Sbir phase i: characterizatoin of fusion gain factor q for orbitron micro fusion reactor

The National Science Foundation awarded Avalanche Energy Designs Inc. a $274,890 Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships (CFDA 47.084) Project Grant to characterize the fusion gain factor Q for their Orbitron micro-fusion reactor technology. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project aims to use particle-in-cell code, experiments, and plasma loss mechanism analysis to optimize fusion gain factor modeling and enable mitigating solutions for future small-scale fusion reactor prototypes. The broader impacts of this research include developing a small, low-cost, and highly mobile fusion power source with potential applications in hard-to-decarbonize industries, distributed energy, and space power and propulsion.

Abstract

The broader impact/commercial potential of this phase i small business innovation research (sbir) project is to develop a small plasma confinement device called an orbitron, which could have applications to allow low cost, highly mobile fusion sources. Markets with the largest opportunity to benefit from small, carbon-free, micro-fusion reactors are the ?hard-to-decarbonize? Industries like long haul trucking, maritime shipping, aviation, distributed energy, and also space power and propulsion. The development of a small clean energy fusion reactor would be a transformative technology for society. The proposed micro-fusion device may enable continuous clean energy production from readily available elements, without the use of long-term radioactive elements. This microfusion device is also expected to be orders of magnitude cheaper than larger scale fusion reactors, and will allow for iterative design and testing for optimization. This sbir phase i project will result in the ability to achieve predictions of the fusion gain factor (q) for orbitron-based micro-fusion reactors. Orbitron science combines aspects of electrostatic ION traps, like an orbitrap, with high voltage microwave-type electron confinement in ?crossed-fields? Like a magnetron. The resulting plasma regime is novel and exhibits very high ION and electron energies, moderate densities, and long particle confinement times. Optimized fusion gain factor modelling will be achieved via systematic anchoring and validation of particle-in-cell (PIC) code via experimental measurements. Discrete experiments with small orbitron fusion reactors will be used to assess the various plasma loss mechanisms. These mechanisms include ionization between fuel ions and neutral background atoms, particle scattering collisions to the device walls and bremsstrahlung x-RAY radiation losses. Once these mechanisms are correlated with the PIC code, detailed assessments of the simulated fusion plasma will be made to determine the potential q of a future small-scale fusion reactor for energy production. This gain in understanding will enable development of solutions to mitigate loss mechanisms in future prototypes to maximize q for small net energy fusion devices. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.- subawards are not planned for this award.