Fuel injection.

[chrismb]

I've had a search for how the Polywell would be fuelled and found a couple of vague references to ion injectors sited at the magrid.

Please let me know if there is anything more detailed.

What I am looking for is to understand how the device would inject 100Amps of proton ions. That's quite a proton current from a compact gun embedded within the grids!?

I guess the boron injection would then be a 500Amp injection gun at min. 650eV, that'd be at least a 325kW and that would be if it was 100% efficient!

Those will sure be bulky ion injectors! Won't they get in the way of the magnetic fields/recurculating electrons?

best regards,

Chris MB.

[Aero]

One of the "Keep Alive" contracts announced in early October seems to address this question. See
https://www.fbo.gov/index?print_preview ... =1&au=&ck=

[chrismb]

But, just the physical bulk of this thing will be problematic.

I keep hearing that a fusion-power Polywell is ready for building, if only there was the $200M.

But it looks like there are many many fundamental design elements and bits of understanding that are missing.

Lots of critique over tokamak - but what's to say the ion injection gun won't take 25 years? 325kW gun - to be fitted INTO the magrid?

Possible? Sure, why not! We built the tower of babel didn't we, and stuff a lot bigger than that since [since we mostly all speak one language again!!].

But possible in N years time if only $200M was available?? What is N?

[MSimon]

But, just the physical bulk of this thing will be problematic.

I keep hearing that a fusion-power Polywell is ready for building, if only there was the $200M.

But it looks like there are many many fundamental design elements and bits of understanding that are missing.

Lots of critique over tokamak - but what's to say the ion injection gun won't take 25 years? 325kW gun - to be fitted INTO the magrid?

Possible? Sure, why not! We built the tower of babel didn't we, and stuff a lot bigger than that since [since we mostly all speak one language again!!].

But possible in N years time if only $200M was available?? What is N?

Physical bulk may be greatly reduced if high density POPS compression works. We already know low density POPS works. So that will help some. Probably a factor of 2X in linear dimensions minimum - or if there is a minimum size due to mechanical reasons a boost in power out for a given size.

Dr. B. thought 5 years and $200 mn for engineering a 100 MW test reactor. I think another 5 years at $2 bn a year for a full up power producer. But it will become clearer once the test reactor is working.

Why do you need an ion gun? I like gas feed out of the MaGrids myself.

I thing the highest field SC magnet is now around 100 T - that should help.