WO2002029826A1

WO2002029826A1 - COLD FUSION WITH A PILOT FOR SELF GENERATING NEUTRON AND β-PARTICLE

Info

Publication number: WO2002029826A1
Application number: PCT/US2000/027406
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sing-Wang Cheng; Hsiang-Wei Cheng
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-10-03
Filing date: 2000-10-05
Publication date: 2002-04-11
Anticipated expiration: 2003-04-03
Also published as: TW517247B; AU2000278569A1

Abstract

A method of producing energy using fusion reaction comprises the steps of impacting a nucleus of a particle production fuel with a neutron or a β- particle and impacting a nucleus of a energy production fuel with a neutron or a β- particle to produce energy. The particle production fuel includes β- particle production fuel and neutron particle production fuel. The β- particle production fuel can be boron 11 (B11), nitrogen 15 (N15), lithium 7 (Li7), deuterium ammonium (N15D3), or a combination thereof, and the neutron particle production fuel can include a hydrogen isotope. The energy production fuel can be helium 3 (He3), tritium, deuterium, proton, or a combination thereof. This invention is a method and an apparatus for generating energy from a fusion reaction. This invention involves a pilot to continuously ignite the fuel source to create the neutron or muon or high energy level β- particles to collide with selected nuclei forming a cycle of production of neutron and β- particle for the continuous fusion reaction. The collision of these neutron or β- particle with a selected nucleus will cause fusion reaction within the nucleus to produce extreme high level of energies.

Description

COLD FUSION WITH A PILOT FOR SELF GENERATING NEUTRON AND β- PARTICLE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the generating of energy from fusion reaction, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus involving a pilot with selected fuel for creating a neutron or β- particle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to fusion reaction, which is one of the primary types of nuclear reactions. The two types of nuclear reaction are fission and fusion. Fusion, however, is a preferred nuclear reaction in that the fuel source for fusion is far more available than the fuel source of fission, and the pollution to the environment produced by fusion is far less than fission.

The primary fuel source of fusion is deuterium and tritium, which are both isotopes of hydrogen. The type of fusion generally referred to today is hot plasma fusion, which is the collision of both deuterium and tritium in a super high temperature environment (in 100 millions of degree Celsius) to ignite the fusion. However, the problem with this particular type of fusion is the difficulty and the high-energy cost of obtaining the super high temperature.

This problem with the hot plasma type of fusion has directed another group of researchers to look into a low temperature type of fusion reaction known as cold fusion. There are generally known to be two types of cold fusion. One type of cold fusion is muon catalytic fusion where a muon, which is approximately 200 times the mass of an electron, collides with deuterium and this deuterium then collides with another deuterium to create helium 3 (He³). The muon is then thrown out of the reaction to continue to collision with other deuterium. This process, however, faces problems because the creation of a muon is very expensive and the number of the collisions produced by the muon in its lifetime is not enough to be economical. In 1989, another type of cold fusion, know as palladium catalytic fusion, was initially presented by Dr. Pons and Dr. Fleischmann. Since then, although this type of cold fusion has become the major focus among the cold fusion research community, many controversies have arisen regarding palladium catalytic fusion. The major difficulties that researchers are facing with regard to palladium catalytic fusion are the lack of concrete theory for the process involved as well as the inability of researchers to consistently reproduce the discovered process.

Although both muon catalytic fusion and palladium catalytic fusion show promise, these processes are not successful because of their inability to create a self-sustaining process. In the muon catalytic fusion, the muon acts as a catalyst as it collides and bonds with the first deuterium, which then collides with the second deuterium to produce He³. The muon is then thrown out of the reaction. However, the muon is possible does not as a catalyst, but instead, the muon actually reacts with the deuterium.

If the muon does react with the deuterium, a muon with about 100 MeV of energy that collides with deuterium will create two neutrons, with each neutron carrying about half of the energy. The neutrons can then each react with deuterium to produce tritium, which decays into helium 3 (He³) and a β- particle. The β- particle carries the same charge as the muon, but the energy of the β- particle is about half of the muon. This cycle continues with β- particle colliding with deuterium, thus forming two neutrons, and the two neutrons continue to collide with deuterium to produce β- particles. After a few cycles, this cycle terminates when the energy carried by the β- particle is less than the energy required for the β- particle to collide with deuterium. Thus, a self-sustaining continuation of muon catalytic fusion cannot be achieved.

Palladium catalytic fusion is promising because it satisfies one of the major criteria for the fusion reaction. This criteria is that a neutron or a ^β- particle will likely collide with a selected nucleus, as at a higher density, the probability for fusion reaction is greater. The palladium in the palladium catalytic fusion acts like a high-pressure process to increase the probability of a reaction. However, due to the lack of a pilot to creates neutrons or β- particles, even when a small amount of the neutrons collide with the nucleus in the palladium catalytic fusion, which cause heat production, the process cannot continue.

Another problem with the existing cold fusion processes is the use of tritium in the reaction. Through calculations of energy balance relation, tritium appears to be a very good fusion reaction fuel because it supposedly generates a self-sustaining reaction. When tritium collides with a neutron, the collision should result in a high energy β- particle. Also, when the tritium collides with a β- particle, the collision should result in three separate neutrons, and the three neutrons can then collide with tritium to produce more β- particles.

However, in reality, the collision of tritium with a β- particle does not create a self- sustaining fusion reaction. When a β- particle collides with tritium, the resulting collision may not form three separate neutron particles, but instead, the collision may form one large neutron 3 particle. When a neutron 3 particle collides with tritium, the collision results in Li⁶ plus two β- particles. However, the β- particle created does not have sufficient energy to collide with either deuterium or tritium to continue the fusion process. Accordingly, a need exists for an improved cold fusion process that minimizes the problem associated with the use of the primary fuel sources of deuterium and tritium.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This and other needs are met by embodiments of the present invention which provide a method of producing energy using fusion reaction, which includes impacting a nucleus of a particle production fuel with a neutron or a β- particle and impacting a nucleus of an energy production fuel with a neutron or a β- particle to produce energy. The particle production fuel includes β- particle production fuel and neutron particle production fuel. The β- particle production fuel can be boron 11 (B¹¹), nitrogen 15 (N¹⁵), lithium 7 (Li⁷), deuterium ammonium (N¹⁵D₃), or other similar type of materials or a combination thereof, and the neutron particle production fuel can include a hydrogen isotope or other similar type of materials. The energy production fuel can be helium 3 (He ), tritium, deuterium, proton, or other similar type of materials or a combination thereof.

In an additional embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus for producing energy using fusion reaction includes a fuel source chamber for containing particle production fuel and an energy production layer adjacent the fuel source chamber. The energy production layer can surround the fuel source chamber, or alternatively the fuel source chamber and the energy production layer can be combined into a single chamber.

It is further noted that the cold fusion process of the present invention is not limited to operation at low temperatures. The operating temperature for the process of the invention can be at any desired temperature but preferably room temperature, e.g., about 20° to 40°C. In fact, the operating temperature can be up to 2000°C or higher.

Additional advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in this art from the following detailed description, wherein only the preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown and described, simply by way of illustration of the best mode contemplated for carrying out the present invention. As will be realized, the present invention is capable of other and different embodiments, and its several details are capable of modifications in various obvious respects, all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference is made to the attached drawings, wherein elements having the same reference numeral designations represent like elements throughout, and wherein:

Figure 1 schematically illustrates a cold fusion apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a flow chart of a method for nuclear reaction with a pilot using boron 11 and deuterium as the fuel for the pilot and an outer layer with selected nucleus for the nuclear reaction according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 is a flow chart of a method with the pilot using nitrogen 15 and deuterium as the fuel for the pilot according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention introduces a method and an apparatus for the fusion reaction with a pilot for self-sustaining generation of neutrons and β- particles. A β- particle is a negatively charged particle with mass larger than the mass of one electron. In any given nucleus reaction, the collision of the two nuclei is very difficult because the shell outside of the nucleus is very difficult to break. Thus, a particle, such as a neutron, a muon, or a high energy β- particle, is required to successfully fuse into the center of the nucleus. A neutron is neutral in charge and does not require high energy to collide into the center of the nucleus, but a β- particle is a charged particle and requires a large amount of momentum energy to collide into the center of the nucleus. The minimum energy level for a high energy β- particle to successfully collide into the nucleus of deuterium is at least approximately 10 MeV. The minimum required energy level for the β- particle is calculated based on the unpublished paper of the nucleus structure theory, "The tri-elementary of the nuclear structure of the atomic nuclei," which was uncovered thirty years ago.

An aspect of the present invention is illustrated in Fig. 1. As illustrated, an apparatus for fusion reaction comprises a chamber 10 having a fuel source chamber 12 (the pilot chamber) and an energy production chamber (or layer) 14 adjacent the fuel source chamber 12. Alternatively, the fuel source chamber 12 can combined with the energy production chamber 14.

The fuel source chamber 12 contains a particle production fuel, which creates particles, such as neutrons, muons, and/or high energy level β- particles. Once ignited and with a continuous supply of particle production fuel, the fuel source chamber 12 can continuously create neutrons, muons, and/or high energy level β- particles, which collide with selected nuclei of the particle production fuel thereby producing additional particles. In this invention, this cycle of particle creation is referred to as a pilot. In current embodiments of the invention, the particle production fuel of the pilot includes a mixture of selected β- particle production fuel and selected neutron particle production fuel.

In this invention, the pilot is to continuously ignite the fuel source to create the neutron or muon or high energy level β- particle, which collide with selected nuclei to form a cycle of production of neutron and β- particles for the continuous fusion reaction. The fuel source of the pilot is a mixture of the selected β- particle production fuel and the selected neutron particle production fuel. The mixture of the fuel source is contained inside a chamber where the outside of the chamber is surrounded with an energy production layer. The energy production layer is made of any material which, when reacted, with β- particle or neutron particle, will create heat. If the pilot is moved away from the energy production layer, the nucleus reaction will stop and when the pilot is reinserted, the reaction will continue. However, the energy production layer and the fuel source chamber can be combined into one single chamber. Furthermore, the reactions within the fuel source chamber (the pilot) can be controlled by increasing or decreasing the vapor pressure of the gas inside the pilot. Therefore, the importance of a successful cold fusion reaction requires the use of the pilot as well as the ability to continuously create and maintain the chain reaction, and the ability to continuously create the pilot and energy release.

In an aspect of the invention, the energy production chamber 14 surrounds the fuel source chamber 12 and is made from an energy production fuel, which when reacted with a particle generated by the pilot, such as a neutron, muon, or β- particle, creates energy, for example, heat. The energy production chamber 14 can also act to terminate reaction chains by ensuring that neutrons or β- particles do not escape from the chamber 10. An additional layer 16 can be added to prevent the escape of neutrons or β- particles. Illustrative examples of an additional layer 16 so capable includes a lithium, a lead or a water layer that surrounds the fuel source chamber 12 and the energy production chamber 14.

The amount of energy generated from the energy production chamber 14 can be controlled by increasing or decreasing the number of particles generated by the pilot that reach the energy production chamber 14, and any device so capable is acceptable for use with the invention. In an aspect of the invention, the pilot is removed away from the energy production chamber 14 to decrease the number of particles that reach the energy production chamber 14. As the number of particles decrease, the amount of energy generated by the energy production chamber 14 also decreases. When the pilot is moved closer to the energy production chamber 14, the amount of energy generated by the energy production chamber 14 increases.

The amount of particles generated by the pilot can also be controlled by increasing or decreasing the density of the particle production fuel within the fuel source chamber 12, and any method so capable is acceptable for use with the invention. For example, if the fuel source includes a gas, particle creation can be controlled by increasing or decreasing the vapor pressure of the gas inside the fuel source chamber 12.

Fig. 2 shows an illustrative example of potential reactions within the fuel source chamber 12 and the energy production chamber 14. In one part of the cycle, a collision with deuterium of a particle, such as a muon or a β- particle, produces two neutrons (D + β- - 2n). The neutrons are then free to collide with other materials such as, tritium, or deuterium. If the neutron collides with helium 3 (He³), the reaction creates He⁴ and a large amount of energy (He³ + n -> He⁴ + Heat); however, the reaction will not create a particle, such as a β- particle, with enough energy for continuation of the cycle in the pilot. If the neutron collides with tritium (T + n -> He⁴ + β-), the reaction will also not create a β- particle and will not have enough energy for continuation of the cycle in the pilot after a few collisions.

The collision of a neutron with deuterium produces a particle that will continue the cycle of the pilot but this is not continuous. When a neutron collides with deuterium, the reaction produces tritium plus some heat (D + n -> T + Heat), and the tritium will decay into He³ and a β- particle carrying some energy (T -> He³ + β-). This β- particle can then collide with deuterium and form more neutrons, thereby creating a cycle of reactions. However, after a few cycles, the energy carried by the β- particle produced deteriorates below the energy level required to collide with deuterium; and therefore, the cycle of reactions of the pilot does not continue, and that particular reaction chain terminates.

In an aspect of the invention, a specific type of nucleus, which can produce a β- particle with a high energy level, is provided to enable a continuous cycle of reactions within the pilot. When a neutron collides with a selected nucleus, for example, boron 11 (B¹¹), a high-energy level β- particle is created (B¹¹ + n ^ B¹² ^ C¹² + β-). The high energy β- particle can then collide with deuterium to create two neutrons. The neutrons can then collide with other selected nucleus, which can create a very rapid cycle in which neutrons are produced. This process allows for a self-sustaining pilot, during which the number of reactions chain for fusion reaction exceeds the number of reaction chains terminated by the reaction process. The self-sustaining pilot allows a cold fusion process that can continually produce excess energy.

In an aspect of the invention, the β- particle production fuel includes B¹¹ and the neutron particle production fuel includes deuterium. To initiate the neutron production cycle, B¹¹ can be reacted with a neutron to create a high energy β- particle, and the high energy β- particle can react with the deuterium to create two neutrons, which continues the neutron production process. Another method of initiating the process of neutron production is to react a muon or high energy β- particle with deuterium to create two neutrons. The neutrons can then react with the B¹¹ to create a high energy β- particle, which continues the neutron production process. Other examples of acceptable material for use as the β- particle production fuel for the pilot include nitrogen 15(N¹⁵), lithium 7 (Li⁷), deuterium ammonium (N¹⁵D₃), and or other nucleus having similar abilities to create a high energy β- particle.

Example 1

A pilot using B¹¹, as an example of a β- particle production fuel, is illustrated in Fig 2. In one step of the fusion cycle, B¹¹ absorbs a neutron and to create boron 12 (B¹²). The B¹² then undergoes a β- decay, which leaves carbon 12 (C¹²) and a high energy β- particle. The high energy β- particle then collides with deuterium in the fuel source chamber to form two neutrons. Although the β- particle collision with deuterium requires about 3.22MeV of energy to satisfy the energy balance relation, due to a repelling force outside of the deuterium, a higher energy of about 10 MeV enables the ^β- particle to enter into the center of the nuclei of deuterium to thereby produce the two neutrons. The neutrons collide with B¹¹ in the fuel source chamber to create the pilot with boron as the β- particle production fuel.

Once the number of neutrons and high energy β- particles reach sufficient large quantities inside the fuel source chamber, the particles escape to the energy production chamber. The energy production chamber can include He³, tritium, deuterium, proton, or a mixture thereof. If an escaped neutron collides with He³, the resulting reaction produces He⁴ plus 21.37 MeV of energy, and if an escaped neutron collides with tritium, the resulting reaction produces He⁴ plus a β- particle carrying 21.40 MeV of energy. Also, if the escaped neutron collides with deuterium, the resulting reaction produces tritium plus 6.4 MeV of energy.

If, however, the escaped particle is a β- particle instead of a neutron, the collision of the escaped β- particle collision with tritium could produce three neutrons. However, because a continuation of the reaction has not been shown in the prior art processes, this reaction may also produce neutron 3 (n³), instead of the three separate neutrons. Also, if the escaped β- particle collides with deuterium, the β- particle which leaves requires at least 10 MeV for the collision for the reason stated above to produce two neutrons.

Example 2

Fig. 3 illustrates a pilot cycle using nitrogen 15 (N¹⁵), as a β- particle production fuel, and deuterium, as the neutron particle production fuel. In one step of the fusion cycle, N¹⁵ absorbs a neutron to create nitrogen 16 (N¹⁶). The N¹⁶ then undergoes a β- decay, which leaves oxygen 16 (O¹⁶) and a high energy β- particle. The high energy ^β- particle collides with deuterium in the fuel source chamber to form two neutrons. The neutrons collide with N¹⁵ in the fuel source chamber to create the pilot with nitrogen as the β- particle production fuel. Another aspect of the invention is the use of the boron 11 (B¹¹), or lithium 7 (Li⁷) as the controller for the reaction rate of the fusion reaction. Increasing the mass of the boron (either in vapor phase, liquid phase, or solid phase) or lithium 7 (Li⁷) (either in vapor phase, liquid phase, or solid phase) in the chamber will increase the rate of the reaction, and decreasing the mass of the boron or lithium 7 in the chamber will decrease the rate of the reaction. The solid form can be in porous form or filament form. The chamber is either the separate chamber, whereby the pilot chamber or the fuel source chamber and the energy production layer are separate; or a combined chamber, whereby, the pilot chamber and the energy production layer are joined as a single layer.

Another aspect of the invention for the β- particle production field is that it can be carried out in the liquid form. These liquid β- particle fuels can be sprayed, dipped, or flowed in to the pilot chamber, or the reaction chamber.

This invention can provide a large source of energy for use in the power plant, power generator, automotive, aircraft, or any other type of equipment which requires large energy.

The present invention can be practiced by employing conventional materials, methodology and equipment. Accordingly, the details of such materials, equipment and methodology are not set forth herein in detail. In the previous description, numerous specific details are set forth, such as specific materials, structures, chemicals, processes, etc., in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it should be recognized that the present invention can be practiced without resorting to the details specifically set forth. In other instances, well known processing structures have not been described in detail, in order not to unnecessarily obscure the present invention.

Only the preferred embodiment of the present invention and but a few examples of its versatility are shown and described in the present disclosure. It is to be understood that the present invention is capable of use in various other combinations and environments and is capable of changes or modifications within the scope of the inventive concept as expressed herein.

Claims

What is claimed is

1. A method of producing a continuous pilot for a nuclear reaction by using the selected β- particle production fuel and the selected neutron particle production fuel for forming a continuous cyclic chain reaction for the continuous production of neutron and β- particle.

2. A method of producing a continuous pilot according to claim 1 , wherein the initial reaction for the selected β- particle production fuel and the selected neutron particle production fuel to form a continuous cyclic chain reaction for the continuous production of neutron and β- particle, is initiated with the neutron, muon, or β- particle.

3. A method of producing energy according to claim 1 , wherein the fusion reaction comprising the steps of: impacting a nucleus of a particle production fuel with a neutron or β- particle for continuous production of β- particles and neutron particles; and impacting a nucleus of an energy production fuel with a neutron or a β- particle to produce energy.

4. The method of producing energy according to claim 3, wherein the particle production fuel includes β- particle production fuel and neutron particle production fuel.

5. The method of producing energy according to claim 1 , wherein the β- particle production fuel is selected from the group consisting of boron 11 (B¹¹), nitrogen 15 (N¹⁵), lithium 7 (Li⁷), deuterium ammonium (N¹⁵D₃), or other similar typSOf materials, or a combination thereof.

6. The method of producing energy according to claim 1 , wherein the neutron particle production fuel includes a hydrogen isotope.

7. The method of producing energy according to claim 1 , wherein the energy production fuel is selected from the group consisting of helium 3 (He³), tritium, deuterium, proton, or other similar type of materials, or a combination thereof.

8. The method of producing energy according to claim 4- 3, wherein the fusion reaction is self-sustaining.

9. An apparatus for producing energy using fusion reaction, comprising: a pilot chamber or fuel source chamber for containing particle production fuel; and an energy production layer adjacent the fuel source chamber.

10. The apparatus for producing energy according to claim 9, wherein said energy production layer surrounds the pilot chamber or the fuel source chamber.

11. The apparatus for producing energy according to claim 9, wherein said pilot chamber or fuel source chamber and said energy production layer are combined into a single chamber.

12. The apparatus for producing energy according to claim 1 , wherein the particle production fuel includes β- particle production fuel and neutron particle production fuel.

13. The apparatus for producing energy according to claim 12, wherein the β- particle production fuel is selected from the group consisting of boron 11 (B¹¹), nitrogen 15 (N¹⁵), lithium 7 (Li⁷), deuterium ammonium (N¹⁵D₃), or other similar type of materials and/or a combination thereof.

14. The apparatus for producing energy according to claim 12, wherein the neutron particle production fuel includes a hydrogen isotope.

15. The apparatus for producing energy according to claim 9, wherein the energy production layer includes energy production fuel.

16. The apparatus for producing energy according to claim 15, wherein the energy production fuel is selected from the group consisting of helium 3 (He³), tritium, deuterium, proton, or other similar type of materials and/or a combination thereof.

17. The apparatus of producing energy according to claim 9, wherein the selected neutron particle production fuel and the β- particle production fuel is contained inside of a pilot chamber with Boron 11 (B¹¹), Nitrogen 15 (N¹⁵), Lithium 7 (Li⁷) or Deuterium Ammonium (N¹⁵D₃) as the selected β- particle production fuel and hydrogen isotopes as the selected neutron particle production fuels, whereby the outer surrounding of the pilot chamber is wrapped with an energy layer for energy production where the material placed in the energy layer is helium 3 (He³), tritium, deuterium, proton, or any material when react with β- particle or neutron particle will create heat.

18. The apparatus of producing energy according to claim 17, wherein the pilot chamber and the energy production layer is combined into one single chamber.

19. The apparatus of producing energy according to claim 9, wherein boron 11 (B¹¹) or lithium (Li⁷) is used as the controller for the reaction rate of the fusion reaction whereby increasing the mass of the boron or lithium in the chamber will increase the rate of the reaction, and where decreasing the mass of the boron or lithium in the chamber will decrease the rate of the reaction; and the said chamber is either a separate chamber, whereby the pilot chamber or the fuel source chamber and the energy production layer are separate, or a combined chamber, whereby, the pilot chamber and the energy production layer are joined as a single layer.