Fusion Message Board

In this space, visitors are invited to post any comments, questions, or skeptical observations about Philo T. Farnsworth's contributions to the field of Nuclear Fusion research.

Subject: Re: Vacuum Bell Jars
Date: Apr 12, 8:33 am
Poster: Richard Hull

On Apr 12, 8:33 am, Richard Hull wrote:

>Looking for HIGH vac bell jar - Richard has said that he uses models from Fisher Scientific Nagalene - not glass... I didn't see anything in their catalogue that seemed to fit the bill for a high vacuum application... Rich seems to think glass too dangerous...

************************************************

Nalgene is a good first pass at a demo fusor. (<3kv) My nalgene chamber was (fusor I) and is currently on the cover of "Infinite Energy" magazine. It is great for "show and tells" or fusion "dog and pony shows". It will not do fusion under any conceivable condition.

Bell jars will work in a virtual infinite vacuum, if clean and, you can seal them well enough. They will not fuse either as the walls can't take the electron bombardment in the higher pressure ranges of simple fusor operation (glow discharge). I would say 8KV would be max in a bell jar and the bell jar allows full star mode to develop. ( I never saw a star in the nalgene chamber.)

I used a glass bell jar for fusor II and pushed it on one occassion to actually get very low end fusion (~18kv) and the electron beams augered a micro white hot point at about 6 places on the walls before I could shut it down. 6 little glass flakes fell to the floor of the chamber within seconds. This was the one and only time fusion was done in Fusor II. Using a glass bell jar for fusion is exceedingly dangerous!! The X-radiation is murder above 20KV, but shows up rapidly after 15kv.

The stainless steel vessel is the only way to go for real fusion work. Not only are X-rays elimenated up to 50kv, but the walls can really take the beating from the E beams. I run regularly to nearly 30kv (fusion) and the chamber heats in minutes to 200 degrees C. (all due to E beam heating and not .00001 degree due to fusion)

I have posted on this subject many times in the past on this list.

Richard Hull