mixed in tungsten.
  • core 1203 is made of a fuel material mixed with a second (host) material different from the host material in layer 1205.
  • a second (host) material different from the host material in layer 1205.
  • core 1203 includes fuel material having a uniform density throughout, although the fuel material may have a non-uniform density profile within core 1203, for example, as shown in Figure 9.
  • the desired fuel material is selected depending on the desired reaction(s). Desired reaction paths include Li - D reactions, D + D reactions, D + Gd reactions (e.g., neutron stripping), D +Cd, etc. It will also be appreciated that Tritium (T) or T+D can be substituted for D in the listed and contemplated reactions, although T is less preferred for the sole reason that it is radioactive.
  • the embodiment shown in Figure 8 can be used for any of the disclosed cavitation driven nuclear reactions, the present embodiment is particularly useful for enhancing neutron stripping reactions.
  • a heavy isotope with a large thermal neutron capture cross section is forced to react with a light isotope (e.g., a hydrogen isotope such as deuterium or tritium).
  • the neutron capture cross section of the heavy isotope is preferably greater than about 10 barns, more preferably greater than about 100 barns and even more preferably greater than about 1000 bams.
  • the higher the neutron capture cross section the more likely a neutron stripping reaction will occur.
  • the neutron stripping reaction in a CNR can be enhanced through the use of high neutron cross section isotopes in the CNR.
  • high neutron cross section isotopes in the CNR For example, boron, cadmium, europium, gadolinium, samarium, dysprosium, iridium, and mercury all offer high neutron cross section isotopes. Particularly, several isotopes of gadolinium offer extremely high neutron cross sections as does one isotope of cadmium.
  • the reaction occurs via quantum tunneling of neutrons from the bound states in the light nuclei to the heavier nuclei and is accompanied by an energy release on the order of approximately 4 MeV. Typically the reaction requires a higher activation temperature than that required for a light isotope reaction.
  • the plasma temperature achieved at the end of the collapse of the cavity is typically greater for heavier elements than for light elements. This result is due to the fact that the temperature is the average kinetic energy of the particles in a material. Thus for two particles of different mass traveling at the same velocity, the particle with the greater mass will have the higher kinetic temperature.
  • the present reactor arrangements are ideally suited for neutron stripping reactions, for example where a deuteron is used to transfer a neutron to a second nucleus such as gadolinium.
  • specific undesirable end products are avoided by removing isotopes with a mass number one less than that of the undesirable end product prior to initializing the neutron stripping reaction.
  • isotopes with a mass number one less than that of the undesirable end product prior to initializing the neutron stripping reaction.
  • core region 1203 is comprised of an enriched isotope of a material with a high neutron cross section, such as Gd (i.e., having a neutron cross section of approximately 254,000 bams) or other material having isotopes with high neutron capture cross sections as discussed above.
  • Gd i.e., having a neutron cross section of approximately 254,000 bams
  • Enriched material e.g., gadolinium, cadmium, etc.
  • enrichment techniques e.g., atomic vapor laser isotope separation
  • Layer 1205 is preferably comprised of a non-fuel material such as tungsten, titanium, or molybdenum that is capable of delivering the acoustic energy from the driver or drivers to core region 1203.
  • a non-fuel material such as tungsten, titanium, or molybdenum that is capable of delivering the acoustic energy from the driver or drivers to core region 1203.
  • An advantage of tungsten is its high sound speed, high density, and high acoustic impedance. Utilizing an exterior layer with a higher acoustic impedance than the central core region leads to an increase in the velocity of the compression wave initiated by the driver as the compression wave passes the interface between the two materials. As a consequence, higher shock wave velocities and higher temperatures can be obtained within the collapsing cavities or bubbles.
  • tungsten or a similar material, for layer 1205 offers other advantages. For example, it has a high mechanical operating temperature, thus allowing high temperature reactions to take place within the reactor without causing the ultimate failure of the reactor through melting.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Plasma & Fusion (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • High Energy & Nuclear Physics (AREA)
  • Physical Or Chemical Processes And Apparatus (AREA)

Abstract

Selon cette invention, le coeur d'un réacteur est positionné dans une chambre contenant un milieu liquide et comprend un matériau hôte dans lequel est intercalé un matériau combustible. Une énergie acoustique est appliquée à la chambre à la fréquence résonante de la chambre afin de générer une cavitation dans le milieu liquide entourant le coeur. Les bulles de liquide créent une cavitation et s'écrasent sur le coeur, ce qui entraîne l'énergie acoustique dans le coeur. De préférence, le matériau hôte du coeur a une impédance acoustique supérieure à celle du matériau combustible de sorte que l'énergie acoustique appliquée sur le coeur du réacteur soit réfractée et concentrée dans le matériau combustible, ce qui provoque la cavitation dans le combustible et de préférence la formation de microcavités en contact avec le matériau combustible. Les températures obtenues dans les microcavités du coeur sont suffisantes pour entraîner de nombreuses réactions, y compris des réactions nucléaires telles que des réactions au deutérium (D) + D. Le matériau combustible comprend de préférence un composant tel que D et/ou tritium (T) ou un composé comprenant D et/ou T. Des réactions neutroniques telles que le stripage peuvent également être déclenchées en incluant un matériau, tel que le gadolinium dont la section efficace a une teneur élevée en neutrons, comme composant du matériau combustible et/ou de l'hôte. D ou T est chargé dans le matériau hôte par électrolyse dans l'eau lourde, par exemple, dans la même chambre. Différentes techniques de métallurgie des poudres peuvent être également utilisées pour charger le matériau hôte avec le matériau combustible. Le profil de densité du combustible dans le matériau hôte peut être régulier ou irrégulier.
PCT/US2000/031506 1999-11-24 2000-11-16 Materiaux pour ameliorer les reactions de cavitation electrolytique et leurs procedes de fabrication Ceased WO2001039199A2 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU29050/01A AU2905001A (en) 1999-11-24 2000-11-16 Materials for enhancing electrolytic cavitation reactions and methods for makingthe same

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US44805299A 1999-11-24 1999-11-24
US44840299A 1999-11-24 1999-11-24
US09/448,402 1999-11-24
US09/448,052 1999-11-24

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2001039199A2 true WO2001039199A2 (fr) 2001-05-31
WO2001039199A3 WO2001039199A3 (fr) 2002-07-18

Family

ID=27035210

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2000/031506 Ceased WO2001039199A2 (fr) 1999-11-24 2000-11-16 Materiaux pour ameliorer les reactions de cavitation electrolytique et leurs procedes de fabrication

Country Status (2)

Country Link
AU (1) AU2905001A (fr)
WO (1) WO2001039199A2 (fr)

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7380974B2 (en) * 2005-01-18 2008-06-03 Impulse Devices, Inc. Hydraulic actuated cavitation chamber with integrated fluid rotation system
US7380975B2 (en) * 2005-01-18 2008-06-03 Impulse Devices, Inc. Hydraulic actuated cavitation chamber with integrated fluid rotation system
US7510321B2 (en) * 2005-02-28 2009-03-31 Impulse Devices, Inc. Hydraulic actuated cavitation chamber
US7677790B2 (en) * 2005-01-18 2010-03-16 Impulse Devices, Inc. Fluid rotation system for a cavitation chamber
US8157433B2 (en) * 2005-01-18 2012-04-17 Impulse Devices Inc. Magnetic fluid rotation system for a cavitation chamber
US8537958B2 (en) 2009-02-04 2013-09-17 General Fusion, Inc. Systems and methods for compressing plasma
US8891719B2 (en) 2009-07-29 2014-11-18 General Fusion, Inc. Systems and methods for plasma compression with recycling of projectiles
US10002680B2 (en) 2005-03-04 2018-06-19 General Fusion Inc. Pressure wave generator and controller for generating a pressure wave in a liquid medium
US20190139652A1 (en) * 2016-05-03 2019-05-09 Roger Sherman Stringham Cavitation Heater

Family Cites Families (27)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
BE538825A (fr) * 1954-06-15 1900-01-01
GB825026A (en) * 1956-09-14 1959-12-09 Schmidt Paul An arrangement for the production of shock waves in rapid sequence inside a shock wave chamber
US4874596A (en) * 1957-06-27 1989-10-17 Lemelson Jerome H Production of crystalline structures
US3037922A (en) * 1959-04-14 1962-06-05 Ernest F Johnson Heat transfer and tritium producing system
DE1212229B (de) * 1963-11-28 1966-03-10 Schmidt Paul Verfahren zum Behandeln von in den inneren Bereich eines Stosswellenraums eingefuehrtem Stoff, insbesondere zum UEberfuehren des Stoffes in den Plasmazustand
US3378446A (en) * 1964-03-09 1968-04-16 John R.B. Whittlesey Apparatus using lasers to trigger thermonuclear reactions
US3624239A (en) * 1970-02-11 1971-11-30 Atomic Energy Commission Pulsed laser-ignited thermonuclear reactor
US4367130A (en) * 1970-11-30 1983-01-04 Lemelson Jerome H Chemical reaction
US3762992A (en) * 1972-03-01 1973-10-02 Atomic Energy Commission Laser driven fusion reactor
US4344911A (en) * 1977-11-14 1982-08-17 The United States Of America As Represented By The United States Department Of Energy Fluidized wall for protecting fusion chamber walls
US4333796A (en) * 1978-05-19 1982-06-08 Flynn Hugh G Method of generating energy by acoustically induced cavitation fusion and reactor therefor
US4448743A (en) * 1979-10-15 1984-05-15 Applied Fusion Research Corporation Generation, insulated confinement, and heating of ultra-high temperature plasmas
US4968395A (en) * 1989-06-21 1990-11-06 Richard Pavelle Method and apparatus for increasing catalytic efficiency of electrodes
JPH0353195A (ja) * 1989-07-21 1991-03-07 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd エネルギー発生装置
JPH0367196A (ja) * 1989-08-05 1991-03-22 Akihiro Fujimura 核融合の実験装置
JPH03226694A (ja) * 1990-02-01 1991-10-07 Semiconductor Energy Lab Co Ltd 電気化学型低温核融合方法
DE4008040A1 (de) * 1990-03-14 1990-10-31 Wertz Herbert Verfahren zur energiegewinnung durch kernreaktionen in fluessigkeiten leichter elemente oder verbindungen leichter elemente, bei zuhilfenahme einer oder mehrerer elektrischer spannungen sowie elektrischer leiter als elektroden und den entladungserscheinungen im gaspolsterplasma
JPH0618683A (ja) * 1992-07-03 1994-01-28 Doke Masaaki 常温核融合用円筒メッキ型振動電極装置
US5411654A (en) * 1993-07-02 1995-05-02 Massachusetts Institute Of Technology Method of maximizing anharmonic oscillations in deuterated alloys
IT1282858B1 (it) * 1994-01-27 1998-04-01 Francesco Piantelli Termofusore generatore di energia a effetto fasec: fusione anarmonica stimolata con emissione di calore.
US5659173A (en) * 1994-02-23 1997-08-19 The Regents Of The University Of California Converting acoustic energy into useful other energy forms
US5982801A (en) * 1994-07-14 1999-11-09 Quantum Sonic Corp., Inc Momentum transfer apparatus
US5525041A (en) * 1994-07-14 1996-06-11 Deak; David Momemtum transfer pump
AU4511896A (en) * 1995-01-06 1996-07-24 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute A nonperiodically forced bubble fusion reactor
AU4854996A (en) * 1995-01-26 1996-08-21 Irwin A. Pless A method and apparatus for generating large velocity, high pressure, and high temperature conditions
US6024935A (en) * 1996-01-26 2000-02-15 Blacklight Power, Inc. Lower-energy hydrogen methods and structures
AU3384297A (en) * 1996-06-11 1998-01-14 American Technologies Group, Inc. A method for generating nuclear fusion through high pressure

Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7380974B2 (en) * 2005-01-18 2008-06-03 Impulse Devices, Inc. Hydraulic actuated cavitation chamber with integrated fluid rotation system
US7380975B2 (en) * 2005-01-18 2008-06-03 Impulse Devices, Inc. Hydraulic actuated cavitation chamber with integrated fluid rotation system
US7677790B2 (en) * 2005-01-18 2010-03-16 Impulse Devices, Inc. Fluid rotation system for a cavitation chamber
US8157433B2 (en) * 2005-01-18 2012-04-17 Impulse Devices Inc. Magnetic fluid rotation system for a cavitation chamber
US7510321B2 (en) * 2005-02-28 2009-03-31 Impulse Devices, Inc. Hydraulic actuated cavitation chamber
US10002680B2 (en) 2005-03-04 2018-06-19 General Fusion Inc. Pressure wave generator and controller for generating a pressure wave in a liquid medium
US9875816B2 (en) 2009-02-04 2018-01-23 General Fusion Inc. Systems and methods for compressing plasma
US9424955B2 (en) 2009-02-04 2016-08-23 General Fusion Inc. Systems and methods for compressing plasma
US8537958B2 (en) 2009-02-04 2013-09-17 General Fusion, Inc. Systems and methods for compressing plasma
US10984917B2 (en) 2009-02-04 2021-04-20 General Fusion Inc. Systems and methods for compressing plasma
US9271383B2 (en) 2009-07-29 2016-02-23 General Fusion, Inc. Systems and methods for plasma compression with recycling of projectiles
US8891719B2 (en) 2009-07-29 2014-11-18 General Fusion, Inc. Systems and methods for plasma compression with recycling of projectiles
US20190139652A1 (en) * 2016-05-03 2019-05-09 Roger Sherman Stringham Cavitation Heater

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU2905001A (en) 2001-06-04
WO2001039199A3 (fr) 2002-07-18

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US10269458B2 (en) Reactor using electrical and magnetic fields
RU2155392C2 (ru) Способ и генератор для производства энергии посредством ангармонического вынужденного ядерного синтеза
US20170372801A1 (en) Reactor using azimuthally varying electrical fields
CN100575246C (zh) 微波电池、化学反应器和能量转化器
Sharapov et al. Alfvén wave cascades in a tokamak
Ishii et al. Structure-Driven Nonlinear Instability of Double Tearing Modes<? format?> and the Abrupt Growth after Long-Time-Scale Evolution
US4333796A (en) Method of generating energy by acoustically induced cavitation fusion and reactor therefor
EP1309973A2 (fr) Reacteur nucleaire a cavitation a base de liquide, comportant un systeme de traitement externe du liquide du reacteur
US20050129161A1 (en) Apparatus and method for fusion reactor
US10319480B2 (en) Fusion reactor using azimuthally accelerated plasma
US20180322962A1 (en) Reactor using electrical and magnetic fields
KR102823906B1 (ko) 상호 작용하는 반응물에 대한 쿨롱 장벽 감소
WO2001039199A2 (fr) Materiaux pour ameliorer les reactions de cavitation electrolytique et leurs procedes de fabrication
EP3244705B1 (fr) Procédé et source de lumière à rayons x ou uv
US20180322963A1 (en) Helium generator
US20180005711A1 (en) Reactor using azimuthally varying electrical fields
US10515726B2 (en) Reducing the coulombic barrier to interacting reactants
WO2001039206A2 (fr) Ensemble reacteur composite pour reacteur nucleaire a cavitation
US20190057782A1 (en) Direct energy conversion - applied electric field
WO2001039197A2 (fr) Reacteur nucleaire a cavitation et procede d&#39;exploitation de celui-ci
WO2010114360A1 (fr) Appareil de fusion de noyaux d&#39;isotopes d&#39;hydrogène
WO2001039202A2 (fr) Materiaux pour ameliorer les reactions de cavitation nucleaires et leurs procedes de fabrication
US20070002996A1 (en) Tabletop nuclear fusion generator
WO2001039198A2 (fr) Reacteur nucleaire a cavitation utilisant un generateur de vapeur haute pression
Sweeney et al. Investigation of shell stability in imploding cylindrical targets

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AK Designated states

Kind code of ref document: A2

Designated state(s): AE AG AL AM AT AU AZ BA BB BG BR BY BZ CA CH CN CR CU CZ DE DK DM DZ EE ES FI GB GD GE GH GM HR HU ID IL IN IS JP KE KG KP KR KZ LC LK LR LS LT LU LV MA MD MG MK MN MW MX MZ NO NZ PL PT RO RU SD SE SG SI SK SL TJ TM TR TT TZ UA UG US UZ VN YU ZA ZW

AL Designated countries for regional patents

Kind code of ref document: A2

Designated state(s): GH GM KE LS MW MZ SD SL SZ TZ UG ZW AM AZ BY KG KZ MD RU TJ TM AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LU MC NL PT SE TR BF BJ CF CG CI CM GA GN GW ML MR NE SN TD TG

121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application
REG Reference to national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: 8642

AK Designated states

Kind code of ref document: A3

Designated state(s): AE AG AL AM AT AU AZ BA BB BG BR BY BZ CA CH CN CR CU CZ DE DK DM DZ EE ES FI GB GD GE GH GM HR HU ID IL IN IS JP KE KG KP KR KZ LC LK LR LS LT LU LV MA MD MG MK MN MW MX MZ NO NZ PL PT RO RU SD SE SG SI SK SL TJ TM TR TT TZ UA UG US UZ VN YU ZA ZW

AL Designated countries for regional patents

Kind code of ref document: A3

Designated state(s): GH GM KE LS MW MZ SD SL SZ TZ UG ZW AM AZ BY KG KZ MD RU TJ TM AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LU MC NL PT SE TR BF BJ CF CG CI CM GA GN GW ML MR NE SN TD TG

DFPE Request for preliminary examination filed prior to expiration of 19th month from priority date (pct application filed before 20040101)
122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase