fusion propulsion
DESCRIPTION
FUSION PROPULSION. INTRODUCTION. A new concept for an interplanetary and interstellar mission engine . Fusion reaction is used to produce thrust to propel the rockets. Fusion rockets. WHAT IS FUSION?. Fusion occurs when two nuclei combine to from a new nucleus . - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
FUSION PROPULSION
INTRODUCTION
A new concept for an interplanetary and interstellar mission engine
Fusion reaction is used to produce thrust to propel the rockets
Fusion rockets
WHAT IS FUSION?WHAT IS FUSION?
Fusion occurs Fusion occurs when two nuclei when two nuclei combine to from a combine to from a new nucleus new nucleus
Fusion fuels are mainly Deuterium Fusion fuels are mainly Deuterium and Tritiumand Tritium
Deuterium contains Deuterium contains one proton and one proton and one neutronone neutron
Tritium has one proton and two Tritium has one proton and two neutronsneutrons
Deuterium-Tritium FusionDeuterium-Tritium Fusion
PlasmaPlasma
PlasmaPlasma is made up of is made up of atomsatoms
it is also called ionized gasit is also called ionized gas
Movement of charged particles in a plasma
Presence of magnetic field
Absence of magnetic field
CONDITIONS SHOULD BE CREATED FOR CONDITIONS SHOULD BE CREATED FOR THE FUSION TO OCCURTHE FUSION TO OCCUR
The two nuclei should be bring in The two nuclei should be bring in contactcontact
High temperatureHigh temperature
About 100 million About 100 million °C°C
Created by using Laser beams,Created by using Laser beams, microwavesmicrowaves
High pressureHigh pressure
Pressure squeezes the hydrogen Pressure squeezes the hydrogen atoms togetheratoms together
Using intense magnetic fields, Using intense magnetic fields,
powerful lasers or ion beams powerful lasers or ion beams
MANETIC CONFINEMENT FUSIONMANETIC CONFINEMENT FUSION
Electricity & neutral particle beams Electricity & neutral particle beams are used to heat the stream of gasare used to heat the stream of gas
Plasma is squeezed by the super Plasma is squeezed by the super conducting magnetsconducting magnets
Optimum for power generationOptimum for power generation
MANETIC CONFINEMENT FUSION MANETIC CONFINEMENT FUSION PROPULSIONPROPULSION
Reactions takes place in a magnetic bottleReactions takes place in a magnetic bottle Products exhausted through a magnetic Products exhausted through a magnetic nozzlenozzle Two primary problemsTwo primary problems
Prohibitively large weightProhibitively large weight Difficult to create a magnetic bottle Difficult to create a magnetic bottle
with magnetic rocket exhaust nozzlewith magnetic rocket exhaust nozzle
Inertial Confinement FusionInertial Confinement Fusion (ICF)(ICF) Uses laser beam or ion beams to heat & Uses laser beam or ion beams to heat &
squeeze the deuterium and tritium pelletsqueeze the deuterium and tritium pellet Pellet is bombarded on all sides by Pellet is bombarded on all sides by
strong pulses from lasers or particle strong pulses from lasers or particle acceleratorsaccelerators
Inertia of fuel holds it together long Inertia of fuel holds it together long enough for most of it to undergo fusionenough for most of it to undergo fusion
INERTIAL CONFINEMENT FUSION
PROPULSION
Beams explosively detonates the outer Beams explosively detonates the outer layerlayer
Sending a shock wave in to the center Sending a shock wave in to the center which is powerful enough for achieving which is powerful enough for achieving high enough density at center to cause high enough density at center to cause some fusion reactionssome fusion reactions
This heats surrounding fuel creating a This heats surrounding fuel creating a chain reaction that burns the fuel loadchain reaction that burns the fuel load
MUON-CATALYSED FUSION MUON-CATALYSED FUSION PROPULSIONPROPULSION
Muon-Catalysed Fusion
A negative muon is an elementary particle similar to an electron
Muons replaces the electrons and allow their negative charge to effectively shield the positively charged nuclei from each other
D-T Molecule Muon catalyzed D-T Fusion
Eliminates electric repulsion force & Eliminates electric repulsion force & fusion take placefusion take place
Fusion energy ejects the muon& goes of Fusion energy ejects the muon& goes of to another nucleusto another nucleus
thus catalyses many reactions till it thus catalyses many reactions till it decaysdecays
Muon has to be manufactured on the Muon has to be manufactured on the space craftspace craft
If unable to catalyze many reactions the system is inefficient
CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION
This concept increases the mission This concept increases the mission flexibility, enabling new science flexibility, enabling new science missions and greater flexibility in missions and greater flexibility in reaching & exploring distant planetsreaching & exploring distant planets
It reduces the time for the journey in It reduces the time for the journey in space mission by 50% compared to the space mission by 50% compared to the chemical rocketchemical rocket