U.S. patent application number 11/072963 was filed with the patent office on 2006-09-07 for pressure wave generator and controller for generating a pressure wave in a fusion reactor.
Invention is credited to Denis J. Connor, Daniel Gelbart, Ross Henry Hill, Michel Georges Laberge.
Application Number | 20060198486 11/072963 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36944141 |
Filed Date | 2006-09-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060198486 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Laberge; Michel Georges ; et
al. |
September 7, 2006 |
Pressure wave generator and controller for generating a pressure
wave in a fusion reactor
Abstract
An apparatus for generating a pressure wave for activating a
fusion reaction in fusionable material in a liquid medium is
disclosed. The apparatus includes a plurality of pressure wave
generators having respective moveable pistons, the pistons having
respective control rods connected thereto. The apparatus also
includes a plurality of transducers coupled to the liquid medium
and means for causing the pistons of respective ones of the
plurality of the pressure wave generators to be accelerated toward
respective ones of the plurality of transducers. The apparatus
further includes means for causing restraining forces to be applied
to respective control rods to cause respective pistons to impact
respective transducers at respective desired times and with
respective desired amounts of kinetic energy such that the
respective desired amounts of kinetic energy are converted into a
pressure wave that converges toward the fusionable material in the
liquid medium.
Inventors: |
Laberge; Michel Georges;
(Bowen Island, CA) ; Gelbart; Daniel; (Vancouver,
CA) ; Hill; Ross Henry; (Coquitlam, CA) ;
Connor; Denis J.; (West Vancouver, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KOLISCH HARTWELL, P.C.
200 PACIFIC BUILDING
520 SW YAMHILL STREET
PORTLAND
OR
97204
US
|
Family ID: |
36944141 |
Appl. No.: |
11/072963 |
Filed: |
March 4, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
376/150 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02E 30/18 20130101;
F15B 21/12 20130101; G21B 3/00 20130101; G10K 15/043 20130101; F03G
7/002 20130101; Y02E 30/10 20130101; Y10T 137/2191 20150401 |
Class at
Publication: |
376/150 |
International
Class: |
G21B 1/11 20060101
G21B001/11 |
Claims
1. A method of operating a pressure wave generator in a system of
pressure wave generators for generating a pressure wave in a liquid
medium contained in a fusion reactor, wherein each pressure wave
generator has a moveable piston and a control rod coupled thereto,
the method comprising: causing the piston to be accelerated toward
a transducer coupled to the liquid medium, by applying a motive
force to the piston; applying a restraining force to the control
rod to cause the piston to impact said transducer at a desired time
and with a desired kinetic energy such that said kinetic energy is
converted into a pressure wave in the liquid medium.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein applying said motive force
comprises applying a fluid pressure to the piston.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein causing the piston to be
accelerated comprises applying a holding force to the control rod
operable to hold the piston stationary while applying a fluid
pressure to the piston.
4. The method of claim 3 comprising using a brake to apply said
holding force.
5. The method of claim 2 wherein causing the piston to be
accelerated comprises releasing a latch coupled to at least one of
the control rod and the piston, said latch being operable to hold
the piston stationary while applying a fluid pressure to the
piston.
6. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating a position
signal representing a position of the piston and applying said
restraining force in response to said position signal.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein generating said position signal
comprises generating a signal representing a position of the
control rod.
8. The method of claim 6 wherein applying said restraining force
comprises applying said restraining force in response to
differences between positions of the piston and desired piston
positions from a schedule of positions representing a desired
piston position relative to time.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein applying said restraining force
comprises increasing said restraining force when a position of the
piston is ahead of a scheduled position and decreasing said
restraining force when said position of the piston is behind said
scheduled position.
10. The method of claim 8 wherein applying said restraining force
comprises producing a restraining force in response to applying a
transfer function to at least one of said differences.
11. The method of claim 10 further comprising modifying said
transfer function in response to at least one of said differences,
such that respective differences in a subsequent operation of the
piston are minimized.
12. A pressure wave generator apparatus for use in a system of
pressure wave generators for generating a pressure wave in a liquid
medium contained in a fusion reactor, the apparatus comprising: a
moveable piston; a control rod coupled to said piston; a transducer
coupled to the liquid medium; means for causing said piston to be
accelerated toward said transducer, by causing a motive force to be
applied to said piston; means for causing a restraining force to be
applied said control rod to cause said piston to impact said
transducer at a desired time and with a desired kinetic energy such
that said kinetic energy is converted into a pressure wave in the
liquid medium.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said means for causing said
motive force to be applied comprises means for applying a fluid
pressure to said piston.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising means for causing
a holding force to be applied to said control rod, said holding
force operable to hold said piston stationary while applying a
fluid pressure to said piston.
15. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising means for
generating a position signal representing a position of said
piston.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said means for causing said
restraining force to be applied to said control rod is operably
configured to cause said restraining force to be applied in
response to said position signal.
17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said means for generating
said position signal comprises means for generating a signal
representing a position of said control rod.
18. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said means for causing said
piston to be accelerated toward said transducer comprises means for
directing said piston toward a wall containing the liquid medium in
the fusion reactor such that said piston impacts said wall and
wherein said wall acts as said transducer coupled to the liquid
medium, such that said impact of said piston against said wall
causes a pressure wave to be generated in the liquid medium.
19. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising means for guiding
said piston toward said transducer.
20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said means for guiding
comprises means for at least partially evacuating air from movement
path of said piston.
21. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said means for guiding said
piston comprises a housing having an inside bore.
22. The apparatus of claim 21 further comprising means for
generating an air cushion between said piston and said inside bore
operable to reduce frictional forces between said piston and said
bore.
23. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said transducer comprises
means for impedance matching said transducer to the liquid
medium.
24. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said piston comprises a face
operable to impact a face of said transducer and wherein said
transducer comprises means for reducing localized impact stresses
between said face of said piston and said face of said
transducer.
25. A pressure wave generator apparatus for use in a system of
pressure wave generators for generating a pressure wave in a liquid
medium contained in a fusion reactor, the apparatus comprising: a
moveable piston; a control rod coupled to said piston; a transducer
coupled to the liquid medium; a motive force generator for causing
said piston to be accelerated toward said transducer; a brake for
causing a restraining force to be applied said control rod to cause
said piston to impact said transducer at a desired time and with a
desired kinetic energy such that said kinetic energy is converted
into a pressure wave in the liquid medium.
26. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said motive force generator
comprises a housing for guiding said piston, said housing defining
a first cavity behind said piston, said cavity having a fluid port
for applying a fluid pressure to said cavity operable to accelerate
said piston toward said transducer.
27. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein said housing defines a second
cavity in front of said piston and further comprising a vacuum port
in said second cavity operable to facilitate said acceleration of
said piston by at least partially evacuating said second
cavity.
28. The apparatus of claim 26 further comprising a brake for
causing a holding force to be applied to said control rod, said
holding force operable to hold said piston stationary while
applying a fluid pressure to said piston.
29. The apparatus of claim 26 further comprising a latch coupled to
at least one of said control rod and said piston, said latch being
operably configured to be released while fluid pressure is applied
to said piston to permit said piston to accelerate under said fluid
pressure.
30. The apparatus of claim 25 further comprising a position sensor
for generating a position signal representing a position of said
piston.
31. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein said control rod has a
plurality of indicia on a surface thereof and said position sensor
comprises: an illuminator for directing a beam of light towards the
indicia; and a photodetector for generating a signal representing
an intensity of light reflected from the indicia, such that when
said piston is accelerated, movement of said control rod causes
said photodetector to generate a signal of varying intensity
representing said position of said control rod.
32. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein said brake is operably
configured to cause said restraining force to be applied in
response to said position signal.
33. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein said brake is operably
configured to cause said restraining force to be applied in
response to differences between positions of said piston and
desired piston positions from a schedule of positions representing
desired piston positions relative to time.
34. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein said brake is operably
configured to cause said restraining force to be increased when a
position of said piston is ahead of a scheduled position and to
cause said restraining force to be decreased when said position of
said piston is behind said scheduled position.
35. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein said brake is operably
configured to cause said restraining force to be applied in
response to applying a transfer function to said differences.
36. The apparatus of claim 35 further comprising a controller for
modifying said transfer function in response to said differences,
such that respective differences in a subsequent operation of said
piston are minimized.
37. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said motive force generator
is operably configured to direct said piston toward a wall
containing the liquid medium in the fusion reactor such that said
piston impacts said wall and wherein said wall acts as said
transducer coupled to the liquid medium, such that said impact of
said piston against said wall causes a pressure wave to be
generated in the liquid medium.
38. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said transducer comprises a
member mounted on a wall containing the liquid medium in the fusion
reactor and wherein the pressure wave generator apparatus is
coupled to said wall such that said piston is disposed to impact
said member.
39. The apparatus of claim 25 comprising a housing for guiding said
moveable piston, said housing having an outside surface and an
inside bore.
40. The apparatus of claim 39 wherein said outside surface is
operable to fit complementarily into an opening in a wall
containing the liquid medium in the fusion reactor.
41. The apparatus of claim 39 wherein said piston comprises a
plurality of fluid orifices disposed between said piston and said
inside bore of said housing, said orifices being operably
configured receive pressurized fluid and to generate an air cushion
between said piston and said inside bore for reducing frictional
forces between said piston and said bore.
42. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said brake comprises: an
actuator; a brake pad operable to generate said restraining force
by frictionally engaging a surface of said control rod in response
to an actuation force applied by said actuator.
43. The apparatus of claim 42 wherein said actuator comprises a
piezoelectric material.
44. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said brake further comprises
a magnetic circuit operably configured to establish a magnetic
field through said control rod thereby generating eddy currents in
said control rod when said control rod moves with respect to said
magnetic circuit, said generation of said eddy currents operable to
apply said restraining force to said control rod.
45. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said brake comprises: a
magnetic fluid in contact with said control rod; a magnetic circuit
operably configured to generate said restraining force by causing a
magnetic field to be coupled through said magnetic fluid and said
control rod.
46. A method of generating a pressure wave for activating a fusion
reaction in fusionable material in a liquid medium, the method
comprising: causing pistons of respective ones of a plurality of
pressure wave generators to be accelerated toward respective
transducers coupled to the liquid medium, by applying respective
motive forces to said pistons; causing restraining forces to be
applied to respective control rods connected to respective pistons
to cause said respective pistons to impact said transducer at
respective desired times and with respective desired amounts of
kinetic energy such that said respective desired amounts of kinetic
energy are converted into a pressure wave that converges toward the
fusionable material in the liquid medium.
47. The method of claim 46 further comprising introducing
fusionable material into the liquid medium.
48. The method of claim 46 further comprising locating said
fusionable material in the liquid medium.
49. The method of claim 48 further comprising determining said
desired times and said desired amounts of kinetic energy in
response to a location of said fusionable material.
50. The method of claim 48 further comprising producing location
signals representing a location of said fusionable material in the
liquid medium.
51. The method of claim 50 further comprising producing release
signals for causing said pistons to be accelerated and producing
restraining signals for causing said restraining force to be
applied to said control rods in response to said location
signals.
52. The method of claim 51 further comprising receiving said
release signals at actuators and causing said actuators to release
said pistons for movement in response to said release signals.
53. The method of claim 51 further comprising receiving said
restraining signals at brakes and causing said brakes to apply said
restraining forces to said control rods in response to said
restraining signals.
54. The method of claim 51 wherein at least one of said desired
times and desired kinetic energies is determined in response to
said location signals.
55. The method of claim 51 further comprising generating position
signals representing positions of respective pistons and causing
said restraining forces to be applied in response to said position
signals and said location signals.
56. A computer readable medium encoded with codes for directing a
processor circuit to carry out the method of claim 46.
57. A computer readable signal encoded with codes for directing a
processor circuit to carry out the method of claim 46.
58. An apparatus for generating a pressure wave for activating a
fusion reaction in fusionable material in a liquid medium, the
apparatus comprising: a plurality of pressure wave generators
having respective moveable pistons, said pistons having respective
control rods connected thereto; a plurality of transducers coupled
to the liquid medium; means for causing said pistons of respective
ones of said plurality of said pressure wave generators to be
accelerated toward respective ones of said plurality of
transducers; means for causing restraining forces to be applied to
respective control rods to cause respective pistons to impact
respective transducers at respective desired times and with
respective desired amounts of kinetic energy such that said
respective desired amounts of kinetic energy are converted into a
pressure wave that converges toward said fusionable material in the
liquid medium.
59. The apparatus of claim 58 further comprising means for causing
fusionable material to be introduced into the liquid medium.
60. The apparatus of claim 58 further comprising means for locating
said fusionable material in the liquid medium.
61. The apparatus of claim 60 further comprising means for
determining said desired times and said desired amounts of kinetic
energy in response to a location of said fusionable material.
62. The apparatus of claim 58 further comprising means for
producing location signals representing a location of said
fusionable material in the liquid medium.
63. The apparatus of claim 62 wherein said means for causing said
pistons to be accelerated comprises motive force generating means
for generating forces on said pistons in respective directions of
desired movement of said respective pistons and holding means for
holding said piston stationary while said forces are applied.
64. The apparatus of claim 63 further comprising means for
producing release signals operable to be received by said holding
means and said holding means being responsive to said release
signals to release said pistons to cause said pistons to be
accelerated in response to said forces generated by said motive
force generating means and further comprising means for producing
restraining signals to cause said restraining force to be applied
to said control rods in response to said location signals.
65. The apparatus of claim 63 further comprising means for
generating position signals representing positions of respective
pistons to cause said restraining forces to be applied in response
to said position signals and said location signals.
66. The apparatus of claim 65 wherein said means for causing
restraining forces to be applied is operably configured to
determine at least one of said desired times and desired kinetic
energies in response to said location signals.
67. An apparatus for generating a pressure wave for activating a
fusion reaction in fusionable material in a liquid medium, the
apparatus comprising: a plurality of pressure wave generators
having respective moveable pistons, said pistons having respective
control rods connected thereto; a plurality of transducers coupled
to the liquid medium; a plurality of motive force generators for
causing said pistons of respective ones of said plurality of said
pressure wave generators to be accelerated toward respective ones
of said plurality of transducers; a plurality of brakes for causing
restraining forces to be applied to respective control rods to
cause respective pistons to impact respective transducers at
respective desired times and with respective desired amounts of
kinetic energy such that said respective desired amounts of kinetic
energy are converted into a pressure wave that converges toward
said fusionable material in the liquid medium.
68. The apparatus of claim 67 further comprising an aperture for
causing fusionable material to be introduced into the liquid
medium.
69. The apparatus of claim 67 further comprising a fusionable
material locating system operable to locate said fusionable
material in the liquid medium.
70. The apparatus of claim 69 further comprising a controller for
determining said desired times and said desired amounts of kinetic
energy in response to a location of said fusionable material.
71. The apparatus of claim 67 further comprising location sensors
for producing location signals representing a location of the
fusionable material in the liquid medium.
72. The apparatus of claim 71 wherein said motive force generators
are operably configured to generate forces on said pistons in
respective directions of desired movement of said respective
pistons and further comprising a brake for holding said piston
stationary while said forces are applied.
73. The apparatus of claim 72 further comprising a controller for
producing release signals operable to be received by said brakes,
said brakes being responsive to said release signals to release
said pistons to cause said pistons to be accelerated in response to
said forces generated by said motive force generators said brakes
operable configured for producing restraining signals to cause said
restraining force to be applied to said control rods in response to
said location signals.
74. The apparatus of claim 72 further comprising position sensors
for generating position signals representing positions of
respective pistons to cause said restraining forces to be applied
in response to said position signals and said location signals.
75. The apparatus of claim 73 wherein said controller for causing
restraining forces to be applied is operably configured to
determine at least one of said desired times and desired kinetic
energies in response to said location signals.
76. The apparatus of claim 67 further comprising a plurality of
location sensors operably configured to produce ultrasonic beams
and to receive reflections of said ultrasonic beams, said
reflections of said ultrasonic beams representing an alignment of
respective ones of said pressure wave generators.
77. A method of operating a pressure wave generator in a system of
pressure wave generators for generating a pressure wave in a liquid
medium contained in a fusion reactor, the method comprising:
causing a moving piston having kinetic energy to impact a moveable
transducer coupled to the liquid medium; converting at least a
portion of said kinetic energy into a pressure wave in the liquid
medium such that said pressure wave envelopes and converges on a
fusionable material in the liquid medium.
78. A pressure wave generator apparatus for use in a system of
pressure wave generators for generating a pressure wave in a liquid
medium contained in a fusion reactor, the apparatus comprising: a
moveable piston; a moveable transducer coupled to the liquid
medium; means for causing said piston having kinetic energy to
impact said transducer; means for converting at least a portion of
said kinetic energy into a pressure wave in the liquid medium, said
pressure wave operable to envelope and converge on a fusionable
material in the liquid medium.
79. The apparatus of claim 78 further comprising means for guiding
said piston toward said transducer.
80. The apparatus of claim 78 wherein said transducer comprises
means for impedance matching said transducer to the liquid
medium.
81. The apparatus of claim 78 wherein said piston has a face
operable to impact a face of said transducer and wherein said
transducer comprises means for reducing localized impact stresses
between said face of said piston and said face of said
transducer.
82. A pressure wave generator apparatus for use in a system of
pressure wave generators for generating a pressure wave in a liquid
medium contained in a fusion reactor, the apparatus comprising: a
moveable piston; a moveable transducer coupled to the liquid
medium; a motive force generator for causing said piston having
kinetic energy to impact said transducer such that at least a
portion of said kinetic energy is converted into a pressure wave in
the liquid medium, said pressure wave being formed such that it
envelopes and converges on a fusionable material in the liquid
medium.
83. The apparatus of claim 82 wherein said transducer comprises a
plurality of layers of materials having transmission properties,
each material having different transmission properties, said
materials being selected and arranged in said layers such that said
transducer is generally impedance matched to the liquid medium.
84. The apparatus of claim 82 wherein said transducer comprises a
member mounted on a wall containing the liquid medium in the fusion
reactor and wherein the pressure wave generator apparatus is
coupled to said wall such that said piston is disposed to impact
said member.
85. The apparatus of claim 82 further comprising a housing having
an outside surface and an inside bore, said inside bore operable to
guide said piston toward said transducer.
86. The apparatus of claim 85 wherein said outside surface is
operable to fit complementarily into an opening in a wall
containing the liquid medium in the fusion reactor.
87. The apparatus of claim 85 wherein said housing has a first area
defined by a first wall portion operably configured to hold said
transducer in a position in which it will be impacted by said
piston.
88. The apparatus of claim 87 wherein said transducer comprises a
member having an outside surface having a first portion defining a
shape complementary to said first wall portion.
89. The apparatus of claim 85 wherein said housing has a first area
defined by a first wall portion having a first inside diameter and
wherein said housing has a second area defined by a second wall
portion having a second inside diameter and wherein said housing
has a third area defined by a tapered third wall portion located
between said first and second wall portions, said first wall
portion being operable to guide said piston and said second and
third wall portions being operable to hold said transducer.
90. The apparatus of claim 89 wherein said transducer comprises a
member having an outside surface having first and second portions
defining a shape complementary to said second and third wall
portions of said housing.
91. The apparatus of claim 90 wherein said first inside diameter is
less than said second inside diameter.
92. The apparatus of claim 82 wherein said piston has a face
operable to impact a face of said transducer and wherein said
transducer comprises a conformal member for reducing localized
impact stresses between said face of said piston and said face of
said transducer.
Description
[0001] This application is related to the U.S. patent application
entitled "Magnetized Plasma Fusion Reactor" by Laberge, filed
concurrently herewith and incorporated herein by reference and to
the U.S. patent application entitled "Fusionable Material Target",
by Laberge filed concurrently herewith and incorporated herein by
reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of Invention
[0003] This invention relates to nuclear fusion reactors and more
particularly to pressure Wave generation in nuclear fusion
reactors.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] Nuclear fusion reactions involve bringing together atomic
nuclei against their mutual electrostatic repulsion and fusing them
together to make heavier nuclei, while at the same time releasing
energy. Isotopes of light elements (i.e. elements having a
relatively small number of protons) are the easiest to fuse,
because the electrostatic repulsion between the nuclei of light
elements is smaller than that of heavier elements. The use of light
elements may produce significantly reduced collateral radioactivity
than comparable fission reactors, which typically use isotopes of
heavier elements.
[0006] Inducing nuclear fusion reactions is difficult, because of
the energies required to accelerate the nuclei to speeds fast
enough to overcome their mutual electrostatic repulsion and because
the nuclei are so small that the chance that two passing nuclei
will interact with one another in a manner which results in fusion
of the nuclei is small.
[0007] Fusion reactors typically require input energy to initiate
fusion reactions. The amount of input energy required is largely
determined by the need to accelerate the nuclear reactants to
thermonuclear speed and to confine the nuclear reactants in a space
that allows them to interact. A reactor that consumes less energy
than it produces is said to produce net energy. Such a reactor will
have an efficiency ratio (the ratio of energy output to the energy
input) greater that unity. The energy output of a fusion reactor is
largely determined by the number of fusion reactions that are
induced in the reactor and the amount of energy that is released
and captured.
[0008] There remains a need for methods and apparatus that
facilitate improvements to the efficiency of nuclear fusion
reactors.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] In accordance with one aspect of the invention there is
provided a method of operating a pressure wave generator in a
system of pressure wave generators for generating a pressure wave
in a liquid medium contained in a fusion reactor, wherein each
pressure wave generator has a moveable piston and a control rod
coupled thereto. The method includes causing the piston to be
accelerated toward a transducer coupled to the liquid medium, by
applying a motive force to the piston. The method further includes
applying a restraining force to the control rod to cause the piston
to impact the transducer at a desired time and with a desired
kinetic energy such that the kinetic energy is converted into a
pressure wave in the liquid medium.
[0010] Applying the motive force may involve applying a fluid
pressure to the piston.
[0011] Causing the piston to be accelerated may involve applying a
holding force to the control rod operable to hold the piston
stationary while applying a fluid pressure to the piston.
[0012] The method may involve using a brake to apply the holding
force.
[0013] Causing the piston to be accelerated may involve releasing a
latch coupled to at least one of the control rod and the piston,
the latch being operable to hold the piston stationary while
applying a fluid pressure to the piston.
[0014] The method may include generating a position signal
representing a position of the piston and applying the restraining
force in response to the position signal.
[0015] Generating the position signal may involve generating a
signal representing a position of the control rod.
[0016] Applying the restraining force may involve applying the
restraining force in response to differences between positions of
the piston and desired piston positions from a schedule of
positions representing a desired piston position relative to
time.
[0017] Applying the restraining force may involve increasing the
restraining force when a position of the piston is ahead of a
scheduled position and decreasing the restraining force when the
position of the piston is behind the scheduled position.
[0018] Applying the restraining force may involve producing a
restraining force in response to applying a transfer function to at
least one of the differences.
[0019] The method may involve modifying the transfer function in
response to at least one of the differences, such that respective
differences in a subsequent operation of the piston are
minimized.
[0020] In accordance with another aspect of the invention there is
provided a pressure wave generator apparatus for use in a system of
pressure wave generators for generating a pressure wave in a liquid
medium contained in a fusion reactor. The apparatus includes a
moveable piston, a control rod coupled to the piston, and a
transducer coupled to the liquid medium. The apparatus further
includes provisions for causing the piston to be accelerated toward
the transducer, by causing a motive force to be applied to the
piston and provisions for causing a restraining force to be applied
the control rod to cause the piston to impact the transducer at a
desired time and with a desired kinetic energy such that the
kinetic energy is converted into a pressure wave in the liquid
medium.
[0021] The provisions for causing the motive force to be applied
may include provisions for applying a fluid pressure to the
piston.
[0022] The apparatus may include provisions for causing a holding
force to be applied to the control rod, the holding force operable
to hold the piston stationary while applying a fluid pressure to
the piston.
[0023] The apparatus may include provisions for generating a
position signal representing a position of the piston.
[0024] The provisions for causing the restraining force to be
applied to the control rod may be operably configured to cause the
restraining force to be applied in response to the position
signal.
[0025] The provisions for generating the position signal may
include provisions for generating a signal representing a position
of the control rod.
[0026] The provisions for causing the piston to be accelerated
toward the transducer may include provisions for directing the
piston toward a wall containing the liquid medium in the fusion
reactor such that the piston impacts the wall and wherein the wall
acts as the transducer coupled to the liquid medium, such that the
impact of the piston against the wall causes a pressure wave to be
generated in the liquid medium.
[0027] The apparatus may include provisions for guiding the piston
toward the transducer.
[0028] The provisions for guiding may include provisions for at
least partially evacuating air from movement path of the
piston.
[0029] The provisions for guiding the piston may include a housing
having an inside bore.
[0030] The apparatus may include provisions for generating an air
cushion between the piston and the inside bore operable to reduce
frictional forces between the piston and the bore.
[0031] The transducer may include provisions for impedance matching
the transducer to the liquid medium.
[0032] The piston may include a face operable to impact a face of
the transducer and the transducer may include provisions for
reducing localized impact stresses between the face of the piston
and the face of the transducer.
[0033] In accordance with another aspect of the invention there is
provided a pressure wave generator apparatus for use in a system of
pressure wave generators for generating a pressure wave in a liquid
medium contained in a fusion reactor. The pressure wave generator
apparatus includes a moveable piston, a control rod coupled to the
piston and a transducer coupled to the liquid medium. The apparatus
further includes a motive force generator for causing the piston to
be accelerated toward the transducer and a brake for causing a
restraining force to be applied the control rod to cause the piston
to impact the transducer at a desired time and with a desired
kinetic energy such that the kinetic energy is converted into a
pressure wave in the liquid medium.
[0034] The motive force generator may include a housing for guiding
the piston, the housing defining a first cavity behind the piston,
the cavity having a fluid port for applying a fluid pressure to the
cavity operable to accelerate the piston toward the transducer.
[0035] The housing may define a second cavity in front of the
piston and may include a vacuum port in the second cavity operable
to facilitate the acceleration of the piston by at least partially
evacuating the second cavity.
[0036] The apparatus may include a brake for causing a holding
force to be applied to the control rod, the holding force operable
to hold the piston stationary while applying a fluid pressure to
the piston.
[0037] The apparatus may include a latch coupled to at least one of
the control rod and the piston, the latch being operably configured
to be released while fluid pressure is applied to the piston to
permit the piston to accelerate under the fluid pressure.
[0038] The apparatus may include a position sensor for generating a
position signal representing a position of the piston.
[0039] The control rod may include a plurality of indicia on a
surface thereof and the position sensor may include an illuminator
for directing a beam of light towards the indicia and a
photodetector for generating a signal representing an intensity of
light reflected from the indicia, such that when the piston is
accelerated, movement of the control rod causes the photodetector
to generate a signal of varying intensity representing the position
of the control rod.
[0040] The brake may be operably configured to cause the
restraining force to be applied in response to the position
signal.
[0041] The brake may be operably configured to cause the
restraining force to be applied in response to differences between
positions of the piston and desired piston positions from a
schedule of positions representing desired piston positions
relative to time.
[0042] The brake may be operably configured to cause the
restraining force to be increased when a position of the piston is
ahead of a scheduled position and to cause the restraining force to
be decreased when the position of the piston is behind the
scheduled position.
[0043] The brake may be operably configured to cause the
restraining force to be applied in response to applying a transfer
function to the differences.
[0044] The apparatus may include a controller for modifying the
transfer function in response to the differences, such that
respective differences in a subsequent operation of the piston are
minimized.
[0045] The motive force generator may be operably configured to
direct the piston toward a wall containing the liquid medium in the
fusion reactor such that the piston impacts the wall and wherein
the wall acts as the transducer coupled to the liquid medium, such
that the impact of the piston against the wall causes a pressure
wave to be generated in the liquid medium.
[0046] The transducer may include a member mounted on a wall
containing the liquid medium in the fusion reactor and wherein the
pressure wave generator apparatus is coupled to the wall such that
the piston is disposed to impact the member.
[0047] The apparatus may include a housing for guiding the moveable
piston, the housing having an outside surface and an inside
bore.
[0048] The outside surface may be operable to fit complementarily
into an opening in a wall containing the liquid medium in the
fusion reactor.
[0049] The piston may include a plurality of fluid orifices
disposed between the piston and the inside bore of the housing, the
orifices being operably configured receive pressurized fluid and to
generate an air cushion between the piston and the inside bore for
reducing frictional forces between the piston and the bore.
[0050] The brake may include an actuator and a brake pad operable
to generate the restraining force by frictionally engaging a
surface of the control rod in response to an actuation force
applied by the actuator.
[0051] The actuator may include a piezoelectric material.
[0052] The brake may include a magnetic circuit operably configured
to establish a magnetic field through the control rod thereby
generating eddy currents in the control rod when the control rod
moves with respect to the magnetic circuit, the generation of the
eddy currents operable to apply the restraining force to the
control rod.
[0053] The brake may include a magnetic fluid in contact with the
control rod and a magnetic circuit operably configured to generate
the restraining force by causing a magnetic field to be coupled
through the magnetic fluid and the control rod.
[0054] In accordance with another aspect of the invention there is
provided a method of generating a pressure wave for activating a
fusion reaction in fusionable material in a liquid medium. The
method involves causing pistons of respective ones of a plurality
of pressure wave generators to be accelerated toward respective
transducers coupled to the liquid medium, by applying respective
motive forces to the pistons. The method also involves causing
restraining forces to be applied to respective control rods
connected to respective pistons to cause the respective pistons to
impact the transducer at respective desired times and with
respective desired amounts of kinetic energy such that the
respective desired amounts of kinetic energy are converted into a
pressure wave that converges toward the fusionable material in the
liquid medium.
[0055] The method may include introducing fusionable material into
the liquid medium.
[0056] The method may include locating the fusionable material in
the liquid medium.
[0057] The method may include determining the desired times and the
desired amounts of kinetic energy in response to a location of the
fusionable material.
[0058] The method may include producing location signals
representing a location of the fusionable material in the liquid
medium.
[0059] The method may include producing release signals for causing
the pistons to be accelerated and producing restraining signals for
causing the restraining force to be applied to the control rods in
response to the location signals.
[0060] The method may include receiving the release signals at
actuators and causing the actuators to release the pistons for
movement in response to the release signals.
[0061] The method may include receiving the restraining signals at
brakes and causing the brakes to apply the restraining forces to
the control rods in response to the restraining signals.
[0062] At least one of the desired times and desired kinetic
energies may be determined in response to the location signals.
[0063] The method may include generating position signals
representing positions of respective pistons and causing the
restraining forces to be applied in response to the position
signals and the location signals.
[0064] In accordance with another aspect of the invention there is
provided a computer readable medium encoded with codes for
directing a processor circuit to carry out the method and any of
its variations above.
[0065] In accordance with another aspect of the invention there is
provided a computer readable signal encoded with codes for
directing a processor circuit to carry out the method and any of
its variations above.
[0066] In accordance with another aspect of the invention there is
provided an apparatus for generating a pressure wave for activating
a fusion reaction in fusionable material in a liquid medium. The
apparatus includes a plurality of pressure wave generators having
respective moveable pistons, the pistons having respective control
rods connected thereto. The apparatus also includes a plurality of
transducers coupled to the liquid medium and provisions for causing
the pistons of respective ones of the plurality of the pressure
wave generators to be accelerated toward respective ones of the
plurality of transducers. The apparatus further includes provisions
for causing restraining forces to be applied to respective control
rods to cause respective pistons to impact respective transducers
at respective desired times and with respective desired amounts of
kinetic energy such that the respective desired amounts of kinetic
energy are converted into a pressure wave that converges toward the
fusionable material in the liquid medium.
[0067] The apparatus may include provisions for causing fusionable
material to be introduced into the liquid medium.
[0068] The apparatus may include provisions for locating the
fusionable material in the liquid medium.
[0069] The apparatus may include provisions for determining the
desired times and the desired amounts of kinetic energy in response
to a location of the fusionable material.
[0070] The apparatus may include provisions for producing location
signals representing a location of the fusionable material in the
liquid medium.
[0071] The provisions for causing the pistons to be accelerated may
include motive force generating provisions for generating forces on
the pistons in respective directions of desired movement of the
respective pistons and holding provisions for holding the piston
stationary while the forces are applied.
[0072] The apparatus may include provisions for producing release
signals operable to be received by the holding provisions and the
holding provisions being responsive to the release signals to
release the pistons to cause the pistons to be accelerated in
response to the forces generated by the motive force generating
provisions and the apparatus may further include provisions for
producing restraining signals to cause the restraining force to be
applied to the control rods in response to the location
signals.
[0073] The apparatus may include provisions for generating position
signals representing positions of respective pistons to cause the
restraining forces to be applied in response to the position
signals and the location signals.
[0074] The provisions for causing restraining forces to be applied
may be operably configured to determine at least one of the desired
times and desired kinetic energies in response to the location
signals.
[0075] In accordance with another aspect of the invention there is
provided an apparatus for generating a pressure wave for activating
a fusion reaction in fusionable material in a liquid medium. The
apparatus includes a plurality of pressure wave generators having
respective moveable pistons, the pistons having respective control
rods connected thereto. The apparatus further includes a plurality
of transducers coupled to the liquid medium and a plurality of
motive force generators for causing the pistons of respective ones
of the plurality of the pressure wave generators to be accelerated
toward respective ones of the plurality of transducers. The
apparatus also includes a plurality of brakes for causing
restraining forces to be applied to respective control rods to
cause respective pistons to impact respective transducers at
respective desired times and with respective desired amounts of
kinetic energy such that the respective desired amounts of kinetic
energy are converted into a pressure wave that converges toward the
fusionable material in the liquid medium.
[0076] The apparatus may include an aperture for causing fusionable
material to be introduced into the liquid medium.
[0077] The apparatus may include a fusionable material locating
system operable to locate the fusionable material in the liquid
medium.
[0078] The apparatus may include a controller for determining the
desired times and the desired amounts of kinetic energy in response
to a location of the fusionable material.
[0079] The apparatus may include location sensors for producing
location signals representing a location of the fusionable material
in the liquid medium.
[0080] The motive force generators may be operably configured to
generate forces on the pistons in respective directions of desired
movement of the respective pistons and the apparatus may include a
brake for holding the piston stationary while the forces are
applied.
[0081] The apparatus may include a controller for producing release
signals operable to be received by the brakes, the brakes being
responsive to the release signals to release the pistons to cause
the pistons to be accelerated in response to the forces generated
by the motive force generators the brakes operable configured for
producing restraining signals to cause the restraining force to be
applied to the control rods in response to the location
signals.
[0082] The apparatus may include position sensors for generating
position signals representing positions of respective pistons to
cause the restraining forces to be applied in response to the
position signals and the location signals.
[0083] The controller for causing restraining forces to be applied
may be operably configured to determine at least one of the desired
times and desired kinetic energies in response to the location
signals.
[0084] The apparatus may include a plurality of location sensors
operably configured to produce ultrasonic beams and to receive
reflections of the ultrasonic beams, the reflections of the
ultrasonic beams representing an alignment of respective ones of
the pressure wave generators.
[0085] In accordance with another aspect of the invention there is
provided a method of operating a pressure wave generator in a
system of pressure wave generators for generating a pressure wave
in a liquid medium contained in a fusion reactor. The method
includes causing a moving piston having kinetic energy to impact a
moveable transducer coupled to the liquid medium and converting at
least a portion of the kinetic energy into a pressure wave in the
liquid medium such that said pressure wave envelopes and converges
on a fusionable material in the liquid medium.
[0086] In accordance with another aspect of the invention there is
provided a pressure wave generator apparatus for use in a system of
pressure wave generators for generating a pressure wave in a liquid
medium contained in a fusion reactor. The apparatus includes a
moveable piston, a moveable transducer coupled to the liquid medium
and provisions for causing the piston having kinetic energy to
impact the transducer. The apparatus also includes provisions for
converting at least a portion of the kinetic energy into a pressure
wave in the liquid medium, the pressure wave operable to envelope
and converge on a fusionable material in the liquid medium.
[0087] The apparatus may include provisions for guiding the piston
toward the transducer.
[0088] The transducer may include provisions for impedance matching
the transducer to the liquid medium.
[0089] The piston may include a face operable to impact a face of
the transducer and wherein the transducer may include provisions
for reducing localized impact stresses between the face of the
piston and the face of the transducer.
[0090] In accordance with another aspect of the invention there is
provided a pressure wave generator apparatus for use in a system of
pressure wave generators for generating a pressure wave in a liquid
medium contained in a fusion reactor. The apparatus includes a
moveable piston, a moveable transducer coupled to the liquid medium
and a motive force generator for causing the piston having kinetic
energy to impact the transducer such that at least a portion of the
kinetic energy is converted into a pressure wave in the liquid
medium, the pressure Wave being formed such that it envelopes and
converges on a fusionable material in the liquid medium.
[0091] The transducer may include a plurality of layers of
materials having transmission properties, each material having
different transmission properties, the materials being selected and
arranged in the layers such that the transducer is generally
impedance matched to the liquid medium.
[0092] The transducer may include a member mounted on a wall
containing the liquid medium in the fusion reactor and wherein the
pressure wave generator apparatus is coupled to the wall such that
the piston is disposed to impact the member.
[0093] The apparatus may include a housing having an outside
surface and an inside bore, the inside bore operable to guide the
piston toward the transducer.
[0094] The outside surface may be operable to fit complementarily
into an opening in a wall containing the liquid medium in the
fusion reactor.
[0095] The housing may include a first area defined by a first wall
portion operably configured to hold the transducer in a position in
which it will be impacted by the piston.
[0096] The transducer may include a member having an outside
surface having a first portion defining a shape complementary to
the first wall portion.
[0097] The housing may include a first area defined by a first wall
portion having a first inside diameter and wherein the housing has
a second area defined by a second wall portion having a second
inside diameter and wherein the housing has a third area defined by
a tapered third wall portion located between the first and second
wall portions, the first wall portion being operable to guide the
piston and the second and third wall portions being operable to
hold the transducer.
[0098] The transducer may include a member having an outside
surface having first and second portions defining a shape
complementary to the second and third wall portions of the
housing.
[0099] The first inside diameter may be less than the second inside
diameter.
[0100] The piston may include a face operable to impact a face of
the transducer and the transducer may include a conformal member
for reducing localized impact stresses between the face of the
piston and the face of the transducer.
[0101] Other aspects and features of the present invention will
become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review
of the following description of specific embodiments of the
invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0102] In drawings which illustrate embodiments of the
invention,
[0103] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fusion reactor according
to a first embodiment of the invention;
[0104] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the fusion
reactor shown in FIG. 1;
[0105] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the fusion reactor shown
in FIG. 1 taken along line 3-3;
[0106] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a pressure wave generator
used in the fusion reactor shown in FIG. 1;
[0107] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the pressure wave
generator shown in FIG. 4;
[0108] FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a processor circuit for
implementing a controller for the pressure wave generator shown in
FIG. 4;
[0109] FIG. 7 is a flowchart of codes executed by the processor
circuit of FIG. 6 to implement a controller for initializing the
pressure wave generator shown in FIG. 4;
[0110] FIG. 8 is a flowchart of codes executed by the processor
circuit of FIG. 6 to implement a controller for firing the pressure
wave generator shown in FIG. 4;
[0111] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a brake
for implementing the pressure wave generator of FIG. 4;
[0112] FIG. 10 is a plane view of the brake shown in FIG. 9;
[0113] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a
brake for implementing the pressure wave generator of FIG. 4;
[0114] FIG. 12 is a plane view the brake shown in FIG. 11;
[0115] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of yet another embodiment
of a brake for implementing the pressure wave generator of FIG.
4;
[0116] FIG. 14 is a plane view the brake shown in FIG. 13;
[0117] FIG. 15 is a schematic view of a position sensor for
implementing the pressure wave generator of FIG. 4;
[0118] FIG. 16 is a plane view of a reticule of the position sensor
shown in FIG. 15;
[0119] FIG. 17 is a schematic representation of signal waveforms
produced by the position sensor of FIG. 15;
[0120] FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a system for fabricating a
control rod for implementing the pressure wave generator of FIG.
4;
[0121] FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view of the control rod
fabricated by the system shown in FIG. 18;
[0122] FIG. 20 is a detailed cross-sectional view of a portion of
the pressure wave generator shown in FIG. 4;
[0123] FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative
embodiment of a pressure wave generator; and
[0124] FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view of another alternative
embodiment of a pressure wave generator.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0125] Commonly owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/507,323,
filed on Mar. 12, 2002 is incorporated herein by reference and
describes the construction and operation of a fusion reactor.
[0126] Referring to FIG. 1, a fusion reactor according to a first
embodiment of the invention is shown generally at 100. The fusion
reactor 100 includes a wall 102 and a plurality of radially
oriented pressure wave generators 104, symmetrically arranged
around an exterior of the wall. Referring to FIG. 2, in one
embodiment, the wall 102 of the fusion reactor 100 may include a
lower hemispherical shell 300 including a plurality of openings
302. The wall 102 of the fusion reactor 100 may also include a
complimentary upper hemispherical shell shown at 203 in FIG. 1.
[0127] Referring to FIG. 3, the wall 102 of fusion reactor 100
defines an inner cavity 122 for containing a liquid medium 120. The
liquid medium 120 may be a molten metal, such as lead, lithium, or
sodium, or an alloy of such metals, and may be maintained under
pressure (when the liquid is lithium the pressure may be in the
region of 100 bar). The liquid medium 120 may also contain
additives that enhance the properties thereof, for example by
enhancing neutron shielding or increasing the density of the liquid
medium.
[0128] The wall 102 of the fusion reactor 100 further includes an
inlet aperture 124 and an outlet aperture 128 disposed on
diametrically opposite sides of the reactor. The fusion reactor 100
also includes an inlet conduit 125 in communication with the inlet
aperture 124 and an outlet conduit 126 in communication with the
outlet aperture 128. The fusion reactor 100 further includes a
recirculation system 130, which includes an input 134 in
communication with the outlet conduit 126 and an output 132 in
communication with the inlet conduit 125. The recirculation system
130 also includes a pump (not shown) for circulating the liquid
medium 120 through the fusion reactor 100 and may also include
facilities for maintaining the liquid medium at a desired
temperature by extracting heat. The recirculation system 130 may
also include a turbine (not shown) for converting the heat into
electrical energy.
[0129] The fusion reactor 100 also includes a reservoir 136, in
communication with the inlet conduit 125, for holding fusionable
material 138 and for introducing the fusionable material 138 into
the liquid medium 120 through the inlet conduit 125. The fusionable
material 138 may be in a gaseous form and may include an isotope of
a light element, such as deuterium, tritium, 3He, or a combination
thereof. The fusionable material 138 may also include an
encapsulating wall which may include glass, plastic or other
suitable materials.
[0130] The fusion reactor 100 further includes a controller 142,
which may include a locating system not shown) for locating a
fusionable material target 140 within the liquid medium 120. The
locating system includes a plurality of position sensors 152
located on the wall 102 of the fusion reactor 100. The position
sensors 152 may include ultrasonic transceivers having inputs for
receiving an excitation pulse that causes the ultrasonic
transceiver to transmit an ultrasonic pulse that couples through
the wall 102 into the liquid medium 120. The ultrasonic
transceivers may also include outputs that produce location signals
in response to a received reflection from a fusionable material
target 140. The controller 142 includes a plurality of inputs 154
for receiving location signals from the transceivers.
[0131] The controller 142 further includes a plurality of inputs
148, coupled to respective outputs 150 of the pressure wave
generators 104 and a plurality of outputs 144 coupled to respective
inputs 146 of the pressure wave generators 104. The controller 142
is described in greater detail below.
[0132] The pressure wave generators 104 include a moveable piston
410, a transducer 412 and a motive force generator 112 for
accelerating the piston from an initial position 110 (shown in
broken outline) to impact the transducer 412. The motive force
generator 112 may include a cylinder and a fluid inlet 114 for
applying a fluid pressure to the piston to generate the motive
force. In this embodiment the transducer 412 is slideably received
in an opening 302 in the wall 102 and is capable of being displaced
radially relative to the wall 102 by the impact of the piston 410.
In other embodiments the transducer includes a portion of the wall
102 that may be directly impacted by the piston 410.
[0133] Referring to FIG. 4, the pressure wave generator 104 is
shown in greater detail. The pressure wave generator 104 includes a
housing 400 and an end cap 402. The end cap 402 includes a fluid
port 408 for applying fluid pressure to the pressure wave generator
104. The housing 400 includes an outside surface 414 that is
dimensioned to fit complementarily in one of the plurality of
openings 302 (shown in FIG. 2). The pressure wave generator 104
further includes a flange 404 and a plurality of clamps 406 for
mounting the pressure wave generator on the wall 102 of the fusion
reactor 100.
[0134] Referring to FIG. 5, the pressure wave generator 104 is
shown in a sectional view. The housing 400 of the pressure wave
generator 104 includes an inside bore 418 for accommodating the
moveable piston 410. The housing 400 further includes a wall
portion 420 for holding a transducer 412. The transducer 412 is in
contact with and coupled to the liquid medium. 120, thus
facilitating the exchange of energy between the transducer and the
liquid medium.
[0135] Referring to FIG. 20, the piston 410, the transducer 412,
and the housing 400 of the pressure wave generator 104 are shown in
greater detail at 2001. The housing 400 includes annular guides
2004 and 2006 for locating the pressure wave generator 104 in one
of the openings 302 in the wall 102 (shown in FIG. 2) of the fusion
reactor 100. The housing 400 also includes a metal seal 2005 for
ensuring that the liquid medium 120 does not leak out of the vessel
around the pressure wave generator 104. The pressure wave generator
104 includes a fastener 2008 for clamping the pressure wave
generator to the wall 102 using the clamps 406 and the flange 404.
The positioning of the pressure wave generator 104 within the
opening 302 may be adjusted by introducing shims 2012 between the
flange 404 and the vessel wall 102. The shims 2012 may be used to
adjust the longitudinal position of the pressure wave generator 104
in the opening 302 as well as to aim the pressure wave generator
toward the center of the inner cavity 122.
[0136] The piston 410 (shown near the end of its travel along the
bore 418) includes a conduit 2014 in communication with a cavity
546 and a pair of orifices 2016 and 2018, located between the bore
418 and the piston 410. The piston 410 includes a plurality of such
conduits (only one shown) located around the circumference of the
piston 410. The piston 410 also includes an impact surface 554 and
a rear surface 555.
[0137] The wall portion 420 of the housing 400 includes a tapered
wall portion 2022 and bore 2024. The transducer 412 is
complementarily shaped to be slideably accommodated in the wall
portion 420 and includes an annular guide 2026 for contacting the
bore 2024 and providing a sliding fit therewith. The wall portion
420 of the housing 400 also includes a protruding lip 2028 for
preventing the transducer 412 from becoming dislodged from the
housing. The transducer 412 also includes an impact surface 2031
and an outer surface 2030.
[0138] Returning again to FIG. 5, the piston 410 includes a control
rod 422 coupled to the piston, and projecting rearwardly through
the end cap 402. The control rod 422 includes indicia comprising a
plurality of regularly spaced marks 424, inscribed on a surface of
the control rod.
[0139] The housing 400 also includes a vacuum orifice 426 in
communication with a vacuum conduit 428. The vacuum conduit 428 is
connected to a vacuum pump 430 through a vacuum control valve 432.
The vacuum control valve 432 is electrically actuated by a vacuum
control signal coupled to the valve by the signal line 436.
[0140] The pressure wave generator 104 also includes a pressurised
fluid supply 440, including a compressor 446 for providing
pressurised fluid (such as compressed air), a reservoir 444 for
storing pressurised fluid and a regulator 442 for regulating the
flow of the pressurised fluid. The regulator 442 is controlled by a
fluid control signal coupled to the regulator by the signal line
448 and facilitates applying and removing fluid pressure to the
pressure wave generator 104 through the fluid port 408. The
regulator 442 further includes facilities for adjusting a pressure
level of the fluid pressure applied to the pressure wave generator
104.
[0141] In this embodiment the pressure wave generator 104 also
includes a brake 434 connected to the end cap 402. The brake 434 is
electrically actuated by a braking control signal coupled to the
brake by line 438.
[0142] Referring to FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, an embodiment of a brake is
shown generally at 901. The brake 901 includes a brake pad 900, an
annular piezoelectric actuator 902 and a high voltage driver 910.
The brake pad 900 almost completely encircles the control rod 422
except for a narrow gap 908. The piezoelectric actuator 902
surrounds the brake pad 900. The piezoelectric actuator 902
includes electrical input terminals 904 and 906. The high voltage
driver 910 includes an input terminal 916 for receiving a braking
control signal and a pair of output terminals 912 and 914 for
producing a high voltage drive signal.
[0143] In operation, the high voltage driver 910 receives a braking
control signal at the input terminal 916 and produces a
proportional high voltage drive signal at the output terminals 912
and 914. The piezoelectric actuator 902 applies a radially inwardly
directed force to the brake pad 900 in response to the high voltage
drive signal applied to the input terminals 904 and 906. The
radially inwardly directed force causes a frictional force to be
applied to the control rod 422, restraining, or preventing movement
in directions indicated by the arrow 918.
[0144] Referring to FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, an alternative embodiment
of a brake is shown at 1100. The brake 1100 includes a magnetic
core 1108, a magnetic fluid 1104 and a housing 1102 for containing
the magnetic fluid. A coil 1110 is wound around the magnetic core
1108. The coil 1110 includes a pair of terminals 1112 and 1114 for
receiving a drive current. The housing 1102 of the brake 1100 is
situated in a gap in the magnetic core and includes a seal 1109,
which facilitates free movement of the control rod 422 relative
thereto, while preventing escape of the magnetic fluid 1104.
Magnetic fluid is a composite which includes fine ferromagnetic
particles, usually dispersed in a base liquid. In the absence of a
magnetic field the fluid flows freely but when a magnetic field is
applied the ferromagnetic particles align constraining the free
flow. The brake 1100 further includes a current driver 1116 having
an input terminal 1122 for receiving a braking control signal and
having output terminals 1118 and 1120 for delivering a drive
current to the terminals 1112 and 1114 of the coil 1110.
[0145] In operation, the current driver 1116 receives a braking
control signal at the input terminal 1122 and produces a
proportional drive current which is applied to the coil 1110 at the
terminals 1112 and 1114. The current supplied to the coil 1110
establishes a magnetic field in a magnetic circuit defined by the
magnetic core 1108, the magnetic fluid 1104, and the control rod
422. The magnetic field through the magnetic fluid 1104 causes the
magnetic particles to align thus applying a restraining force to
the control rod 422 in directions indicated by the arrow 1124. The
amount of restraining force applied is proportional to the current
in the coil 1110.
[0146] Another embodiment of a brake is shown in FIG. 13 and FIG.
14 at 1300. The brake 1300 includes a magnetic core 1302 and a coil
1304, wound around the magnetic core. The brake 1300 also includes
an air gap 1310 in the magnetic core 1302 and the magnetic core
1302 is positioned such that the control rod 422 is moveably
positioned in the air gap. The coil 1304 includes a pair of
terminals 1306 and 1308 for receiving a drive current. The brake
1300 further includes a current driver 1312 having an input
terminal 1318 for receiving a braking control signal and having a
pair of output terminals 1314 and 1316 for delivering a drive
current to the terminals 1306 and 1308 of the coil 1304.
[0147] In operation, the current driver 1312 supplies a current to
the terminals 1306 and 1308 of the coil 1304 in response to the
braking control signal received at the input 1318. The current in
coil 1304 causes a magnetic field to be established in the magnetic
core 1302. The magnetic field couples into the control rod 422, but
negligible force is applied to the control rod while it is
stationary. However, when the control rod 422 is moved, the
magnetic field generates eddy currents in the material of the
control rod, thus applying a restraining force to the control rod.
The restraining force is proportional to the velocity of the
control rod 422 and the current through the coil 1304. In this
embodiment the brake 1300 is unable to apply a holding force to the
control rod 422 when the control rod is stationary, requiring an
additional latch to be provided for holding the piston 410 prior to
firing. The latch may include an electromechanical solenoid (not
shown) that is electrically activated to remove a plunger holding
either the piston 410 or the control rod 422. Alternatively the
holding force may be applied by a separate brake that applies a
holding force to either the piston 410 or the control rod 422.
[0148] Returning now to FIG. 5, the pressure wave generator 104
further includes a position sensor 450, located proximate to the
control rod 422. The position sensor 450 produces a position signal
representing the position of the control rod 422 on the signal line
452.
[0149] Referring to FIGS. 15 and 16, an embodiment of the position
sensor 450 employing optical sensing techniques is shown at 1500.
The position sensor 1500 includes an illuminator 1501, an imaging
system 1503, a reticule 1512, a first photodetector 1516, and a
second photodetector 1514. The illuminator 1501 includes a light
emitting diode (LED) 1502, an illumination lens 1504 and a
beamsplitter 1506. The imaging system 1503 includes a first imaging
lens 1508 and a second imaging lens 1510.
[0150] The reticule 1512 is shown in greater detail in FIG. 16 at
1512. The reticule 1512 is divided to include a first region 1530
and a second region 1532. The regions 1530 and 1532 include a
regular pattern of lines defined by a plurality of absorptive lines
1534 and a plurality of transmissive lines 1536. The lines are
spaced apart by a pitch distance p indicated at 1538. The lines in
the region 1530 are also offset from the lines in the region 1532
by one quarter of the spacing distance p. The first photodetector
1516 is positioned to measure a light intensity transmitted through
the region 1530 of the reticule 1512 and the second photodetector
1514 is positioned to measure a light intensity transmitted through
the region 1532 of the reticule 1512. The position sensor 1500
further includes a signal analyser 1518 having an input 1520
coupled to the second photodetector 1514 and an input 1522 coupled
to the first photodetector 1516. The signal analyser 1518 also
includes an output 1524 for producing a position signal.
[0151] The operation of the position sensor 1500 is described with
reference to FIGS. 15, 16 and 17. Light Illumination from the LED
1502 is gathered by the illumination lens 1504 and directed onto
the control rod 422 via the beamsplitter 1506 and the first imaging
lens 1508. The beamsplitter 1506 is a partially silvered mirror
that transmits some portion of the light and reflects the remaining
light (usually 50%). The marks 424 on the control rod 422 reflect
the illumination back through the first imaging lens 1508, the
beamsplitter 1506, and the second imaging lens 1510 onto the
reticule 1512, forming an image 1526 of the marks 424 at the plane
of the reticule. The image 1526 includes a plurality of light areas
1537 alternating with a plurality of dark areas 1539, the light and
dark areas corresponding to the marks 424 (for clarity the image
1526 is shown separated from the reticule 1512 in FIG. 16, but it
should be understood that in operation the image impinges on the
reticule). The second imaging lens 1510 is selected and positioned
such that the spacing between the dark areas 1539 (and the light
areas 1537) is substantially the same as the reticule line spacing
p.
[0152] The image 1526, impinging on the reticule 1512, generates a
Moire interference pattern at the reticule i.e. when the light
areas 1537 in the image 1526 line up with the absorptive lines
1534, in the region 1532 of the reticule 1512, very little light is
transmitted through the reticule to the second photodetector 1514.
However, when the control rod 422 is displaced in the direction
shown by the arrow 1528, the image 1526 also moves and when the
light areas 1537 in the image 1526 line up with the transmissive
lines 1536 in the region 1532 of the reticule 1512, almost all of
the light is transmitted through the reticule to the second
photodetector 1514. For in-between alignments of the image 1526 and
the lines of the reticule 1512, an attenuated beam of light is
transmitted through the reticule. Movement of the control rod 422,
thus results in a time varying light intensity being registered by
the second photodetector 1514. Similarly movement of the control
rod 422, results in a time varying light intensity being registered
by the first photodetector 1516.
[0153] Referring to FIG. 17, the signals generated by the
photodetectors 1514 and 1516 in response to the varying light
intensity through the reticule 1512 are shown as a pair of periodic
signals 1540 and 1542 respectively. The depicted signals 1540 and
1542 represent a specific case where the control rod 422 is moved
at a constant velocity, although in practice the velocity of the
control rod will not be constant, resulting in the signals having
varying frequency. The signals 1540 and 1542 are offset in phase by
90 degrees due to the offset between the lines in the region 1530
and the region 1532 on the reticule 1512 (i.e. the signals 1540 and
1542 have a quadrature phase relationship). A change in position of
the control rod 422 is represented as a change in intensity of the
signals 1540 and 1542. The velocity of the rod may be calculated
from the known spacing between the marks 424 on the control rod 422
and the time interval between a peak 1548 and a peak 1550 of the
signal 1540. Either one of the signals 1540 or 1542 may be used to
represent a change in the position of the control rod 422. However,
either one of the signals 1540 and 1542 alone may not unambiguously
indicate a direction of motion. The direction of motion may be
determined by further analysing the quadrature signals 1540 and
1542. The signal analyser 1518 is configured to interpret the
quadrature signals 1540 and 1542 to remove any possible ambiguity
regarding the direction of motion. For example, if the control rod
422 reverses direction at a time indicated by the vertical line
1544, the signal 1540 will not indicate this change since the
sinusoidal signal is at its peak 1550 and the intensity of the
signal changes its direction of swing at this time, whether or not
the direction of motion reverses. This creates an ambiguity that
may be resolved by examining the signal 1542 at the time 1544. If
the signal 1542 continues to increase in intensity past the time
1544, then the direction has not reversed. However should the
signal 1542 start to reduce in intensity after the time 1544 then
the direction of motion has unambiguously reversed.
[0154] In this embodiment, optical sensing techniques are used to
generate the position signal, but other position sensing techniques
such as fibre interferometry may also be employed.
[0155] Referring to FIG. 6 the controller 142 for controlling the
plurality of pressure wave generators 104 may be implemented by a
processor circuit shown generally at 536. The processor circuit 536
includes a processor 602, random access memory (RAM) 604, program
memory 606, an input/output (I/O) interface 608, and a media reader
610, all in communication with the processor 602. The RAM 604 and
the program memory 606 may, of course, be integrated within the
processor 602 itself. In addition, the I/O interface 608 may also
be integrated within the processor 602. The I/O interface 608
includes an input 544 for receiving a position signal. The I/O
interface may include analog to digital (A/D) conversion circuitry
(not shown) for converting analog position signals at the input 544
into digital signal representations thereof. The I/O interface 608
further includes outputs 538, 542 and 540 for producing the fluid
control signal, the braking control signal and the vacuum control
signal. Each of the outputs 538, 542 and 540 may include digital to
analog (D/A) conversion circuitry (not shown) for converting
digital signals received from the processor into analog signals,
suitable for controlling the various actuators coupled to the
outputs. The processor circuit 536 may include a plurality of
inputs 544 and a plurality of outputs 538, 542 and 540 for
controlling the plurality of respective pressure wave generators
104.
[0156] While the controller may be conveniently implemented using
the processor circuit 536, the controller may also be implemented
using custom designed analog circuitry or a mixture of analog and
digital circuitry.
[0157] The operation of the fusion reactor 100 will now be
explained with reference to FIG. 3. The recirculation system 130
establishes a flow of the liquid medium 120 between the inlet
aperture 124 and the outlet aperture 128. The recirculation system
also ensures that the liquid medium 120 is at a desired
temperature. Fusionable material 138 is introduced from the
reservoir 136 into the recirculating liquid medium 120 in the
conduit 125 and caused to travel into the inner cavity 122 through
the inlet aperture 124. The fusionable material target 140,
comprising a quantity of the fusionable material 138, is
transported upwards in the inner cavity 122 by its buoyancy and the
flow of the liquid medium 120. While the target 140 is moving
towards the center of the inner cavity 122, the locating system in
the controller 142, is operable to determine a location of the
target 140 in response to signals representing the location of the
target produced by the position sensors 152. When the location
system detects that the target 140 is proximate to the center of
the inner cavity 122, the controller 142 initiates the firing of
the pressure wave generators 104. A desired impact timing and
desired kinetic energy is selected for each pressure wave generator
104 such that the contributions of energy generated by each
pressure wave generator will cause a pressure wave to be generated
in the liquid medium 120 that converges to the determined location
of the target 140.
[0158] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, each pressure wave
generator generates its contribution to the pressure wave by
impacting the transducer 412. The transducer 412 is moveable and
receives energy from the piston in the form of kinetic energy and
converts that energy into a pressure wave in the liquid medium 120.
The pressure wave envelopes and converges on the fusionable
material target 140. If the pressure wave has sufficient amplitude
and is sufficiently symmetrically focused on the target 140 when it
reaches the target, the fusionable material will be compressed to
an extent sufficient to increase the pressure and temperature of
the fusionable material 138 contained therein to a level where
nuclear fusion reactions are initiated.
[0159] Advantageously, the flow of liquid medium 120 between inlet
aperture 124 and the outlet aperture 128 quickly transports the
next fusionable material target to the center of the inner cavity
122. Each firing of the pressure wave generators 104 initiates
fusion reactions, which in turn generates heat. The heat may be
extracted by the recirculation system 130 and used to generate
electrical power.
[0160] In other embodiments the transducer may comprise a portion
of the wall 102 and the piston 410 may impact the portion of the
wall 102 directly, thus transferring the kinetic energy of the
piston 410 to the exterior of the wall. The impact causes a
compression wave in the wall portion and also elastically displaces
the portion of the wall causing the kinetic energy to be converted
into a pressure wave at the interior of the wall, where the wall is
coupled to the liquid medium 120 due to its contact therewith.
[0161] In the operation of the fusion reactor 100, it is desirable
that the pressure wave symmetrically converge on target 140 from
all sides. Any asymmetry in the pressure wave may allow the target
140 to distort, which may result in a corresponding decrease of the
maximum temperature and pressure achieved. Consequently, it may be
important that the operation of the pressure wave generators 104 be
precisely controlled, which may involve synchronising the firing of
the pressure wave generators 104. Alternatively, the determined
location of the target 140 may be utilized to control the firing of
the pressure wave generators 104, such that the pressure wave
converges to the location of the target 140, which may not be
exactly at the center of the inner cavity 122. The desired impact
timing and desired amount of kinetic energy for each piston may
also be selected in order to account for minor mechanical
differences between the pressure wave generators 104.
[0162] The operation of the pressure wave generators 104 will now
be described in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and
8. In preparation for firing the pressure wave generators 104, the
compressor 446 and the vacuum pump 430 are activated. The
compressor 446 pressurises the reservoir 444, which in turn
provides actuating energy for the pressure wave generators 104. The
reservoir 444 may permit storage of sufficient energy, in the form
of compressed fluid, to actuate a plurality of the pressure wave
generators 104 simultaneously or to actuate one or more pressure
wave generators several times in succession.
[0163] FIGS. 7 and 8 include representations of blocks of codes,
encoded in the program memory 606 for directing the processor 602
to execute a method in accordance with one aspect of the invention.
The blocks of codes may be read into the program memory 606 from a
CD ROM 612 readable by the media reader 610. Alternatively the
blocks of codes may be provided to the program memory 606 through
an encoded signal.
[0164] Referring to FIG. 7, the blocks of codes shown generally at
700 direct the processor to execute an algorithm for initializing
the pressure wave generator 104 for a firing operation. Block 702
directs the processor 602 to read the position signal at the input
544 to check that the piston 410 is located at an initial position.
The initial position may be abutting the brake 434 but in practice
the initial position of the piston 410 may also be a position
partway down the bore 418 of the housing 400. Advantageously,
different pressure wave generators 104 may have different initial
piston positions, which may be used to account for variations
between pressure wave generators or to produce different desired
impact kinetic energy for the pressure wave generators.
[0165] Block 704 directs the processor 602 to cause the braking
control signal to be produced at the output 542 to cause the brake
434 to apply a holding force to the control rod 422. Block 706
directs the processor 602 to cause the fluid control signal to be
produced at the output 538 to cause the regulator 442 to apply a
desired fluid pressure in the cavity 546 behind the piston 410,
thus exerting a motive force on the piston. Block 708 directs the
processor 602 to cause the vacuum control signal to be produced at
the output 540 to cause the vacuum control valve 432 to be opened,
allowing the vacuum pump 430 to at least partially evacuate a
cavity 548 in front of the piston 410, so that the piston will not
have to displace the air in the cavity 548 as it moves along the
bore 418. The pressure wave generator 104 is now ready to be fired
and is prevented from moving by the holding force applied by the
brake 434.
[0166] As previously indicated, it is advantageous to accurately
control the timing and kinetic energy of each pressure wave
contribution from each pressure wave generator 104. Accordingly, a
schedule of positions may be established for each pressure wave
generator 104. The schedule for each pressure wave generator 104
may be determined in response to a location of the fusionable
material target 140 in the fusion reactor, such that when all the
pressure wave generators are fired the resulting pressure wave in
the liquid medium 120 will converge to the location of the
fusionable material target. The schedule for each pressure wave
generator 104 may be stored in the RAM 604 as a table of position
values, each successive value in the table representing a desired
position at a relative time after the firing of the pressure wave
generator.
[0167] Referring now to FIG. 8 a firing process is shown generally
at 800, represented by blocks of codes that direct the processor
602 to execute an algorithm for controlling the movement of the
piston 410 according to the schedule of positions so that the
piston impacts the transducer 412 at a desired time and with a
desired amount of kinetic energy. Block 802 directs the processor
602 to initiate the firing of the pressure, wave generator 104 by
generating a release signal and changing the braking control signal
at the output 542 of I/O interface 608 in response to the release
signal such that the holding force applied by the brake 434 to the
control rod 422 is at least partially released, thus causing the
piston 410 to be accelerated under fluid pressure towards the
transducer 412. The release signal does not cause the braking
control signal to completely release the brake 434, since it is
necessary to apply some restraining force to the piston 410 to
facilitate control of the piston movement along the bore 418. The
processor 602 thus causes a restraining signal to be produced that
in turn causes the braking control signal to cause the brake 434 to
apply some restraining force to the control rod 422. The processor
602 is then able to control the velocity of the piston 410 by
altering the restraining signal thus causing the braking control
signal to be changed, which in turn causes the restraining force
applied by the brake 434 to be either reduced to allow the piston
410 to speed up, or increased to cause the piston to slow down.
[0168] Conveniently, in this embodiment, the brake 434 may be used
to apply both the holding force and the restraining force. The
braking control signal produced at the output 542 of the I/O
Interface 608 is a combination of the release signal and the
restraining signal. The release signal and restraining signal may
be digital signals having numeric signal values. Similarly the
braking control signal may also be a digital signal, allowing the
braking control signal to be derived from a simple summation of the
release signal values and the restraining signal values. The I/O
interface 608 may subsequently convert the digital braking control
signal into an analog braking control signal for controlling the
brake 434.
[0169] In other embodiments, the holding force may be applied by a
separate brake or other holding force generator in which case the
release signal may be used to control the separate brake.
[0170] Once the holding force is released the piston 410
accelerates due to the fluid pressure in the cavity 546 and the
control rod 422 moves along with the piston 410, causing the marks
424 on the control rod to move past the position sensor 450, thus
causing a time varying analog position signal to be generated by
the position sensor. Block 804 directs the processor 602 to receive
the analog position signal at the input 544 and to convert the
analog signal input into a plurality of digital values, p(t),
representing successive positions of the control rod 422 (and hence
the piston 410) in real time. Block 806 directs the processor 602
to store the digital values in the RAM 604.
[0171] Block 808 directs the processor 602 to compare a value p(t),
representing the present position of the piston 410 with a value
p(t-1) stored in RAM 604, representing a previous position of the
piston. If p(t) is greater that p(t-1) then the piston is still
moving toward the transducer 412 and the codes in block 810 direct
the processor 602 to compare p(t) against a desired piston position
value p(T), from the schedule of positions, to establish a position
error value e(t). If the position error value e(t) is negative then
the present position of the piston 410 is ahead of the scheduled
position, and block 812 directs the processor to generate a
restraining signal that will cause an appropriate restraining force
to be applied to the control rod 422 in order to slow down the
piston 410. The restraining signal may be calculated using a system
transfer function comprising a mathematical expression of the
relationship between the position error value e(t) and the
appropriate restraining signal that will cause the barking control
signal to cause the brake 434 to apply the appropriate restraining
force to the piston 410. On the other hand if the position error
value e(t) is positive then the present position of the piston 410
is behind the scheduled position, and block 812 directs the
processor to generate a restraining signal that will cause an
appropriate restraining force to be applied to the control rod 422
in order to allow piston 410 to speed up.
[0172] Block 813 then directs the processor 602 to produce the
braking control signal at output 542 of the I/O Interface 608 in
response to the restraining signal such that an appropriate
restraining force is applied to the control rod 422 by the brake
434. The processor 602 is then directed back to block 804 for
further repetition of the blocks 804 to 813. In one embodiment, the
piston is accelerated to a velocity of 70 meters per second and
blocks 804 to 803 are repeated every 10 nanoseconds, allowing the
impact of the piston 410 to be controlled with a resolution of
around 1 micrometer.
[0173] If at block 808, p(t) is less than or equal to p(t-1) then
the piston 410 has impacted the transducer 412 and has either
stopped moving or rebounded in the opposite direction. The
processor 602 is then directed to block 814 ending execution of the
blocks of code 804 to 813.
[0174] The block 814 may include codes for implementing an adaptive
control algorithm, making the system less sensitive to changing
environmental conditions such as temperature, mechanical variances
over time of the pressure wave generators 104, and mechanical
variances between different pressure wave generators. Accordingly
block 814 may direct the processor 602 to modify the transfer
function based on a completed operation of the pressure wave
generator. The transfer function may include a mathematical
expression having a number of parameters. The parameters may define
various gains of components of the pressure wave generator 104 that
may vary over time. The processor may use stored values of p(t) and
e(t) to calculate a new set of parameters for the transfer
function. Advantageously, the adaptive control algorithm may be
used to account for wearing in of the pistons and other
environmental disturbances that would be more difficult to account
for in a conventional linear control algorithm.
[0175] Block 702 in FIG. 7 then directs the processor 602 to cause
the piston 410 to be returned to the initial position in
preparation for the next firing of the pressure wave generator 104.
In one embodiment the fluid pressure may be removed from the fluid
port 408 and a fluid pressure may be applied to the vacuum conduit
428 thus driving the piston back to the initial position. Block 702
directs the processor 602 to read position signals at the input 544
to confirm that the piston 410 is returned to the initial
position.
[0176] The operation of the piston 410 and the transducer 412 will
now be described with reference to FIG. 20. As previously
described, the piston 410 is accelerated along the bore 418 by
fluid pressure applied to the cavity 546 of the pressure wave
generator 104. The piston 410 is dimensioned so that there is a
very small gap between the bore 418 and the piston 410 and when
fluid pressure is applied to the cavity 546, some of the fluid
leaks through the conduit 2014 and establishes an air cushion
between the orifices 2016 and 2018 and the bore 418. As previously
indicated, a plurality of such orifices are circumferentially
located around the piston 410 and the plurality of air cushions, so
established, form a cushion of air between the piston 410 and the
bore 418, thus virtually eliminating friction between the piston
and the bore.
[0177] The transducer 412 operates by receiving kinetic energy from
the piston 410 and converting the kinetic energy into a pressure
wave in the liquid medium 120. The outer surface 2030 of the
transducer 412 is in contact with the liquid medium 120 and the
pressure exerted by liquid medium 120 exerts a force on the
transducer 412 that biases the transducer 412 into contact with the
tapered wall portion 2022 prior to impact. When the piston 410
impacts the transducer 412, the kinetic energy of the piston at
least partially transfers to the transducer 412. The transferred
kinetic energy initially accelerates the impact surface 2031 of the
transducer. However, at the instant of impact the outer surface
2030 of the transducer 412 is at rest, resulting in the transducer
being elastically compressed by the impact. The impact thus causes
a compression wave to propagate through the transducer 412 from the
impact surface 2031 to the outer surface 2030. The outer surface
2030 is also later accelerated by the impact which increases the
kinetic energy at the outer surface. The pressure wave coupled into
the liquid medium 120 thus includes energy from the compression
wave in the transducer 412 and kinetic energy due to the
displacement of the transducer within the bore 2026. The energy in
the compression wave couples directly into the liquid medium 120
while the kinetic energy causes a pressure wave to be produced at
the outer surface 2030 by locally compressing the liquid
medium.
[0178] At impact, the piston 410 is still under the motive force of
the applied fluid pressure, which together with the kinetic energy
of the piston may be operable to cause the piston to continue to
move with the impact surface 554 of the piston in contact with the
impact surface 2031 of the transducer. The impact also causes a
compression wave at an impact surface 554 of the piston 410, which
propagates toward a rear surface 555 of the piston. At the rear
surface 555, the compression wave is reflected back in the
direction of the impact surface 554 but with a 180 degrees phase
shift i.e. the compression wave becomes an extension wave thus
de-compressing the piston material.
[0179] Since the transducer 412 and the liquid medium 120 will
typically be different materials (transducer 412 may be steel),
there may be an impedance mismatch at the outer surface 2030,
resulting a reflection of energy back towards the impact surface
2031 of the transducer. If this reflection is sufficiently large
the piston 410 may be caused to rebound against the applied fluid
pressure. In one embodiment it is desirable to minimise any
reflection of energy at the outer surface 2030 in order to minimise
the rebound of the piston 410. Methods and apparatus for reducing
the impedance mismatch are described below.
[0180] Once the kinetic energy has been coupled into the pressure
wave in the liquid medium 120, the pressure wave travels toward the
target 140 and initiates fusion in the fusionable material 138.
Some of the energy that is not dissipated in initiating the fusion
reaction will continue to propagate across the inner cavity 122 to
the wall 102 of the fusion reactor 100. Additionally, for a
fusionable material 138 of deuterium-tritium (D-T), approximately
20% of the fusion energy will be released in the form of fast alpha
particles. These alpha particles have a very short range in the
liquid medium 120 and will therefore deposit their energy in a very
small volume near the location of the target 140. The alpha
particle energy produces a further pressure wave that is directed
outwardly towards the wall 102. When these pressure waves reach the
transducer 412 they generate a restoring force returning the
transducer back to its initial position. Some of the energy may
also couple into the transducer as a compression wave, which may
cause the piston 410 to rebound rearwardly. Advantageously the
rebound may be used to at least partially return the piston 410 to
its initial position, while the fluid pressure is still applied,
thus conserving the energy required to pressurise the fluid.
[0181] Referring to FIG. 21, an embodiment of a pressure wave
generator for improving an impedance match between the piston 410
and the liquid medium 120 is shown generally at 2100. The pressure
wave generator 2100 includes a housing 2102 that accommodates a
transducer 2104 and the piston 410. The transducer 2104, which in
this embodiment does not have a conically tapered shape, further
includes a layer of steel 2106, a layer of titanium 2108 and a
layer of aluminium 2110. The layers 2106, 2108, and 2110 are fused
or otherwise secured to each other to form the transducer 2104.
[0182] The acoustic impedance, Z, of a material is defined as:
Z=.rho.V Equation 1 where .rho. is the density of the medium
through which the pressure wave travels and V is the acoustic
velocity of that material. The fraction of reflected energy for
normal incidence at an interface between two different materials is
given by R = [ Z 2 - Z 1 Z 2 + Z 1 ] 2 Equation .times. .times. 2
##EQU1## where R is the fraction of reflected energy at an
interface between a first material having an acoustic impedance
Z.sub.1, and a second material having an acoustic impedance
Z.sub.2. Values of .rho., V and Z for some common materials are
listed in Table 1.
[0183] Clearly, from Equation 2, when Z.sub.1 and Z.sub.2 are
equal, no energy is reflected at the interface but when Z.sub.1 and
Z.sub.2 are different, some fraction of the energy is reflected at
the interface. TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Acoustic Acoustic Density
Velocity Impedance Material [kg m.sup.-3/1000] [km s.sup.-1]
[10.sup.6 Rayls] Steel 7.9 5.2 41 Lead 11.3 1.2 12 Titanium 4.5 5.0
22.5 Aluminum 2.7 5.2 14
[0184] In the case where the liquid medium is molten lead, a direct
steel-lead interface (i.e. the transducer 412 is made from steel
and no conical taper), the impedance mismatch results in about 30%
of the energy being reflected back from the interface between the
transducer 412 and the liquid medium 120 (calculated using Equation
2 and the values in Table 1).
[0185] In operation the compression wave through the transducer
2104 propagates through the layer 2106 to an interface between the
layers 2106 and 2108 which is a steel-titanium interface. The
reflection at this interface may be calculated to be approximately
8.5% using equation 2. The compression wave, now diminished by
8.5%, continues to propagate to the interface between the layers
2108 and 2110 which is a titanium-aluminium interface. The
reflection at this interface is a further 5.4% or 5% of the initial
compression wave. The compression wave then propagates td the
interface between layer 2110 and the liquid medium 120, which is an
aluminium-lead interface. In this case the reflection is a further
1% or 0.6% of the initial compression wave. The total reflection is
thus reduces to around 14% (8.5%+5%+0.6%), showing that by choosing
a suitable material composition of the transducer 2104 the energy
reflection may be substantially reduced. In practice, a variety of
materials may be used for the layers for impedance matching the
transducer and the liquid medium.
[0186] Referring to FIG. 22, further improvement in the impedance
match may be obtained by using a tapered transducer 2202. The
transducer 2202 includes a first surface 550, a second surface 552
and a conical taper 558 between the first and the second surface
such that the second surface has a greater area than the first
surface. The taper 558 increases the mass of lead that the
transducer 2202 interacts with at the second surface 552 compared
to an un-tapered transducer that has equal area at each of the
first and the second surfaces. For example, for a steel transducer
having a smaller diameter of 10 cm and a 1.5 cm taper, the piston
area of the first surface 550 is 79 cm.sup.2 while the area of the
second surface 552 is 133 cm.sup.2, resulting is a 70% greater area
in contact with the liquid medium 120. The reduction in reflected
energy may be estimated by considering that there is an apparent
increase in the density of the liquid medium 120 approximately 1.7
times, which results in a reduction in the reflection from the 30%
to approximately 11% for the case of a steel to lead interface.
[0187] In practice, a combination of taper 558 and different
material layers may be employed to achieve the best overall
impedance match between the transducer 412 and the liquid medium
120.
[0188] Referring again to FIG. 22, another embodiment of a pressure
wave generator further includes a conformal disk 2206, attached to
the transducer 2202. The conformal disk 2206 may include copper, a
soft aluminium alloy, or a synthetic material, or a composite of
two or more materials.
[0189] Referring to FIG. 5, if the impact surface 554 of the piston
410 and the transducer 412 are not parallel, the impact stresses
may be concentrated over less then the full surface of the piston
and the transducer. The stress concentration may result in local
deformation or wear of the impact surface 554, which may represent
a risk for early failure of the pressure wave generator 104.
[0190] Referring again to FIG. 22, in operation the impact surface
554 of the piston 410 impacts the conformal disk 2206, which is
able to deform to take up any misalignment between the piston and
the transducer 2202. In service, the conformal disk 2206 may become
so deformed as to loose effectiveness for its intended purpose.
Advantageously, the conformal disks 2206 may be may be removable,
thus allowing replacement after the conformal disk nears an end of
its useful service period.
[0191] Alternatively, a layer of conformal metal such as copper may
be electroplated onto the impact surface 554 of the piston 410, or
on the first surface 550 of the transducer 2202.
[0192] The use of the piston 410 together with a moveable
transducer 412 has several advantages over the use of a piston that
directly impacts the wall 102 of the fusion reactor 100. A first
advantage is that direct impact with the wall 102 of the reactor
100 may introduce high stresses in the wall at the location of the
impact, making it necessary to either limit the kinetic energy of
the impact or to design the wall to withstand such impact stresses.
The use of the moveable transducer 412 mitigates the problem of
stresses in the wall of the vessel.
[0193] A second advantage is gained in ease of alignment of the
pressure wave generators 104. As previously indicated, it is very
important that the pressure wave converge symmetrically on the
fusionable material 138, which means that the fusion reactor 100
may need to be constructed to tight tolerances. The tolerances may
be relaxed for a fusion reactor 100 that uses the piston 410
together with the transducer 412 since the pressure wave in the
liquid medium 120 is originated at the outer surface 2030 of the
transducer and the transducer may be aimed by aligning the pressure
wave generator 104. As previously indicated, the longitudinal
position and aim of the pressure wave generator 210 may be adjusted
using shims 2012 or other adjustment mechanism. Since the fusion
reactor 100 may be several meters in diameter, or larger, with the
wall 102, being around 15 cm thick, an opportunity to reduce the
manufacturing tolerances thereof may represent a potential cost
reduction. Advantageously, the transducers 412 facilitate the
generation of a pressure wave that symmetrically envelopes and
converges on the fusionable material target 140.
[0194] Referring to FIG. 3 in one embodiment the fusion reactor 100
includes an alignment system for generating alignment information
regarding the pressure wave generators 104. The alignment system
utilizes the plurality of ultrasonic transceivers 152, mounted on
the wall 102 between the pressure wave generators 104. Sub groups
of the plurality of ultrasonic transceivers may be arranged to form
a phased array of transceivers, which form the basis of a
sonography system, similar to sonographic imaging systems used in
medical diagnostic imaging.
[0195] In operation of the alignment system, individual
transceivers 152 in the phased array are excited by signal pulses
at the same frequency, but at different phase angles. This results
in an ultrasonic beam being focused on an inside surface of the
wall 102 of the fusion reactor 100. The frequency and phase of the
signal pulses is selected to focus the beam toward a particular
opening 302 accommodating a particular pressure wave generator 104
and transducer 412. The surface of the transducer 412 reflects the
beam back to one of the transceivers 152 which is switched into a
receiving mode. The transceiver in the receiving mode converts the
received reflection into a signal waveform that is analysed to
determine the elapsed time between transmitting the signal pulse
and receiving a reflected pulse. The distance between the phase
array and surface of the transducer 412 may then be calculated from
the elapsed time and the speed of sound in the liquid medium 120.
Since symmetry is more important than the exact dimensions in the
fusion reactor, it is not important to have an accurate knowledge
of the speed of sound in the liquid medium 120, as long as the
environmental conditions do not change sufficiently over the course
of the alignment, thus affecting the results.
[0196] By selecting other sub groups in the plurality of
transceivers 152, and/or by altering the phase of the signal
pulses, a plurality of measurements may be made of all areas of the
inside of the fusion reactor 100. The plurality of measurements may
be analysed to provide a map of the inside surface of the fusion
reactor 100, allowing the measurement of the relative alignment of
each pressure wave generator 104 with respect to other pressure
wave generators. If necessary, a particular pressure wave generator
104 may be shimmed or otherwise adjusted to correct any detected
misalignment.
[0197] Alternatively, the transceivers 152 may be operated in a
different mode where a single divergent beam is transmitted from
one transceiver, and a returned reflection is received by an array
of transceivers. By examining the elapsed time and the relative
phase of the signals generated by the array of transceivers in
response to the reflected beam, a mapping of the interior surface
of fusion reactor 200 may be performed.
[0198] In some embodiments the piston 410 may be used without the
transducer 412 while still employing the control features described
herein (the brake 434, the position sensor 450, the control rod
422, and the controller 142). In such an embodiment the piston 410
may be disposed to directly strike the wall 102 of the fusion
reactor 100. Similarly, in other embodiments the piston 410 and the
transducer 412 may be used without implementing all of the control
features described herein.
[0199] Referring to FIG. 18, a system for fabricating the control
rod 422 is shown generally at 1800. In this embodiment the control
rod 422 is fabricated from a steel tube 1804, but it may also be
fabricated from a solid steel rod. Advantageously the steel tube
1804 may be a commonly available hardened steel shaft, which are
available in a range of sizes and have good roundness and surface
finish. The control rod may have a circular cross section. The
achievable position sensing resolution will also depend on the size
and spacing of the marks 424, but the marks should not interfere
with the operation of the brake 434. A convenient size for the
marks 424, which should provide sufficient position resolution,
would be 10 .mu.m marks at a 10 .mu.m spacing.
[0200] The steel tube 1804 is placed on a mandrel 1806 and mounted
in a lathe type machine (not shown), that is capable of rotating
the steel tube 1804. The surface 1802 is first coated with a
photoresist solution. Advantageously the photoresist may be sprayed
onto the surface 1802 while the steel tube 1804 is being rotated in
the lathe machine. The photoresist coated surface 1802 is then
exposed to imaging radiation using an exposure source 1808. A
suitable exposure source is the SQUAREspot.RTM. Thermal Imaging
head manufactured by Creo Inc, of Burnaby British Columbia. The
SQUAREspot.RTM. Thermal Imaging head provides a laser power of 20
Watts or more in a plurality of controllable imaging beams, each
beam having a diameter of around 8 .mu.m.
[0201] The exposure source 1808 is moveable in a transverse
direction shown by arrow 1812 and further includes a controller
1810. The controller 1810 includes data and control lines 1814 for
providing data defining a desired pattern and for controlling the
exposure source 1808. The controller 1810 includes circuitry for
generating image data defining a pattern of indicia to be formed on
the control rod 422 and also controls the lathe machine rotation
and the transverse movement of the exposure source 1808. The
exposure source 1808 is directed by the controller 1810 to image a
plurality of bands 1816 corresponding to the desired size and
spacing of marks 424. The imaging beams selectively pattern the
photoresist layer, hardening exposed areas of photoresist while
leaving unexposed areas unchanged.
[0202] The steel tube 1804 is then removed from the lathe and
placed in a suitable etch solution. The etch solution only attacks
the unexposed areas while the hardened areas of resist protect the
underlying surface 1904. Referring now to FIG. 19, a portion of an
etched steel tube is shown in greater detail at 1900. The areas
1904 are protected from the etch solution by the hardened
photoresist layer 1906, while the areas 1902 are unprotected and
are thus attacked by the etch solution. The etched areas 1902 have
a rough texture, due to the activity of the etch solution, and also
have a slight radial offset from the surface 1904 of the steel tube
1900. In a subsequent step these areas 1902 may be chemically
blackened to further reduce their reflectivity. The photoresist
layer 1906 may then be removed, leaving a smooth, un-etched surface
1904 exposed. The marks 424 are defined by a plurality of
alternating reflective smooth surface areas 1904 and less
reflective rough areas 1902. The smooth reflective areas 1904
provide a suitable surface for applying a braking force, while the
areas 1902, which are slightly recessed from the surface 1904, do
not interfere with the operation of the brake.
[0203] While specific embodiments of the invention have been
described and illustrated, such embodiments should be considered
illustrative of the invention only and not as limiting the
invention as construed in accordance with the accompanying
claims.
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