Basics of IEC Fusion
The Basics
The inertial electrostatic confinement fusion reactor is a device that uses electrostatic fields to accelerate and confine a deuterium plasma to a central point, occasionally some of the deuterium ions in the plasma will collide, and fuse together into helium-3 and a high energy neutron, or hydrogen-3 and a proton.
It must first be asserted that IEC fusion reactors are not cold fusion reactors, nor do they produce a net energy gain, rather they are typically very inefficient, very hot fusion reactors.
The most well known type of IEC reactor, known as a farnsworth fusor, was first developed by Philo T. Farnsworth, and later by Robert Hirsch and Eugene Meeks. IEC Fusion is now currently being studied by a number of laboratories and universities, specifically University of Wisconsin, Madison.
How they Work:
A vacuum chamber is brought to an extremely low pressure, typically around 5-10 millitorr, and filled with deuterium gas. Inside the vacuum chamber, a spherical grid of wires in the center of the chamber is charged to a very low negative potential, typically ranging from -20kV to more than -100kV. This grid ionizes the deuterium gas due to field emission. The positively charged ions of deuterium are then accelerated towards the negatively charged grid at a great speed, where some of them collide together and fuse into either He-3, emitting a neutron, or H-3, emitting a proton. The neutrons can be detected, and are often used as key proof of fusion.
I don’t know if you still get on this site or not, but I am all about electricity! I love the science of it and how it works. It never ceases to amaze me! Just thought I would drop by and say hi!
William, congratulations on your early achievements in science. I am a fission reactor operator (US Navy) and electrical engineer. If you have questions or would like to discuss anything, feel free to email me. Continue the great work.
I have a question about the pressure inside the reactor. You say that you void it of air to an extreme vacuum, and then fill it with deuterium gas. What pressure will/should the deuterium gas be at after you have filled it? 1 atmosphere?
Thank you!
I usually pump down to around <.1millitorr (1 atmosphere = 760 torr), then back fill with deuterium to 5-15 millitorr. Excellent question!
Where did you get the materials to construct the reactor?
im planing on making a fusion reactor in the next few months and im wondering if 12-15kv will be enought power for a d-d reactor?
Nope, sadly you need about 25kV at 5-10mA minimum