Fusion Reactor Progress
Posted: Sun Aug 27, 2017 2:18 pm
Hello Everyone,
I have come much closer to fusion since my last posting, I am nearly finished the deuterium system and completed the power supply.
For the deuterium system, I decided to go down the PEM cell route as getting pure deuterium proved to be very difficult up here in Canada.
The deuterium system is very simple and thrown together. All it is is the PEM cell, an over under pressure system, drierite and a needle valve, I plan to upgrade this system in the future.
For the power supply, I put together a new casing for the transformer, it is much neater than my previous housing which was a 5-gallon paint pail. The rectifier is made of 4 diodes in each string: 2 40kV diodes and 2 20kV diodes, this will allow me to go up to 60kV DC (120kV AC), however, I only plan on going up to 35kV in my first couple months of testing. I am using a simple analog mA meter in between the HV windings for current metering. For voltage measuring, I am using an HV divider hooked up with a multimeter. Of course for voltage control, I am using a 20 amp variac.
The vacuum system is composed of a 6 CFM mechanical pump with an absolute pressure of 15 microns, the secondary pump is an Alcatel Turbo Pump.
The chamber pressure measurement system is composed of an old analog ion gauge controller. I am having trouble with the operation of this gauge. I will turn on the filament and it will light for a second and then turn off. I understand that this happens when the pressure is too high, however, I know that this is not the case because I will turn on the filament after the turbo pump runs and reaches its final 27,000 RPM rating. If anyone has any idea why this is happening then please don't hesitate to throw some insight my way.
As for neutron measurement, I plan on using a BN-PND bubble dosimeter, I just have to wait for it to arrive in the mail.
As soon as the detector arrives and I work out the ion gauge issue, I will be ready to fuse.
I have also attached some pictures from my demo fusion tests.
Regards,
Sam
I have come much closer to fusion since my last posting, I am nearly finished the deuterium system and completed the power supply.
For the deuterium system, I decided to go down the PEM cell route as getting pure deuterium proved to be very difficult up here in Canada.
The deuterium system is very simple and thrown together. All it is is the PEM cell, an over under pressure system, drierite and a needle valve, I plan to upgrade this system in the future.
For the power supply, I put together a new casing for the transformer, it is much neater than my previous housing which was a 5-gallon paint pail. The rectifier is made of 4 diodes in each string: 2 40kV diodes and 2 20kV diodes, this will allow me to go up to 60kV DC (120kV AC), however, I only plan on going up to 35kV in my first couple months of testing. I am using a simple analog mA meter in between the HV windings for current metering. For voltage measuring, I am using an HV divider hooked up with a multimeter. Of course for voltage control, I am using a 20 amp variac.
The vacuum system is composed of a 6 CFM mechanical pump with an absolute pressure of 15 microns, the secondary pump is an Alcatel Turbo Pump.
The chamber pressure measurement system is composed of an old analog ion gauge controller. I am having trouble with the operation of this gauge. I will turn on the filament and it will light for a second and then turn off. I understand that this happens when the pressure is too high, however, I know that this is not the case because I will turn on the filament after the turbo pump runs and reaches its final 27,000 RPM rating. If anyone has any idea why this is happening then please don't hesitate to throw some insight my way.
As for neutron measurement, I plan on using a BN-PND bubble dosimeter, I just have to wait for it to arrive in the mail.
As soon as the detector arrives and I work out the ion gauge issue, I will be ready to fuse.
I have also attached some pictures from my demo fusion tests.
Regards,
Sam