My sense on this
is that we are around $2,000,000 away from a successful proof of concept
test. That is really not a great deal of
coin. At that point, taking it all to
the scale needed for a commercial device will take another $25,000,000 and an
actual working commercial system another $100 mill. At that point you are good to go.
It is good to
see more folks coming on side here. This
is the device protocol that we need to power Star ships and everything
else. The actual power takeoff is
uncomplicated and natural to the system itself with on intermediation
whatsoever. That alone even allows
excess on the front end if it is necessary.
A deliverable in
the 2020’s will be about right and will naturally coincide with shift over to a
full battery supported electrical system and all electrical cars.
No other fusion
protocol can even dream about a deliverable, let alone a proof of concept so
soon.
Senior Fusion
researchers give major endorsement to Lawrenceville Plasma Physics Dense Plasma
Focus Fusion Work and say they expect feasibility will be shown within two
years with adequate funding
DECEMBER 13, 2013
Lawrenceville Plasma Physics has been developing an extremely low-cost approach
to fusion power based on a device called the dense plasma focus (DPF). In
contrast to the giant tokamak machines that have been the recipients of most
fusion funding, a DPF can fit in a small room. LPP’s final feasibility
experiments and planned commercial generators will use hydrogen-boron fuel,
which produces no radioactive waste and promises extremely economical clean
energy.
The committee of researchers was led by Dr. Robert Hirsch, a former director of
fusion research for the US Atomic Energy Commission and the Energy Research and
Development Agency. Other members of the committee were Dr. Stephen O. Dean,
President of Fusion Power Associates and former director of fusion Magnetic
Confinement Systems for the Department of Energy; Professor Gerald L.
Kulcinski, Associate Dean for Research, College of Engineering, University of
Wisconsin-Madison; and Professor Dennis Papadopoulos, Professor of Physics,
University of Maryland. The committee was organized by Dr. Hirsch at the
request of Mr. Alvin Samuels, an investor in LPP’s effort, to give an objective
assessment of the program. Neither Mr. Samuels nor LPP had any control over the
committee’s conclusions.
If the physics issues outlined herein can be satisfactorily resolved, it is
conceivable that the DPF concept could be developed into a viable, economic,
and environmentally attractive electric power source for not only civilian
power but also for military purposes. LPP’s projection of very small (about
5MW) units would be an advantage relative to most other fusion concepts. To
date, LPP personnel have not given extensive consideration to the engineering
of a DPF power reactor. This is appropriate in the committee’s opinion, because
without the successful resolution of existing issues, a DPF reactor will not be
possible. Having said that, the committee does not see any fundamental
roadblock to power system viability.
The committee’s report pointed to the “innovative thinking and
experimental results achieved thus far by Mr. (Eric J.) Lerner and his team at
LPP.” At the same time, the scientists did not minimize the remaining work that
still needs to be done to experimentally validate the predictions of LPP’s
theory of DPF functioning and lay the foundation for commercial fusion
generators. Commenting on the report, LPP’s President and Chief Scientist
Lerner said, “We agree with the review committee that several of our
predictions still need to be proved in the laboratory, which is what we intend
to do in the near future.”
The LPP team has stated that, given adequate funding, they can demonstrate in a
year or two the scientific feasibility of fusion energy with the DPF and
hydrogen-boron fuel, a combination the team calls “Focus Fusion.” They expect
that a working prototype generator can then be developed in a few years more.
The review committee broadly supported that short-term timeframe, concluding:
“While a number of near-term physics issues remain to be resolved, it is likely
that with adequate financial support these matters could be addressed in a
relatively short period of time, e.g. a few years.” If these issues are
addressed, “the committee does not see any fundamental roadblock to power
system viability.” In other words, a functioning, economical and clean new
source of energy may soon become reality.
Highlights of the LPP”s program, based on a theoretical model developed by Mr.
Lerner are as follows:
1. The concept should operate more effectively with heavier elements, such as
boron.
2. Scaling to effective operation is towards smaller sizes. 3. The so-called
Quantum Magnetic Field effect, postulated in astrophysical plasmas but not
verified in laboratory experiments, will reduce energy transfer from hot ions
to electrons thereby preventing catastrophic energy loss due to bremsstrahlung
emission by hot electrons.
4. Lerner’s theoretical model predicts that reduction of bremsstrahlung loss
and reabsorption of synchrotron radiation by the dense and opaque plasma focus
could allow the pB11 DPF pinch to reach ignition.
5. After the pinch disassembles, Lerner believes that plasma ions will be
exhausted along the axis of the device, carrying roughly two-thirds of the
plasma energy, allowing efficient direct energy conversion to electric
power.
6. Based on his theoretical model, a weak axial magnetic field might enhance
the beneficial formation of the pinch plasma.
The committee’s views on these points are as follows:
1. DPF operates more effectively with heavier elements. This prediction from
the model remains to be verified. In the near future LPP has a credible plan to
test this theory using Nitrogen as a stand-in for Boron. This appears possible,
and, if proven, would be a distinctive characteristic of the DPF.
2. DPF wants to scale to smaller sizes. This prediction of the model also needs
experimental validation. This appears possible, and, if demonstrated, is a
positive, distinctive characteristic of the DPF. Smaller size scaling would be
unique among fusion concepts and would mean that program development might
proceed rapidly. On the other hand, in a power producing device, small size
might lead to difficult device cooling, an issue that cannot be evaluated at
this time.
3. The Quantum Magnetic Field Effect will keep electron temperatures lower than
the ion temperatures. This effect has never been seen in laboratory
experiments. Its demonstration represents a major challenge since it requires
much higher densities and much higher self-generated magnetic fields. Lower
electron temperatures are essential for this or any pB11 concept, because
electron temperatures near ion temperatures would result in radiation losses
that would prohibit net power production.
4. Ignition with pB11 may be possible. While conceivable, ignition in pB11 has
to our knowledge not been previously considered possible in other pB11 fusion
concepts. If achievable, it would provide a distinct advantage for the DPF pB11
approach to fusion power.
5. Plasma ions will be exhausted along the axis of the device. If true, beam
ion exhaust holds considerable potential for direct energy conversion, a
distinct advantage, assuming relative engineering simplicity is viable.
6. A weak axial magnetic field may help pinch formation. LPP presented
plausible arguments and data to the committee on this proposition. If true, it
could represent a means of enhancing operation of a DPF system.
Other Issues
1. Plasma densities in the current experiment: LPP personnel and the committee
believe that the plasma densities in the existing DPF experiment are too low by
over a factor of 10,000 to be practical for a pB11 fusion power system. Since
observed densities at LPP are currently lower by about a factor of 10-100 than
in many other DPF experiments, there does not appear to be a fundamental
barrier to achieving higher densities than currently observed in the LPP
device. LPP personnel believe that the reason for current low plasma densities
is the high impurity content of current plasmas and that a change in device
electrode material is a potential solution. LPP proposes to fabricate their
anode out of tungsten to dramatically reduce impurities and increase plasma
densities. This approach seems reasonable to the committee. Densities must be
increased even further by demonstrating the effect of using a heavier element
(like the Nitrogen proposed) and eventually reaching the higher densities
required for the quantum magnetic field effect.
2. Impurities in the current experiment: Both LPP and the committee recognize
that impurity concentrations must be dramatically reduced.
See comments above.
3. The LPP program: The current LPP program is grossly underfunded and appears
to be living hand-to-mouth. In spite of the issues and uncertainties outlined
in this report, the committee feels that the promise of the LPP DPF approach to
fusion power has considerable merit and that a much higher level of investment
is warranted, based on their considerable progress to date. Enhanced support
should largely be used for additional experimental and theoretical
efforts as well as for additional diagnostics and a larger experimental
facility to accommodate additional diagnostics.
4. Developing the DPF to a viable, economic, environmentally attractive fusion
power reactor: If the physics issues outlined herein can be satisfactorily
resolved, it is conceivable that the DPF concept could be developed into a
viable, economic, and environmentally attractive electric power source for not
only civilian power but also for military purposes. LPP’s projection of very
small (about 5MW) units would be an advantage relative to most other fusion
concepts. To date, LPP personnel have not given extensive consideration to the
engineering of a DPF power reactor. This is appropriate in the committee’s
opinion, because without the successful resolution of existing issues, a DPF
reactor will not be possible. Having said that, the committee does not see any
fundamental roadblock to power system viability.
LPP Proprietary Information, not to be shared
without prior written permission.
Review Committee Evaluation of the Lawrenceville
Plasma
Physics Focus Fusion Program
November 28, 2013.
Executive Summary
The independent LPP technology review committee was
pleasantly surprised by the efforts and progress made by LPP in its development
of the Dense Plasma Focus (DPF) fusion power concept. While recent progress has
been notable, significant physics issues as well as a number of engineering
challenges remain to be addressed before the practical viability of the concept
can be fully evaluated. The committee found that LPP has identified some major
physics challenges to achieving aneutronic fusion with a DPF and formulated a
near term program to address them.
I. Introduction
At the request of one of the Lawrenceville Plasma
Physics (LPP) investors, an expert review committee was assembled to review and
evaluate the LPP program on the Dense Plasma Focus (DPF) fusion power concept.
The committee was chaired by Dr. Robert L. Hirsch, formerly a fusion researcher
and head of the federal fusion research program, Dr. Stephen O. Dean, former
fusion researcher, former federal fusion program manager, and current President
of Fusion Power Associates, Professor Gerald Kulcinski, fusion researcher and
Associate Dean of Research at the University of Wisconsin, and Professor Dennis
Papadopoulos, plasma physics and astrophysics researcher at the University of
Maryland. Additional biographical background is provided in the Appendix.
The members of the committee have no financial
association with the LPP program and agreed to participate in this review with
the understanding that the committee would have complete freedom to express its
opinions as it saw fit.
II. The Committee Review
The committee assembled at the LPP facility in
Middlesex, New Jersey, for a one-day briefing and tour on November 18, 2013. On
November 19, the committee met in executive session to discuss the LPP program
and related DPF technical issues. Thereafter, Dr. Hirsch drafted this report,
which the committee modified as it saw fit, resulting in this final report,
which the full committee endorses. LPP
Proprietary Information, not to be shared without prior written permission.
III. The Dense Plasma Focus Concept (DPF).
For the purposes of this report, we quote the DPF
description in Wikipedia:
“A dense plasma focus (DPF) is a machine that
produces, by electromagnetic acceleration and compression, a short-lived plasma
that is hot and dense enough to cause nuclear fusion and the emission of
X-rays. The electromagnetic compression of the plasma is called a pinch. It was
invented in the early 1960s by J.W. Mather and also independently by N.V.
Filippov in 1954.”
The reader is directed to the technical literature
and the Internet for detailed descriptions of the concept, related physics, and
technical progress. Because of limits on space and time, the following
discussion assumes that the reader is familiar with the technical aspects of
DPF physics and technology.
IV. LPP Thinking and Results From Its DPF Research
The LPP effort is led by Mr. Eric Lerner, and
conducted by a relatively small research team. Mr. Lerner has published his
results in peer-reviewed scientific journals and openly exchanged information
with other researchers in DPF research and related areas of physics. The LPP
program is primarily guided by Mr. Lerner’s thinking.
The LPP program focuses on developing the DPF
concept for use with the pB11 fusion fuel cycle. This cycle has the potential
for producing fusion energy with low neutron emissions, thereby minimizing
undesirable radiation hazards and radioactive materials. The committee supports
this goal, due to its superior environmental characteristics and potential for
high electric conversion efficiency.
As indicated, the operation of a DPF involves a
brief electrical discharge that creates a gaseous plasma, which through
acceleration and compression, often results in a high density (1022 ions/cm3
though the current LPP DFF density is about 100 times lower), few micron size,
energetic (>150 keV), strongly magnetized (106 Tesla) plasmoid, which could
in principle release potentially useful quantities of fusion energy from fusion
fuels in the very short period of time that a DPF maintains its integrity. By
rapidly and repeatedly pulsing such a device, significant quantities of energy
to both drive the DPF and provide useful, environmentally attractive electric
power for practical use might be produced.
The committee accepts that such an approach is in
principle plausible, but its practical viability remains to be established.
As the committee understands the background, LPP’s
choice of the DPF concept was based on Mr. Lerner’s belief that previous DPF
limitations might be overcome with a different formulation of related physics
theory and by using an LPP Proprietary Information, not to be shared without
prior written permission.
3 expanded
array of plasma diagnostics to better understand the fundamental physics of
important phenomena occurring in DPF discharges. A related research program
could conceivably lead to a practical source of electric power.1
Highlights of the LPP”s program, based on a
theoretical model developed by Mr. Lerner are as follows:
1. The concept should operate more effectively with
heavier elements, such as boron.
2. Scaling to effective operation is towards smaller
sizes.
3. The so-called Quantum Magnetic Field effect,
postulated in astrophysical plasmas but not verified in laboratory experiments,
will reduce energy transfer from hot ions to electrons thereby preventing
catastrophic energy loss due to bremsstrahlung emission by hot electrons.
4. Lerner’s theoretical model predicts that
reduction of bremsstrahlung loss and reabsorption of synchrotron radiation by
the dense and opaque plasma focus could allow the pB11 DPF pinch to reach
ignition.
5. After the pinch disassembles, Lerner believes
that plasma ions will be exhausted along the axis of the device, carrying
roughly two-thirds of the plasma energy, allowing efficient direct energy
conversion to electric power.
6. Based on his theoretical model, a weak axial
magnetic field might enhance the beneficial formation of the pinch plasma. The
committee’s views on these points are as follows:
1. DPF operates more effectively with heavier
elements. This prediction from the model remains to be verified. In the near
future LPP has a credible plan to test this theory using Nitrogen as a stand-in
for Boron. this appears possible, and, if proven, would be a distinctive
characteristic of the DPF.
2. DPF wants to scale to smaller sizes. This
prediction of the model also needs experimental validation. This appears
possible, and, if demonstrated, is a positive, distinctive characteristic of
the DPF. Smaller size scaling would be unique among fusion concepts and would
mean that program development might proceed rapidly. On the other hand, in a
power producing device, small size might lead to difficult device cooling, an
issue that cannot be evaluated at this time.
3. The Quantum Magnetic Field Effect will keep
electron temperatures lower than the ion temperatures. This effect has never
been seen in laboratory experiments. Its demonstration represents a major
challenge since it requires much higher densities and much higher
self-generated magnetic fields. Lower electron temperatures are essential for
this or any pB11 concept, because electron temperatures near ion temperatures
would result in radiation losses that would prohibit net power production.
1. There are other potential applications of DPFs that
might yield near-term applications other than fusion power, but LPP was not
pursuing those applications at the time of the committee review.
2. Fusion ignition is the point at which a nuclear
fusion reaction becomes self-sustaining, i.e., does not require additional
energy input. LPP Proprietary Information, not to be shared without prior
written permission.
4. Ignition with pB11 may be possible. While
conceivable, ignition in pB11 has to our knowledge not been previously
considered possible in other pB11 fusion concepts. If achievable, it would
provide a distinct advantage for the DPF pB11 approach to fusion power.
5. Plasma ions will be exhausted along the axis of
the device. If true, beam ion exhaust holds considerable potential for direct
energy conversion, a distinct advantage, assuming relative engineering
simplicity is viable.
6. A weak axial magnetic field may help pinch
formation. LPP presented plausible arguments and data to the committee on this
proposition. If true, it could represent a means of enhancing operation of a
DPF system.
V. Other Issues
1. Plasma densities in the current experiment: LPP
personnel and the committee believe that the plasma densities in the existing
DPF experiment are too low by over a factor of 10,000 to be practical for a
pB11 fusion power system. Since observed densities at LPP are currently lower
by about a factor of 10-100 than in many other DPF experiments, there does not
appear to be a fundamental barrier to achieving higher densities than currently
observed in the LPP device. LPP personnel believe that the reason for current
low plasma densities is the high impurity content of current plasmas and that a
change in device electrode material is a potential solution. LPP proposes to
fabricate their anode out of tungsten to dramatically reduce impurities and
increase plasma densities. This approach seems reasonable to the committee.
Densities must be increased even further by demonstrating the effect of using a
heavier element (like the Nitrogen proposed) and eventually reaching the higher
densities required for the quantum magnetic field effect.
2. Impurities in the current experiment: Both LPP
and the committee recognize that impurity concentrations must be dramatically
reduced.
See comments above.
3. The LPP
program: The current LPP program is grossly underfunded and appears to be
living hand-to-mouth. In spite of the issues and uncertainties outlined in this
report, the committee feels that the promise of the LPP DPF approach to fusion
power has considerable merit and that LPP Proprietary Information, not to be
shared without prior written permission.
5. A much
higher level of investment is warranted, based on their considerable progress
to date. Enhanced support should largely be used for additional experimental
and theoretical efforts as well as for additional diagnostics and a larger
experimental facility to accommodate additional diagnostics.
4. Developing the DPF to a viable, economic,
environmentally attractive fusion power reactor: If the physics issues outlined
herein can be satisfactorily resolved, it is conceivable that the DPF concept
could be developed into a viable, economic, and environmentally attractive
electric power source for not only civilian power but also for military
purposes. LPP’s projection of very small (about 5MW) units would be an
advantage relative to most other fusion concepts. To date, LPP personnel have
not given extensive consideration to the engineering of a DPF power reactor.
This is appropriate in the committee’s opinion, because without the successful
resolution of existing issues, a DPF reactor will not be possible. Having said
that, the committee does not see any fundamental roadblock to power system
viability.
VI. Conclusions
The committee was pleasantly surprised at the
innovative thinking and experimental results achieved thus far by Mr. Lerner
and his team at LPP. We commend him for developing a theoretical model to guide
the effort. In the committee’s view, their approach to fusion power based on
their DPF findings to date is worthy of a considerable expansion of effort.
While a number of near-term physics issues remain to
be resolved, it is likely that with adequate financial support, these matters
could be addressed in a relatively short period of time, e.g., a few years.
Further effort in this area is definitely justified.
LPP
Proprietary Information, not to be shared without prior written permission.
6
Appendix
LPP Fusion Review Committee – Selected Career Highlights
Dr. Robert L. Hirsch, Committee Chairman
Senior Energy Advisor, Management Information
Services, Inc. (MISI) and
consultant in energy technologies. 2007-present
Director fusion research, USAEC & ERDA,
1972-1976
Staff member, USAEC fusion program, 1968-1972
Contributor to the fusion research literature
Dr. Stephen O. Dean
President, Fusion Power Associates, 1979-present
Served on DOE Fusion Energy Advisory Committee,
Chaired review panel
on Alternate Concepts
Served on Secretary of Energy, Energy R&D Task
Force
Editor, J. of Fusion Energy, Springer
Publications, Inc.
Director, Magnetic Confinement Systems,
AEC/ERDA/DOE 1972-79
Prof. Gerald L. Kulcinski
Associate Dean for Research, College of
Engineering, University of
Wisconsin-Madison; Grainger Professor of Nuclear
Engineering; Director
of the Fusion Technology Institute.
Technical Program Chair, ANS Topical Meeting on
Fusion Technology,
1976, member of the Board of Directors (1987-90),
chair of the Honors
and Awards, Fusion Division, 1997-2004; General
Chairman of the 16th
ANS Topical meeting on Fusion Technology (2004).
A U.S. delegate to the International Tokamak
Reactor (INTOR) Project,
Vienna, Austria,1979 - 1981, and member of the INTOR
advisory panel.
Associate Editor of Fusion Engineering and Design,
1983-2003.
Prof. Dennis Papadopoulos
Professor of Physics, Departments of Physics and
Astronomy, University
of Maryland, 1979 – present
Senior scientist and division consultant, Plasma
Physics Division, Naval
Research Laboratory - 1969-1979 LPP Proprietary
Information, not to be shared without prior written permission.
7
Science Advisor, Applied Physics Division, Office
of Fusion Energy, DOE,
1978
Currently PI, Multi-University Research Initiative
on the "Fundamental
Physics Issues on Radiation Belt Dynamics and
Remediation
