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Studies on the Effect of Radio Frequency Field in a Cusp-Type Charge Separation Device for Direct Energy Conversion

Masaki HAMABE, Hiroaki IZAWA, Hiromasa TAKENO, Satoshi NAKAMOTO, Kazuya ICHIMURA¹⁾ and Yousuke NAKASHIMA¹⁾

Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai-cho, Nada-ku, Kobe 657-8501, Japan

1)

Plasma Research Center, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba 305-8577, Japan

(Received 27 November 2015 / Accepted 1 February 2016 / Published 17 March 2016)

Abstract

In D-³He fusion power generation, an application of direct energy conversion is expected in which separation of charged particles is necessary. A cusp-type direct energy converter (CuspDEC) was proposed as a charge separation device, but its performance was degraded for a high density plasma. The goal of the present study is to establish an additional method to assist charge separation by using a nonlinear effect of a radio frequency (rf) electric field. Following to the previous study, we experimentally examine the effect of an rf field to electron motion in a CuspDEC device. Two ring electrodes were newly installed in a CuspDEC simulator and the current flowing into the electron collector located in the line cusp region was measured on an rf field application. The significant variation in the current was found, and an improvement of the charge separation can be expected by using the phenomenon appropriately.

Copyright (c) 2016 The Japan Society of Plasma Science and Nuclear Fusion Research

Keywords

direct energy conversion, CuspDEC, a radio frequency electric field, ponderomotive force

DOI: 10.1585/pfr.11.2405028

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References

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