The Fusion Power Foundation An Introduction to Heavy Ion Fusion The Holy Grail of Clean Energy November 2009

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1 The Fusion Power Foundation White Paper C O N F I D E N T I A L An Introduction to Heavy Ion Fusion The Holy Grail of Clean Energy November 2009 C O N F I D E N T I A L 2009 The Fusion Power Foundation v. November 8, 2009

2 Heavy Ion Fusion (HIF) The Holy Grail of Clean Energy In Pursuit of Controlled Fusion Power HIF is fully capable of achieving practical, controlled fusion energy production within ten years. Since the detonation of the first Hydrogen bomb on November 1, 1952, scientists and engineers around the world have been seeking ways to control the thermonuclear fusion reaction, considered to be the Holy Grail of near-limitless, Carbon-free and affordable energy. Although that first fusion power event demonstrated man s ability to harness the energy of stars, it did so at a scale that was unmanageable. To realize the full potential of practical fusion power that is suitable for commercial use, fusion reactions must be controlled on a much smaller scale. That objective is now within reach. Given the promise of a breakthrough HIF concept developed by Dr. Robert J. Burke of Arcata Systems, commercial fusion power could be available within ten years. All rights to Dr. Burke s patent-pending concept were awarded to the Fusion Power Foundation in July 2009 to assure further HIF research and education. The Foundation s mission is to be the global leader in fostering Heavy Ion Fusion education, continuing research and development, and worldwide adoption of this preferred energy source for the benefit of mankind. The Foundation s vision is a future in which virtually all of the world s energy needs are supplied by clean, safe, and affordable fusion power systems, thus eliminating dependence on fossil fuels and reversing global warming trends, while improving worldwide standards of living and quality of life. The Modern Artificial Fusion Reaction The physics of nuclear fusion is well known, both as it occurs naturally in the stars, and as is occurs artificially in human enterprises, dating back to experiments conducted in the early 1930 s. The physics of nuclear fusion is well known. In addition to our knowledge of naturally occurring fusion reactions that power the stars, our understanding of artificial fusion reactions dates back to experiments conducted in the early 1930 s. The most readily achievable artificial fusion reaction for useful power generation involves the combining of two isotopes of Hydrogen, Deuterium 1 (D) and Tritium (T), to form Helium plus a highly energetic neutron, while releasing a prodigious amount of heat energy in the form of ultra-hot plasma. Since much of the reaction energy is in the emitted neutrons, it is necessary to absorb that energy through interaction with another material, such as Lithium. Achieving a successful DT fusion reaction requires forcing the nuclei of the two Hydrogen isotopes into close proximity where the repulsive electrostatic force between their positively-charged nuclei can be overcome by the stronger nuclear force. Consequently, extremely high pressures and temperatures must be applied, near simultaneously, to compress and ignite the DT fuel in an inertially-confined fusion (ICF) reaction. Dr. Burke s patent-pending HIF process augments and expands upon available 1 A near-limitless supply of free Deuterium exists in the Earth s oceans. The Fusion Power Foundation Confidential 1

3 linear accelerator technology to achieve this reaction, with a large margin of accelerator energy to spare. Linear Accelerator Heavy Ion Driver Research and Demonstration The linear accelerator- heavy ion driver approach is based on extensive research performed in the 1970 s. The use of heavy ions in a linear accelerator to drive controllable fusion reactions was the subject of extensive research conducted in the 1970 s, principally at the Argonne National Laboratory (ANL). That research led to demonstrations of the heavy ion driver concept at ANL in collaboration with Hughes Research Laboratories in 1976 and The results supported the feasibility of achieving the necessary high energy impulses for compression and inertial confinement ignition of a small DT fuel target. Further research addressed an effective means for controlling the high energy neutrons released by the DT fusion reaction, and identified Lithium as a preferred material for absorbing those neutrons. Importantly, the Lithium-neutron absorption process not only converts the neutrons energy to useful heat, but also produces additional Tritium to fuel subsequent DT fusion reactions. Furthermore, the Lithium in both its liquid and vapor states also acts as a heat exchange fluid, facilitating rapid removal of useful heat from the reaction chamber. Broad Endorsement by the Scientific Community HIF technology is widely judged to provide all of the parameters required to meet the needs of controlled thermonuclear fusion. Dr. Robert J. Burke s early telescoping beam studies and his recent conception of key improvements to heavy ion beam accelerator control are the basis of the Foundation s patent-pending process. By the late 1970 s, HIF research findings were sufficient to support a proposal to build a prototype fusion power plant employing a heavy ion accelerator and a Lithium-shielded-and-cooled reaction chamber. Unfortunately, other projects had priority at the time. Nevertheless, research has continued, albeit at a low level, in the United States, Russia, and Germany. However, despite repeated endorsement of the HIF concept by the international scientific community, no effort has yet been made to build an operating system. The Foundation was formed explicitly to rectify this situation beginning now. Dr. Robert J. Burke s Patent-Pending Approach The first HIF system conceptual designs called for the current from a heavy ion source to be amplified many times using five proven ion beam acceleration, compression and focusing techniques, or factors. Although each factor has a range of practicality and known limitations, the result of their combined application can readily multiply the source current to the very high levels needed to compress and ignite a DT fuel target. A sixth key multiplicative factor was added as the result of the comprehensive Heavy Ion Driven Inertial Fusion (HIDIF) study 2 conducted in Germany in the timeframe. This sixth factor, telescoping beam, was initially studied and proposed by Dr. Burke in 1978, while at ANL. His technique exploits the freedom to use various types of heavy ions in the linear accelerator, such that they telescope into each other just before reaching the DT fuel target. 2 The HIDIF-Study, GSI REPORT, August The Fusion Power Foundation Confidential 2

4 The HIDIF design clearly demonstrated that the multiple-ion concept is practical. Subsequent to the HIDIF study, Dr. Burke conceived additional ion accelerator configuration modifications that rebalance and optimize the six multiplicative factors to yield improved accelerator performance and higher target impact energies. These enhancements are the basis of his patent-pending, Single Pass HIF System and Method 3. Dr. Burke has assigned all of his current and future HIF intellectual property, trade secrets, and know-how to the Fusion Power Foundation with the provision that the Foundation foster the advancement of HIF technology and its worldwide commercial development. Unlike historical myopic approaches to controlled fusion, Dr. Burke s solution focuses on fully exploiting the massive amounts of thermal energy generated for commercial use. Historically, worldwide fusion research and demonstration efforts have focused on magnetically containing extremely short duration fusion reactions in a relatively small space, in the hope of being able to apply the resulting energy in manageable amounts to practical applications. To date, those attempts have been unsuccessful. The Foundation s founders consider the magnetic containment myopia analogous to looking through the wrong end of a telescope. By contrast, the Foundation s approach is to take full advantage of the massive amounts of clean plasma energy (heat) available from a controlled HIF reaction. Consequently, HIF systems employing the Foundation s technology will be designed to meet the base load power requirements of large geographic areas. For example, just three HIF systems could meet California s current base load electric power demand. The Foundation s HIF Power System Concept Every component of the Foundation s conceptual HIF Power System concept is based on known linear accelerator science and engineering, as well as available reaction chamber and heat exchange technology. The Foundation s conceptual design for a commercial HIF Power System includes the following major system components: Computerized Control Systems Ion Sourcing System ( Ion Hotel ) High Voltage DC Pre-Accelerator System RF Linear Accelerator (Linac) Complex Ion Beam Conditioning and Manipulation Systems Fuel Pellet and Sabot Manufacturing Facility Multiple HIF Reaction/Containment Chambers Lithium Handling and Vacuum Pumping Systems System Startup DC Power System Advanced Heat Exchange Systems At the front-end of the HIF Power System is the ion source (Ion Hotel), a 50,000 sq. ft. high bay building housing 64 DC accelerators (Dynamitrons). The ion funneling and merging processes are contained in downstream buildings located a few hundred yards from the first stage of the Linac Complex, which in turn contains multiple parallel linac structures that converge into the main linac located in an underground tunnel (approximately four miles in length and 20 feet in 3 Single-Pass, Heavy Ion Fusion, Systems and Method (U.S. Utility Patent Application filed June 12, 2009). The Fusion Power Foundation Confidential 3

5 diameter). Although a single Linac Complex will be able to drive up to 20 Reaction Chambers, a typical commercial HIF Power System installation will consist of three to five pairs of Reaction/Containment Chambers spaced at approximately one-mile intervals downstream from the Linac Complex. Each Reaction/Containment Chamber pair will have a footprint equivalent to that of a typical nuclear fission power plant. Proximity to an ocean or other large body of water is desired to facilitate reaction chamber cooling. Process Overview The HIF process involves the acceleration of various isotopic ions in multiple DC and RF accelerators, each acceleration stage shortening the ion pulses and increasing their current density. Two groups of four ion beams impact the 100 mg DT fuel pellet from opposite sides, delivering a 20MJ compression pulse followed in 4 nanoseconds by a 3MJ fast-ignition pulse. Each HIF/DT fusion reaction releases the energy equivalent of the instantaneous combustion of 1.6 barrels of oil. The HIF process begins with the acceleration of packets of isotopically distinct ions, produced in multiple ion generators, to moderate speeds in a high voltage direct current (DC) accelerator. The resulting packets of ions are then further accelerated and converted to a series of short pulses in Radio Frequency Quadrupole (RFQ) accelerators, and then funneled and merged in successive RFQ and linear accelerators, while being conditioned and interleaved in intermediate stations between each accelerator. Each acceleration stage shortens the ion pulses and increases their current densities. Successively higher frequencies drive each stage of the acceleration process. As the heaviest ions approach velocities comparable to onefourth the speed of light they are shunted aside into drift tubes and then directed into specially-designed accelerator and drift tube constructs that remove most of the gaps present in the stream of ion pulses ( pulsed ion beam ). The lower mass isotopes are given additional acceleration until their velocities approach half the speed of light. At the end of the acceleration and conditioning stages, eight pulsed ion beams race toward the target, with each isotopically distinct ion having been accelerated appropriately in order to reach the fuel pellet at precisely the right time. The eight ion beams are split into two groups of four, with each group following a separate path terminating on opposite sides of the 100 mg DT fuel pellet target a 0.8 mm diameter by 0.8 mm long cylinder that is centered in a 60 cm diameter Lithium sabot. The two groups of four ion beams are synchronized to arrive at the target at precisely the same instant it drops through the center of the reaction chamber. The fuel pellet is first impacted by a 20 MJ compression ion beam that heats the material surrounding the DT core, compressing the DT fuel to a high density. This compression-pulse is followed in about four nanoseconds by a 3 MJ fast-ignition pulse that ignites the DT fuel. The heat produced by the conversion of the ion beam kinetic energy is equivalent to the explosion of 12 pounds of TNT, more than sufficient to ignite the DT fuel and vaporize the Lithium sabot. The 10 GJ (approximately 10 GW) of fusion energy released, in the form of ultrahot plasma, is roughly equivalent to the energy released in the instantaneous combustion of 1.6 barrels of oil, or the explosion of 2.2 tons of TNT. The Fusion Power Foundation Confidential 4

6 The Foundation s HIF Power Complex Concept Multiple, distributed HIF Power Complexes are the key to practical and successful commercialization of HIF Power, worldwide. Since the principal product of the HIF reaction is heat, successful commercialization of this clean energy source requires that HIF Power Systems be co-located with energy conversion and distribution facilities/operations, and/or end-users of large amounts of heat and electricity. Examples might include public utilities, independent providers of base load electric power, metal smelters and foundries, water desalination companies, and producers of Hydrogen and synthetic fuels. The schematic below (not to scale) illustrates the conceptual layout of a large HIF Power Complex encompassing five pairs of reaction/containment chambers spaced at one-mile intervals downstream of the Accelerator Driver. (Up to 10 pairs of chambers can be driven by one HIF Accelerator Driver.) The nominal fusion ignition repetition rate per reaction chamber is one per second. Schematic Layout of a 10-Reactor HIF Power Complex Accelerator Driver Ion Beam Transport The number and configuration of energy conversion systems and components installed at any given complex will depend on the specific needs of the particular commercial enterprises chosen to use the heat generated by the HIF Power System. Safety Systems Five Pairs of 10 GW Power Units = 100 GW of Fusion Energy The HIF-DT reaction is inherently safe due to the system s selfthrottling design features. The presence of the Lithium sabot surrounding the fuel pellet is essential for absorbing and reacting with the energetic neutrons that are released in the fusion reaction. Because Lithium is flammable if placed in contact with air, water and certain other compounds, a high vacuum environment is provided for the whole of the reaction chamber. The chamber in turn is surrounded by a secondary containment shell filled with an inert gas, such as Argon. All primary heat exchange takes place within this controlled environment. In contrast to a nuclear fission reaction, there is no danger of a runaway fusion event since each fuel pellet is small and is introduced one-at-atime into the reaction chamber under fail-safe computer control. Since the fusion products are all gases, and are removed from the chamber The Fusion Power Foundation Confidential 5

7 by vacuum pumps after each reaction, there can be no accumulation of fusion fuel in the chamber. Moreover, if a high vacuum is not present, the heavy ion beam cannot reach the pellet and the process automatically comes to a halt. In addition to the potential for highefficiency DC electricity production, primary fusion reaction byproducts include marketable Helium and Tritium to fuel future fusion reactions. Heat in secondary working fluids has numerous uses including: producing high pressure steam for AC electricity generation; water desalination; and dissociation of water to produce Hydrogen for synthesizing transportation fuels. HIF Power Complexes have the potential to produce commercial electric power at a capital cost less than $1,100 per kilowatt, with the ability to sell its electricity very profitably. Representative HIF Power System Energy Products Heat is the principal product of the HIF reaction. However, it also produces modest amounts of Helium as a marketable and increasingly valuable byproduct, as well as Tritium needed for manufacturing the DT pellets required for continued operation of the HIF Power Complex. The plasma heat produced by the fusion reaction has a multitude of potential uses that are likely to differ from one installation to another. Most promising is the very real prospect of producing DC electric power, with process efficiencies in excess of 90%, using direct magnetic or electrical coupling with the plasma, as well as using proven magneto hydrodynamics (MHD) methods. These direct conversion methods would also greatly reduce any environmental heat load problems associated with the fusion reaction. Useful heat can also be conducted to external processes via heat exchange fluids using heat exchange systems located both within the dual containment shell (primary) and externally (secondary). The heat in secondary working fluids has many potential commercial uses including the production of high pressure steam to drive turbine powered AC generators, water desalination, and water dissociation into Hydrogen and Oxygen. In addition to water dissociation via electrolysis, a promising future heat-driven method is the well known Sulfur-Iodine Thermochemical Cycle. 4 Since Hydrogen and Carbon are fundamental building blocks of synthetic liquid fuels, commercial enterprises using secondary heat generated by HIF Power Systems could become net users of CO 2 and major sources of synthetic transportation fuels. Regardless of the energy conversion methods employed at each HIF Power Complex, the goal will be to minimize the discharge of waste heat into the local environment. Cost and Revenue Considerations Gross estimates of the total capital cost of the Accelerator Driver Complex plus the ten reaction chambers, is approximately $30 billion. Although this is a large number, in the context of the large amount of useful heat energy produced (100 GWth), it is both reasonable and commercially viable. For example, if all of the heat energy is applied solely to the production of electric power (50 GWe) the capital cost would be less than $1,100 per kw. This compares to $1,890 per kw for advanced gas/oil combined cycle (CC) plants, $3,496 per kw for the most efficient integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) coal plants, and $3,318 per kw for an advanced nuclear plant. 5 4 Paul Pickard, Sulfur-Iodine Thermochemical Cycle 2005 DOE Hydrogen Program Review. 5 Energy Information Administration / The National Energy Modeling System: An Overview The Fusion Power Foundation Confidential 6

8 Furthermore, because the Deuterium fuel for HIF power production is essentially free, and the cost of manufacturing each fuel pellet is estimated to be only a few dollars, the resulting cost per kwh of HIFproduced electricity is projected to be a fraction of the 2.7 to 3.0 cents per kwh of coal, gas or nuclear generation methods. A conservative estimate of the potential revenue from a single HIF Power Complex from the sale of electricity only is greater than $10 billion annually. Conclusions HIF truly is the Holy Grail of near limitless, clean and affordable energy that is both within reach and capable of meeting the world s energy needs for thousands of years. Fusion is an unexploited carbonless base load energy source, and one that mankind desperately needs. The Fusion Power Foundation is convinced that practical Heavy Ion Fusion is indeed achievable and that, within the next decade, has the potential to become the world s preferred source of affordable energy for the foreseeable future. This prospect is contrary to the myopic charge made in the 1970 s against further developing the HIF science and technology because it costs too much. A key purpose of this White Paper has been to finally show that, not only does HIF not cost too much, it could possibly profit too much. Finally, successful commercialization of Heavy Ion Fusion truly has the potential to fulfill the Foundation s vision of a future in which virtually all of the world s energy needs are supplied by clean, safe, and affordable fusion power, thus eliminating dependence on fossil fuels, reversing global warming trends, supporting international nuclear non-proliferation efforts, increasing the world s supply of potable water, and improving both the standard of living and quality of life for all of mankind. As David Lilienthal, former Chairman of the TVA and the first Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, once wrote: No American energy policy makes sense unless it takes into account the needs of all peoples... it is these energy sources that have enabled us to aid the helpless the world over. 6 The Fusion Power Foundation clearly sees the path to our vision of the future, and we are seeking major contributors to join us in our efforts. 6 Atomic Energy: A New Start by David Eli Lilienthal. The Fusion Power Foundation Confidential 7

9 For additional information please contact: Harold V. Helsley, Secretary Fusion Power Foundation Cheyenne, Wyoming or: Donald C. Leonard, President & CEO D.C. Leonard & Associates, Inc Palos Verdes Dr. W. Palos Verdes Estates, CA The Fusion Power Foundation Confidential 8