Northwest Nuclear Laboratories, formerly Northwest Nuclear Consortium (NWNC), was incorporated as a 501-C-3 entity in 2016. The laboratory exists in Federal Way Washington as a STEM program for gifted high school and college students interested in experiencing team research around a working fusion reactor. It has been in operation 12 years and is currently doing explorations with electrode geometry based on a single ring of grade 6 titanium.
The reactor does not function as a Farnsworth fusor, but rather exhibits behavior similar to a beam on target device, only it does not incorporate an ion gun. It consists of a 5-inch spherical chambers with 6" conflats. The picture below has the poiser twisted away from the titanium target in order to demonstrate the ion beam output. The machine utilizes active refrigeration to maintain thermal equilibrium so it can sustain runs of several hours at a time. It has a 135 KVDC Spellman power supply, 3 mass flow controllers, Edwards roughing pump, 200-watt oil diffusion pump, and can achieve neutron output well above 1X10^6
It has a 1/2 ton full castle shield consisting of 55 gallons of borated paraffin filling 4-inch walls, 66 overlapping plates of 1/8 inch thick cadmium, 1/8 inch lead liner to mitigate the x-ray, and is mounted on 4 electric camper jacks. The power supply will not energize unless the shield interlocks are closed. All students are badged by CHP dosimetry quarterly. There are currently 18 students involved in the program which is provided without charge. Our Ludlum proton recoil probe, rate meters, and pancake probes are calibrated at Ludlum each year, and the unit has been reviewed by DSHS, Office of radiation protection, and found to be in compliance with state regulation, although it is not licensable. We are currently working with students from the University of Puget Sound, who have also been building a fusor at their school. That unit is documented elsewhere on this board.
It has been many years since I have posted on this board, and felt an update was in order. Let me know if you have any questions.
Carl Greninger
NWNC is now NWNL
- Richard Hull
- Moderator
- Posts: 15024
- Joined: Fri Jun 15, 2001 9:44 am
- Real name: Richard Hull
Re: NWNC is now NWNL
Carl, Great update on the system there! All of us old boys here remember your startup many years ago. You have been featured on the internet and in various published articles. Your work with the young is to be lauded.
Your radiation protection is certainly a massive effort. However, if you run anywhere near the limit of your supply, you need every bit of shielding that you have.
Great photos of happy students in you special facility.
Again, thanks for the update and keep up the fine effort.
Richard Hull
Your radiation protection is certainly a massive effort. However, if you run anywhere near the limit of your supply, you need every bit of shielding that you have.
Great photos of happy students in you special facility.
Again, thanks for the update and keep up the fine effort.
Richard Hull
Progress may have been a good thing once, but it just went on too long. - Yogi Berra
Fusion is the energy of the future....and it always will be
The more complex the idea put forward by the poor amateur, the more likely it will never see embodiment
Fusion is the energy of the future....and it always will be
The more complex the idea put forward by the poor amateur, the more likely it will never see embodiment