The present invention relates to an improvement of the method and of the generator described in international patent application WO2010058288, claiming Italian priority ITPI2008A000119, here incorporated by reference.
In particular, the present invention relates to a method and to a generator for increasing the production of energy with respect to what is possible with the method and the generator described in the above indicated patent application. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method and to a generator suitable for adjusting the production of energy starting from the method and with the generator of this previous patent application.
From WO9520816 a method is known for obtaining energy from nuclear reactions which take place due to the interaction between hydrogen and a metal core.
From WO2010058288 a method is known for obtaining energy from nuclear reactions of a core comprising cluster nanocrystalline structures of a transition metal, as well as a generator for carrying out this method.
Among the critical aspects of the disclosed method and generator, the need is felt to provide an increase of the production rate, in order to achieve industrially acceptable levels.
Another critical aspect of the method is the adjustment of the generated power. Equally critic, in the generator, are the devices for carrying out this adjustment.
In WO 2009125444 a method and an apparatus are described for carrying out an exothermic reaction of Nickel and hydrogen, in which a metal tube of copper is filled of powder, granules or bars of Nickel, and then injected with pressurized hydrogen and eventually heated up to a reference temperature, to generate energy. In particular, the copper metal tube is externally coated with a jacket of Boron and water, or of steel and Boron, as well as with a lead jacket. The lead jacket has the object of containing harmful radiation, not better specified in the document. Presumably, such radiations are neutrons that could have enough energy to travel beyond the copper tube. The lead jacket has the object to obtain energy from such radiations. The position of the Boron allows recovering energy only by the radiations that can go beyond the wall of the copper tube. Therefore, there is a limitation to the energy that can be recovered by the process.
It is therefore a feature of the present invention to provide exemplary embodiments of the method and of the generator described in WO2010058288, which allow to increase the generation of energy until it reaches industrially acceptable levels.
It is another feature of the present invention to provide exemplary embodiments of this method and of this generator, which allow to adjust in a reliable and precise way the power supplied by the generator.
These and other objects are achieved by a method to obtain energy by nuclear reactions between hydrogen and a transition metal, the method including the steps of:
As the secondary material, any element of the table of Mendeleev can be used, which has a threshold for a nuclear reaction with protons that is lower than the energy of the protons emitted by the active core.
With respect to what is described in WO2010058288, the method further provides arranging a material, called the secondary material, whose proton-dependent reactions have a thermal effect which is suitable for remarkably increasing the amount of heat that can be globally obtained from the process.
This way, protons of energy higher than a predetermined energy threshold, which are emitted from the clusters by the orbital capture of the H− ions, cause such energy-releasing proton-dependent nuclear reactions. Therefore, the removed thermal power comprises both the primary reaction heat, which is associated with the orbital capture reactions, and the secondary reaction heat, which is associated with the proton-dependent reactions.
In particular, in the clusters of the primary material the H− ions are subjected to nuclear orbital capture reactions by the cluster crystalline structure of the primary material that form the core, i.e. the active core. Then, the H− ions are subjected to a capture by the atoms of the cluster, and lose their own couple of electrons thus creating protons 1H.
Subsequently, more in detail,
Examples of internal primary nuclear reactions are the reactions indicated hereinafter as {1a}, {1b}, {1c}, {1d}, {1e}, which refer to the case in which the primary material is Nickel.
Examples of secondary reactions are the reactions indicated hereinafter as {2a}, {2b}, {3a}, {3c}, which refer to the case in which the secondary material is Lithium.
Other examples of secondary reactions are the reactions indicated hereinafter as reactions {6a}, {6b}, {7a}, {7b}, which refer to the case in which the secondary material is Boron.
Further examples of secondary reactions are the reactions indicated hereinafter as reactions {10a}, {10b}, {10c}, {10d}, which refer to the case in which the secondary material comprises some transition metals.
The primary reactions, both internal and external, globally occur generating a primary reaction heat, which is the heat that can be obtained according to the method described in WO2010058288, and which relates to the sole anharmonic interaction between H− ions and the nanostructures of transition metals. Furthermore, the protons emitted by Coulomb repulsion reach the secondary material, provided the secondary material, as said above, faces the primary material and is located within a predetermined maximum distance. Such maximum distance corresponds to the average free path that such protons can travel before decaying into atomic hydrogen.
Hereinafter, by the expression “exposed secondary material” a secondary material is intended that faces the primary material and that is located within said predetermined maximum distance from the cluster. The exposed secondary material can then be attained by the emitted protons, and can react with the latter the secondary reactions, thus contributing to increase the thermal energy produced by the process. For instance, the secondary material may be an internal coating of a container that contains the primary material, the secondary material may also be a material that is arranged between the container of the primary material and the primary material itself. In such conditions, the generated thermal power, which is available to be removed, comprises the first fraction and the second fraction of the reaction heat, since, as said above, the protons that are emitted by the primary material and that reach the secondary material cause the secondary nuclear reactions, thus generating a secondary reaction heat that is added to the first fraction of reaction heat of the primary internal and external reactions.
The rate of secondary reaction heat depends upon the amount of secondary material that is exposed to the protons emitted by the clusters, and has an upper limit represented by the amount of this material that can be arranged within a distance from the clusters equal to the above-defined distance.
Without such a secondary material, the protons that are not captured by the nuclei of the primary material are in any case expelled by the atoms of the primary material, that are emitted by the active core, and can impact against the internal coating of the container of the primary material, but they do not cause further significant energy generation. Therefore, they do not provide a useful contribution to the energy balance, which occurs, instead, according to the invention, due to the delayed secondary reactions that involve the secondary material.
Examples and data of internal primary nuclear reactions, of external primary reactions and of secondary reactions are given in the detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the method.
Preferably, the hydrogen that is in contact with the clusters is at a pressure set between 150 and 800 mbar absolute.
In particular, the primary material comprises Nickel. Still in particular, the maximum predetermined distance between the primary material and the secondary material is set between 7 and 8 cm, more in particular, in the case of Nickel, said distance is about 7.5 cm. In fact, in the case of Nickel, the emitted protons can achieve an energy of about 6.7 MeV, and in the presence of a hydrogen pressure set between the above-indicated values, can travel at most a distance of about 7.5 cm before decaying to atomic hydrogen, starting from the generation site, i.e. from the surface of the active core where the clusters are present.
In particular, the secondary material that is arranged to interact with the protons comprises Lithium, in particular a Lithium that comprises predetermined fractions of 6Li and 7Li isotopes.
In particular, the secondary material that is arranged to interact with the protons comprises Boron, in particular a Boron that comprises predetermined fractions of 10B and 11B isotopes.
In fact, among the materials that can capture protons and that can give rise to proton-dependent reactions, Lithium and Boron offer the maximum contribution energy that is associated with the proton-dependent secondary reactions. 7Li and 11B isotopes, which are present in natural Lithium and natural Boron according to respective occurrences of about 92.4% and 81.2%, cause energy-releasing reactions, in particular cause reactions {2a}, {2b}, {6a}, {6b}, that are given hereinafter. Some of these reactions occur with production of α particles, i.e. 4He, which, in turn, may lead to consecutive reactions with the same isotopes, for instance according to reactions {5a}, {8a}, thus releasing further energy.
In particular, the secondary material that is arranged to interact with the protons is selected among the d-block and f-block transition metals. Advantageously, the secondary material is selected among the ancestors of the four decay families, i.e. 232Th, 236U, 239U, 239Pu. These transition metals cause energy-releasing reactions, in particular reactions {10a}, {10b}, {10c}, {10d}.
The use of α-emitting material as the secondary material can also give rise to α-dependent reactions with the metal of the primary material, for instance to reactions {11a}, {11b}, {11c}, {11d}, {11e}, that are given hereinafter, with reference to the case in which the primary material comprises Nickel.
Furthermore, the use of radioactive materials, such as those shown above, as the secondary material, provides a possibility of a eliminating radioactive waste of various provenience, and provides a further energy recovery.
According to another aspect of the invention, a step is provided of adjusting the generated heat, which comprises a step of adjusting the amount of the secondary material that is exposed to the emitted protons, i.e. that faces the primary material and that is arranged within the predetermined maximum distance, which, therefore, can give rise to the secondary reactions with the protons emitted by the primary material, which have an energy higher than the predetermined threshold, with the secondary reactions. By increasing or decreasing the amount of exposed secondary material, which can be reached by the emitted protons before they hydrogen, the number of delayed secondary reactions per time unit occurring between the emitted protons and the secondary material increases, or decreases. Therefore, the second fraction of reaction heat increases or decreases, respectively, thus changing the thermal power that is globally generated, in a way depending upon how the amount of exposed secondary material increases or decreases. Therefore, it is possible to adjust the generated thermal power by suitably adjusting the amount of the secondary material that is located within a certain distance from the active core.
In particular, the step of adjusting the amount of secondary material exposed to the emitted protons may be obtained by arranging an adjustment body between the primary material and the secondary material, said adjustment body comprising a shield body that is movable between a first position and a second position, the two positions corresponding to the maximum exposition and to the minimum exposition of the secondary material with respect to the primary material, respectively. Alternatively, the step of adjusting the amount of secondary material exposed to the emitted protons may be obtained by arranging an adjustment body proximate to the primary material, said adjustment body comprising a body that carries the secondary material, i.e. a support body that is movable between a first position and a second position, such two positions corresponding to the maximum exposition and to the minimum exposition of the secondary material with respect to the primary material. For instance, the adjustment support body may be arranged between the active core and a container that contains it, or the adjustment support body may be arranged between active core portions that are adjacent to each other, for example between primary elements that are substantially plane and that are parallel to each other, as described more in detail hereinafter.
Therefore, besides an enrichment and boost function of a generator as described in WO2010058288, the secondary material allows also adjusting the thermal power between:
The objects of the invention are also achieved by a generator of energy by nuclear reactions between hydrogen and a transition metal, the generator comprising:
Such a generator enables the a method according to the invention, with a high production rate increase with respect to a generator described in WO2010058288 that comprises the same transition metal or the same transition metals, and that works at the same triggering conditions and at the same operative conditions.
In an exemplary embodiment of the generator, the hydrogen is present in the generation chamber at a pressure set between 150 and 800 mbar absolute.
In particular, the primary material comprises Nickel, and the maximum distance from the active core, within which the secondary material must be located to allow the proton-dependent reactions, is set between 7 and 8 cm, in particular close to 7.5 cm. In fact, in the case of Nickel, the emitted protons can reach an energy level of about 6.7 MeV, and in the presence of a hydrogen pressure set between the above indicated values, can travel along a distance of at most about 7.5 cm, starting from the surface of the active core where the clusters are provided.
Preferably, the secondary material arranged to interact with the protons is selected from the group consisting of:
In alternative, or in a combination, the secondary material arranged to interact with the protons is selected among the transition metals, in particular the secondary material is selected from the group consisting of: 232Th, 236U, 239U, 239Pu.
In particular, the generator is provided with a secondary element, i.e. with a solid body that comprises the secondary material.
Advantageously, the secondary element comprises at least one metal in an amorphous or glass state, i.e. at least one metal in which it a crystalline ordered structure is substantially missing.
In particular, the secondary material comprises an alloy of a plurality of metals, in particular an alloy in the amorphous state. For instance, the alloy may comprise Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Ni, Zr, Pd, Ag Cd, Mo, Au, Pt, together with Li, Be, B, Mg, Al, Si, P, Ca, K, and with the metals of the rare earths group.
The alloy may comprise a structural metal and the secondary material, wherein the weight ratio between the structural metal and the secondary material is set between 3 and 5. In particular, this ratio is set between 3.7 and 4.3, more in particular, this ratio is about 4. For example, the structural metal of the alloy may comprise iron and/or Nickel, according to a predetermined weight ratio.
Independently from the structural metal, the secondary material of the alloy may comprise Boron and/or Lithium, wherein, in particular Lithium is present in the alloy according to a predetermined weight proportion, set between 1% and 10%, with respect to the weight of the secondary element.
The secondary material of the alloy may comprise a transition metal according to a predetermined proportion.
The active core may comprise a support body made of a metal or non-metal material and a coating of the support made of the primary material, which is in the form of nanometric clusters. The coating of nanometric clusters may be made by a process selected among those indicated in WO2010058288, for example by a process selected from the group consisting of: chemical deposition, an electrolytic deposition, a spraying technique, a sputtering technique.
Advantageously, the metal support of the active core comprises a metal in a glass state, in other words it comprises at least one metal in which a crystalline ordered structure is substantially missing.
The secondary element and/or the support body of an amorphous metal may be obtained by a process comprising the steps of:
Advantageously, the cooling speed is equal to or higher than 1000° C./second, responsive to the metal or the metals that is/are used.
In particular, the step of prearranging comprises a step of injection moulding within a cooled mould, or a manufacturing procedure providing a step of injecting a molten metal onto a rotating cylinder or onto a sliding plane having a predetermined speed, while the cooling step comprises prearranging a quick cooling means, such as an amount or a flow or of liquid nitrogen, on a surface of the cylinder or the plane.
The injection moulding technique provides very thin components, which have a very favourable mechanical strength/weight ratio, without substantially requiring welded joints and forming and finishing mechanical manufacturing steps. This causes a remarkable cost reduction. The injection moulding technique is particularly advantageous if the active core and the secondary elements have a flat shape and small thicknesses. This technique is also advantageous to provide containing elements, i.e. the walls of the generation chamber, which comprise a transition material and, more in particular, the secondary material.
Furthermore, a volume weight reduction of the generator is also obtained, which causes a remarkable material saving and a remarkable production cost reduction.
The use of metals and metal alloys in the amorphous state has also the advantage of a better resistance against the corrosion, since grain boundaries are missing, in which corrosion events might take place. Furthermore, if metals and metal alloys are used in the amorphous state, it is possible to obtain a material that has particular electric features such as a high resistance, unaffected by the temperature, or the absence of the Weiss domains, therefore a high coercibility (substantially no hysteresis cycle) is obtained even if a high permeability is preserved. For instance, an amorphous metal Fe/B 80/20% shows its own saturation condition at about 1.5 Tesla, at 20° C.
The support of the active core may comprise a transition metal, in particular a transition metal in the amorphous state as indicated above. Such transition metal can be selected from the group consisting of: Ni, Cr, Zr and Mo or a combination thereof, and can include a low-melting metal such as Al. For example, the support may comprise an alloy of element percentages about 70% Ni, 10% Cr, 5% Zr, 15% Al. The transition metal of the support may be present also in the primary material, in the form of micro-nanometric clusters.
The support of the active core and/or the secondary element may comprise a coating layer made of a metal, for example of the metal that forms the bulk of the support or of the secondary element, which comprises dendritic structures. This way, bodies are obtained that can tolerate the plastic deformation, and the crack propagation is substantially impossible.
In alternatively, the support of the active core and/or the secondary element may be made by a sintering process, in the form of laminas, at pressures of 200 bar or higher.
In an exemplary embodiment, the secondary element forms a portion of a containing element for the active core, in particular it forms a portion of a wall of the generation chamber. In particular, this containing element comprises an alloy of a structural metal and of the secondary material. In other words, the secondary element may coincide with a containing element for the active core. Advantageously, the structural metal of the containing element comprises a transition metal.
In alternative, the secondary material forms secondary elements that integral to the containing element. Due to the relative production ease, this exemplary embodiment is well-suited to make small-power and low-cost generators.
The material of this containing element may in turn comprise a transition metal such as Nickel, in combination or not with the secondary material. In this case, the protons emitted by the active core can reach the containing element and can engage with the transition metal and/or with the secondary material according to the above-mentioned reactions. These reactions occur with production of energy, and cause a progressive conversion of the transition metal of the containing element into reaction products.
In another exemplary embodiment, the active core comprises a plurality of substantially plane primary elements that are at least in part made of the primary material, and a plurality of substantially plane secondary elements is provided, which are at least in part made of the secondary material, where the primary elements and the secondary elements are advantageously arranged such that each primary element interposes between two secondary elements, and each secondary element interposes between two primary elements. This allows creating a high surface of exposed secondary material, for a same size of the generator. The surface of the exposed secondary material increases as the thickness decreases and as the mutual distance decreases between the substantially plane primary elements and the substantially plane secondary elements. Such exemplary embodiment It is therefore arranged to generators having a power belt upper of the field of power producible by the generator.
In particular, the substantially plane primary elements can comprise of the primary laminas that are at least in part made of the primary material, provided this is present in the form of nanometric cluster.
As described above, but without excluding other possibility, the substantially plane primary elements of the active core can comprise:
In particular, the substantially plane secondary elements can comprise secondary laminas that are at least in part made of the secondary material.
Alternatively, but without excluding other possibilities, the substantially plane secondary elements can comprise a structural material along with the secondary material, for example in the form of an alloy having amorphous structure.
The substantially plane primary and secondary elements are advantageously, obtainable by the process for shaping and cooling previously described. Such process can comprise, in particular an injection moulding step.
The geometric shape of the substantially plane primary elements and of the substantially plane secondary elements can be a desired geometric shape, for example a circular, elliptical, polygonal shape with a desired number of sides, and even other shapes. The primary elements and the secondary elements have preferably shape similar to each other.
According to an aspect of the invention, the generator has adjustment means for adjusting the generated heat, the adjustment means comprising a means for adjusting the amount of this secondary material that faces the primary material and that is arranged within the maximum distance.
In particular, the adjustment means for adjusting the generated heat comprises:
In an exemplary embodiment, the adjustment body comprises a shield body arranged between the primary material and the secondary material, the shield body being movable between the first position of maximum exposition and the second position of minimum exposition.
In another exemplary embodiment, the adjustment body comprises a support body for the secondary material arranged near the primary material, the support body being movable between the first position of maximum exposition and the second position of minimum exposition. In particular, the adjustment support body can be arranged between the active core and a containing element for the active core, or can comprise a plurality of secondary elements arranged between active core portions adjacent to each other, for example between substantially plane primary elements arranged parallel to each other, as described above.
This way, by a predetermined movement of the adjustment body, i.e. of the shield body and/or the support body, it is possible to increase/decrease the amount of exposed secondary material, and to obtain a corresponding increase/decrease of energy delivered by the generator.
In an exemplary embodiment, the active core comprises a hollow body, and the adjustment body comprises a support body slidingly arranged in a recess of the active core. The hollow body of the active core can be a tubular body whose cross section may have a whichever plane geometric shape, the tubular body having a central elongated recess. For example, this tubular body may have circular, elliptical, polygonal cross section with a desired number of sides. The adjustment body can be an elongated body, for example it can be a body having the shape of a cylinder or of a parallelepiped whose cross section may have a whichever plane geometric shape. In particular, this elongated body may have circular, elliptical, polygonal cross section with a desired number of sides, such that it allows a movement, in particular a co-axial sliding in the recess of the tubular body.
In another exemplary embodiment, the adjustment body comprises a plurality of substantially plane adjustment elements integral to one another, which are arranged such that each adjustment element slidingly interposes between two secondary elements, or between a primary element and a secondary element according to whether the adjustment body is a support body or is a shield body, and the means for displacing the adjustment body is configured to provide a relative movement between the adjustment elements and the primary elements and/or the secondary elements interposed to each other, according to the planes common to the substantially plane primary and/or secondary elements and to the substantially plane adjustment elements. This way, it is possible to adjust integrally respective surface portions of each secondary element facing the primary elements, adjusting the amount of secondary material exposed to the protons emitted by the primary material of the primary elements of the active core, i.e. exposed to the protons emitted by the clusters of the primary material. This makes it possible to obtain a high adjustment capacity of the generator for a same size of the generator. Such adjustment capacity increases as the thickness decreases and/or as the mutual distance decreases between the substantially plane primary elements and the substantially plane secondary elements.
In particular the substantially plane primary and/or secondary elements and/or the substantially plane adjustment elements are arranged integrally rotatable about an axis of the generator, and the adjustment means comprises a relative rotation means of the plurality of primary and/or secondary elements and of the plurality of adjustment elements about this axis. In this case, the primary and/or secondary elements and/or the adjustment elements have preferably the shape of circular sector, and the axis of the generator is an axis in common to the circular discs.
In a possible alternative embodiment, the adjustment means comprises a relative translation means of the plurality of primary and/or substantially plane secondary elements and of the plurality of substantially plane adjustment elements according to a direction of the planes common to the primary and/or secondary elements and to the adjustment elements.
The primary and/or secondary elements, and/or the substantially plane adjustment elements can comprise films or film, and a stretching means is provided to keep stretched such substantially plane adjustment elements.
The invention will be now shown with the description of exemplary embodiments of the generator and of the method according to the invention, exemplifying but not limitative, with reference to the attached drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts, throughout the figures in which:
FIGS. 6 and 6′ are longitudinal sectional views of generators according to two exemplary embodiments of the present invention;
With reference to
In order to be clusters, crystals 21 must comprise a number of atoms of the transition metal lower than a predetermined critical number, above which the crystals lose the cluster features. In the case of a material deposited on a substrate 22, as shown in
The method also comprises a step 115 (
In a subsequent step 120 of treatment (
More in particular, as already described in WO2010058288, this process of bond weakening and of H− ions 35 production, in particular, is assisted by a heating step 130 of surface 23 of the cluster, from an initial process temperature T0, typically the room temperature, up to a temperature T1 higher than a predetermined critical temperature TD. More in detail, near surface 23 of the crystals, a dynamic equilibrium is established between molecular hydrogen H2 and, in particular, ions H+36 and H−35. This equilibrium is more or less shifted towards ions H+ and H− responsive to such operating parameters as temperature T and pressure P of hydrogen 31.
Clusters 21 together with hydrogen 35, in the form of H− ions, form an active core 18 in which the hydrogen, in the form of H− ions 35, is available for orbital capture by the atoms of clusters 21 of transition metal 19 (
The orbital capture takes place as a consequence of a step 140 of impulsive trigger action of the energy generation process (
Since their Bohr radius is comparable with the core radius, protons 1H 35′ can be captured by the nucleus and can undergo a step 151 of nuclear capture reactions and fusion with the nuclei 38′ of atoms 38 of the transition metal, i.e. a step 151 of nuclear capture by atoms 38, as diagrammatically shown in
The useful metals, as described in WO2010058288, may be Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Tc, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Cd, In, Sn, Sb, Te, Cs, Ba, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Hf, Ta, W, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, Au, Th, U, Pu and transuranic metals, an alloy or, more in general, a mixture of two or more than two of the above listed metals.
In particular, the transition metal is Nickel, which typically comprises the following isotopes (between parentheses the occurrences relative of each isotope): 58Ni(68.1%), 60Ni(26.2%), 61Ni(1.14%), 62Ni(3.64%), 64Ni(0.93%).
In the case of Nickel, the internal primary nuclear reactions of direct capture, as calculated taking into account the conservation of the spin and of the parity, as well as the Gamow coefficient, can be written:
1H+58Ni→59Cu+3.417 MeV {1a}
1H+60Ni→61Cu+4.796 MeV {1b}
1H+61Ni→62Cu+5.866 MeV {1c}
1H+62Ni→63Cu+6.122 MeV {1d}
1H+64Ni→65Cu+7.453 MeV {1e}.
All the above-mentioned reactions have the same probability factor [0] and occur conserving the spin and the parity.
Alternatively, as
A part of protons 35″ expelled by Coulomb repulsion may interact with other nuclei 38′ of the same clusters 21 in which protons 35″ themselves have been formed, and/or can engage with nuclei of different clusters 21.
Another part of these high energy expelled protons 35″, i.e. of protons 35″ emitted by cluster structure 20 of transition metal 19, leave primary material 19 as emitted protons 35′″, and may achieve secondary material 28, since the distance I between surface 23 is shorter than a predetermined maximum distance L. In this case, emitted protons 35′″ can interact with secondary material 28 according to the delayed secondary, proton-dependent, nuclear reactions, which are associated to a further energy release Q2. Heat Q2 contributes to the overall energy generation Q1+Q2 of the Process.
In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, secondary material 28 comprises Lithium. In nature, Lithium contains stable 7Li isotope, which is about 92.4%, and stable 6Li isotope, which is about 7.6%.
In the case of 6Li and 7Li isotopes, the proton-dependent reactions are the following:
1H+7Li→8Be(α)+17.255 MeV {2a}
1H+7Li→4He+4He+17.347 MeV {2b}
1H+6Li→7Be+5.606 MeV {3a}
1H+6Li→3He+4He+4.019 MeV {3b},
which have probability factors [0], [1], [0], [0], respectively. Reaction {2b} is the one which does not conserve the spin and the parity, whereas reaction {3b}, even if it has a favourable Gamow coefficient, does not conserve the spin and the parity. Briefly, the most energetically advantageous reactions are the ones that involve 7Li isotope, i.e. reactions {2a} and {2b}.
α particles (4He) that are generated according to the above-mentioned reactions may in turn cause nuclear reactions with 6Li e 7Li isotopes of Lithium itself, which produces further energy in the form of reaction heat:
4He+6Li→10B+4.460 MeV {4}
4He+7Li→11B+8.665 MeV {5a}
Also in this case, the spin and the parity are conserved, and the Gamow coefficient is favourable.
7Li+4He=11B+γ+8.665 MeV {5b}.
Therefore, about 17 MeV are obtained for each reaction between Nickel and hydrogen which generates a proton 1H that interacts with 7Li, while an average energy of 8 MeV would be obtained if the secondary material were not present. This sensibly increases the energy production rate of the method based on anharmonic stimulated fusion of H− and a transition metal (FASEC), and the energy production rate of a device or reactor to protons based on such method.
In another exemplary embodiment of the invention, secondary material 28 comprises Boron. In nature, Boron contains the stable 11B isotope, which is about 81.2% and stable isotope 10B which is about 19.8%. In this case, the proton-dependent reactions are the following:
1H+11B→12C+15.957 MeV {6a}
1H+11B→4He+8Be(α)+8.590 MeV {6b}
1H+10B→11C+8.689 MeV {7a}
1H+10B→4He+7Be+1.145 MeV {7b},
where reactions {6b} and {7b} have a less favourable probability factor than the others reactions ([1] instead of [0]) and does not conserve the parity and the spin, even if they have a favourable Gamow coefficient.
α particles (4He) that are generated according to some of the above-mentioned reactions may in turn cause nuclear reactions with 10B:
4He+11B→15N+10.991 MeV {8a};
4He+11B→n(β)+14N+0.158 MeV {8b};
4He+11B→1H+14C(β−)+0.784 MeV {8c};
4He+10B→14N+11.612 MeV {9a};
4He+10B→n(β−)+13N (β+)+1.059 MeV {9b};
4He+10B→1H+13C+4.062 MeV {9c};
4He+10B→2H+12C+1.340 MeV {9d},
which are listed by decreasing probability, i.e. by increasing probability factors, from [0] (reactions {8a}, {8b}, {8c}), to [1] (reaction {9a}), to [2] (reactions {8a}, {8b}, {8c}). Reactions {8b}, {8c}, {9b}, {9c} does not conserve the parity and the spin even if they have a favourable Gamow coefficient, and the most energetically useful reaction is reaction {8a}.
Therefore, an energy amount of 9-16 MeV is obtained for each reaction between Nickel and hydrogen which generates a proton 1H that interacts with Boron, while an average energy of about 8 MeV would be obtained if the secondary material were not present. This sensibly increases the energy production rate of the method based on anharmonic stimulated fusion of H− and a transition metal (FASEC), and the energy production rate of a device or reactor to protons based on such method.
In a further exemplary embodiment of the invention, secondary material 28 comprises a transition metal, which may belong to both d-block and f-block of the periodic table, which includes of the lanthanoides and the actinoides. In particular if 232Th, 236U, or 239U are used, which are the ancestors of respective natural decay chains, or if 239Pu is used, which is the ancestor of an artificial decay chain, the proton-dependent reactions would be, respectively:
1H+232Th→233Pa(β−)+5.249 MeV {10a}
1H+235U→236Np(β−)+4.833 MeV {10b}
1H+238U→239Np(β−)+5.287 MeV {10c}
1H+239Pu(α)→240Am(β+)+4.372 MeV {10d}.
Reaction {10a} has the most favourable probability factor, which is [0], and the other reaction have probability factor [1].
As said above, α particles that are generated according to reactions {2b}, {2d}, {4b}, {4d} may in turn cause α-dependent reactions with the metal of the primary material. For instance, if the primary material contains Nickel, the following reactions may take place:
4He+58Ni→62Zn(β+)+3.369 MeV {11a}
4He+60Ni→64Zn+3.952 MeV {11b}
4He+61Ni→65Zn(β+)+4.116 MeV {11c}
4He+62Ni→66Zn+4.579 MeV {11d}
4He+64Ni→68Zn+5.333 MeV. {11e},
which are still useful to obtain energy. Such reactions conserve both the spin and the parity, and have a favourable Gamow coefficient. Reaction {11c} has a probability factor [0], which is the most favourable, while the other reactions have a probability factor [1].
Globally, steps 151 and 152 are associated with a step 160 (
As still shown in
The number of reactions per time unit between protons 1H 35′″ and secondary material 28 changes responsive to the exposed amount of secondary material, in particular it changes substantially proportionally to the exposed surface of secondary material. For instance, it may range between zero, which is the case in which no surface of secondary material 28 is located within maximum distance L from active core 18, and a maximum value, which pertains to the maximum surface 29 of secondary material 28 that can be contained within maximum distance L from active core 18. Correspondingly, ceteris paribus, the heat generated changes substantially between minimum value Q1, which is the heat generated by internal and external primary reactions, and a value Q1+Q2, in which Q2 is the contribution provided by the nuclear proton-dependent reactions which take place between emitted protons 1H 35′″ and secondary material 28, when the exposed surface of secondary material 28 is at a maximum.
In a possible exemplary embodiment of the invention, it is possible to increase or to decrease the portion of exposed secondary material, such that an increase or a decrease of thermal generated power is obtained, respectively.
Therefore the presence, proximate to the active core, of a material adapted to capture and to interact with protons of a predetermined energy may also serve for regulating thermal power supplied by a generator based on the anharmonic stimulated fusion of H− and a transition metal (FASEC), besides increasing the capacity of the generator. More in detail, the secondary material allows adjusting thermal power at any power value set between:
With reference to
In this exemplary embodiment, active core 18 has an elongated shape, preferably the shape of a cylinder or of a small bar. Active core 18 is arranged in a central position of an elongated generation chamber 53 that is defined by a heat transfer wall 55, for example by a cylindrical wall. A substantially annular heat transfer chamber 54 is formed out of heat transfer wall 55, and is in turn defined by a preferably cylindrical external wall 51. Heat transfer chamber 54 has an inlet port 64 and an outlet port 65 for a heat-exchange fluid, at opposite end portions of generation chamber 53. The heat-exchange fluid, not shown, in use withdraws the heat provided by the nuclear reactions. Generation chamber 53 is releasably closed at own ends by a first and by a second preferably cylindrical bonnets 52,59. The bonnets 52,59 are connected to generation chamber 53 by conventional connection means, for example by flanges 51′.
In the exemplary embodiment, as represented, a means is provided for preheating the active core, said means comprising an electric winding 56, which in use is connected to a voltage source, not shown, such that a predetermined current flows along winding 56. Winding 56 has such a size that the current develops a thermal power suitable for heating active core 18, in a determined and industrially acceptable time, from a first temperature, typically from room temperature, up to a second temperature or to an initial process temperature. The initial process temperature is higher than a determined critical temperature, which depends, in particular, upon the transition metal of the primary material.
Generator 50 also comprises a trigger means of the orbital capture process of the H− ions by the transition metal of active core 18. In the exemplary embodiment of
Furthermore, Generator 50 has small plates 66 that globally comprise a predetermined amount of a secondary material, and that are arranged on the inner face of heat transfer wall 55, which is a containing element of active core 18. As described above, the secondary material is a material adapted to capture protons having an energy at least equal to a predetermined energy threshold. In particular exemplary embodiments, the secondary material may be selected among Lithium, Boron, transition metals, in particular the latter selected among 232Th, 236U, 239U, 239Pu, or may be a combination of these materials.
As already described, the secondary material interacts with protons 35′″ that are emitted by active core 18, according to nuclear proton-dependent reactions, which produce a heat amount Q2 that is added to heat Q1 generated due to the H− ions nuclear capture reactions by transition metal 19. The overall generated heat Q1+Q2 is preferably removed through heat transfer wall 55 by means of a heat-exchange fluid that flows along inside heat transfer chamber 54.
Small plates 66 are reversibly connected on the inner face of wall 55 which contains generation chamber 53. This way, it is possible to easily remove and replace small plates 66 when these are substantially exhausted, i.e. when the concentration of the secondary material in small plates 66 has decreased below a determined lower concentration threshold. Below this lower concentration threshold, the frequency of the reactions between the protons and the secondary material has decreased to such an extent that an industrially acceptable heat power cannot be delivered any longer. A conventional means can be used for fixing small plates 66 on wall 55. In particular grooves or housings can be made on the internal face of wall 55, in which small plates 66 are inserted. For the sake of clarity, in
In an exemplary embodiment, not shown, the generation chamber containment wall of the generation chamber may have an inner coating comprising a layer of the secondary material. The layer of secondary material may be possibly restored after it has been exhausted, to begin a new cycle of reactor 50.
FIG. 6′ shows a longitudinal cross section of a generator 50′ according to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, in which containment wall 55 of the generation chamber is made of an alloy that at least superficially contains secondary material 19. For example, wall 55 can be made in an amorphous alloy of Boron and/or Lithium, as the secondary material, and of Fe or Ni as the structural material. The latter may be the alloy Fe/B 80/20%, or an alloy obtained by adding to this alloy another structural metal and/or another secondary metal.
Other parts of generators 50 and 50′ (FIGS. 6 and 6′), in particular containment and heat exchange wall 55, may be made of a transition metal. Preferably, such transition metal is a transition metal that is present in the active core 18. This prevents galvanic corrosion and allows a further production of energy, since the protons emitted by the core may interact with the transition metal of wall 55.
With reference to
This way, with a predetermined relative movement of adjustment body 30 and of active core 18, a corresponding increase/decrease of the energy delivered by the generator can be obtained.
Obviously, the shape of
Also the tubular shape, or the closed shape, can be generalized.
In an exemplary embodiment, an adjustment means is also provided which comprises a relative slide means for causing a relative slide movement between primary laminas 17 and secondary laminas 32, along a direction that is indicated by arrow 39 and is parallel to both parallel primary laminas 17 and secondary laminas 32.
As shown still in
The relative slide means, not shown, allow adjusting the mutual extension of the portions 18′ and 18″. In other words, they allow integrally adjusting respective surface portions of each secondary element 32 that faces the closest primary elements 17. This way, it is possible to adjust the amount of secondary material exposed to protons 35′″ that are emitted by the primary material of closest primary elements 17, i.e. the amount of the secondary material that can be reached by protons 35′″ that are emitted by the clusters of the primary material. Therefore, it is possible to adjust the proton-dependent secondary reactions that occur per time unit between the emitted protons and the secondary material. Accordingly, it is possible to adjust the power delivered by the generator.
In a possible exemplary embodiment, adjustment means is also provided which comprise a relative rotation means between primary laminas 17 and secondary laminas 32, about a common rotation axis 11′.
As shown in
The relative rotation means may comprise a motor means, not shown, which act on a shaft 41, on which secondary laminas 32 are keyed. The relative rotation means allows adjusting the mutual extension of the portions 18′ and 18″, adjusting the amount of secondary material exposed to protons 35′″ emitted by the primary material of the closest primary laminas 17. This way, it is possible to adjust the secondary reactions that occur per time unit between emitted protons 35′″ and the secondary material, and it is therefore possible to adjust the power generated by the generator.
The arrangement of
In an exemplary embodiment, an adjustment means is also provided which comprises a relative slide means for causing a relative slide movement between adjustment laminas 47, on one hand, and primary and secondary laminas 17,32, on the other hand, along a direction that is indicated by arrow 79 and is parallel to primary, secondary and adjustment laminas 17, 32, 47 of generation cell 58.
When the adjustment shield body 70 is located at a coordinate X with respect to a position of minimum exposition 40 of active core 18, active core 18 is divided into a portion 18′, in which laminas 32 are facing primary laminas 17, and into a portion 18″, in which, apart from a small zone proximate to portion 18′, laminas 32 are shielded with respect to primary laminas 17. In portion 18″ the proton-dependent reactions between protons 35′″ emitted by the primary material of primary laminas 17 and the secondary material of secondary laminas 32 cannot therefore take place.
The relative slide means, not shown, allow adjusting the mutual extension of the portions 18′ and 18″. In other words, they allow integrally adjusting respective surface portions of each secondary element 32 that faces closest primary elements 17. This way, it is possible to adjust the amount of secondary material exposed to protons 35′″ that are emitted by the primary material of primary elements 17, i.e. the amount of the secondary material that can be attained by protons 35′″ that are emitted by the clusters of the primary material. Therefore, it is possible to adjust the proton-dependent secondary reactions that occur per time unit between the emitted protons and the secondary material. Accordingly, it is possible to adjust thermal power delivered by the generator.
In an exemplary embodiment, an adjustment means is also provided which comprises a relative rotation means for causing a rotation between the adjustment body 70, on one hand, and primary laminas and secondary laminas 17,32 of generation cell 58, on the other hand, about a common rotation axis 11′.
As shown in
The relative rotation means may comprise a motor means, not shown, which act on a shaft 41, on which adjustment laminas 47 are keyed. The relative rotation means allow adjusting the mutual extension of portions 18′ and 18″, adjusting the amount of secondary material exposed to protons 35′″ emitted by the primary material of closest primary laminas 17. This way, it is possible to adjust the secondary reactions that occur per time unit between emitted protons 35′″ and the secondary material, and it is therefore possible to adjust the generated power by the generator.
The foregoing description of exemplary embodiments of the method and of the generator according to the invention, and of the way of using the generator, will so fully reveal the invention according to the conceptual point of view, so that others, by applying current knowledge, will be able to modify and/or adapt in various applications this specific exemplary embodiments without further research and without parting from the invention, and, then it is meant that such adaptations and modifications will have to be considered as equivalent to the specific embodiments. The means and the materials to realise the different functions described herein could have a different nature without, for this reason, departing from the field of the invention. It is meant that the expressions or the terminology used have object purely descriptive and, for this, not limitative.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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PI2011A000046 | Apr 2011 | IT | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/IB2012/052100 | 4/26/2012 | WO | 00 | 11/29/2013 |