Conversion to a Small Chamber Fusor
Posted: Thu Dec 28, 2017 11:14 am
Due to the results from my experiment showing that a "smaller" chamber can significantly increase a fusor's neutron flux for identical power levels, I dis-assembled my existing fusor and removed its main chamber. Lucky, (or maybe, just good design on my part ...no, luck) I already have a rather small chamber that formed part of my original fusor/vacuum system.
This small chamber was used as an adapter to connected the large chamber body to the DP. Also, this small chamber had attachment ports for my micron (TC) and ion gauge tubes, and provided the support and mechanics of my butterfly gate valve. Better still, since the upper adapter plate that is part of the small chamber system - and was used to adapt to the large chamber - has an o-ring seal that allows my current high voltage feed-thru system and view port to still work. All I had to do was shorten the inner ceramic standoff to allow the cathode to be centered in the new small chamber.
I just tested the new system (no HV) and it is holding high vac (mid-10^-5 torr as before. With time this should improve to 10^-6 torr as before; likely some water got into the system when I broke down the water cooling lines.)
I need to still install my deuterium line/entry port to the small chamber. Also, ground lines have to be reconnected and a few minor issues addressed before I can test the system and see what neutron flux I get (assuming other issues don't occur preventing this - if it is one thing I've learned with building/operating a fusor system: What can go wrong, generally does go wrong whenever anything has been changed.
Well, step one (dis-assembly), step two (re-assembly), and step three (Vacuum test) have, at least, all gone smoothly and successfully (of course, my DP heater wires broke off requiring that to be repaired - well, needed to be updated, anyway.)
Below are some related pictures.
This small chamber was used as an adapter to connected the large chamber body to the DP. Also, this small chamber had attachment ports for my micron (TC) and ion gauge tubes, and provided the support and mechanics of my butterfly gate valve. Better still, since the upper adapter plate that is part of the small chamber system - and was used to adapt to the large chamber - has an o-ring seal that allows my current high voltage feed-thru system and view port to still work. All I had to do was shorten the inner ceramic standoff to allow the cathode to be centered in the new small chamber.
I just tested the new system (no HV) and it is holding high vac (mid-10^-5 torr as before. With time this should improve to 10^-6 torr as before; likely some water got into the system when I broke down the water cooling lines.)
I need to still install my deuterium line/entry port to the small chamber. Also, ground lines have to be reconnected and a few minor issues addressed before I can test the system and see what neutron flux I get (assuming other issues don't occur preventing this - if it is one thing I've learned with building/operating a fusor system: What can go wrong, generally does go wrong whenever anything has been changed.
Well, step one (dis-assembly), step two (re-assembly), and step three (Vacuum test) have, at least, all gone smoothly and successfully (of course, my DP heater wires broke off requiring that to be repaired - well, needed to be updated, anyway.)
Below are some related pictures.