Patent Number: 043702970
Section: summary

This invention relates to a Method and Apparatus for Nuclear Thermochemical Water Cracking and in particular utilizes the charged products from a nuclear fusion reaction for obtaining the dissociation of water into hydrogen and oxygen. BACKGROUND Much work is presently being done on the achievement of ignition and burn of fusion fuel such as, for example, deuterium-tritium in pellet form. While there are a number of different approaches to this problem, one of them includes the utilization of a source of energy from a laser and particular pellet configurations which will make it possible to achieve ignition and burn in a reaction chamber. Patents which illustrate generally the apparatus which can be used in this type of system are: Hedstrom: U.S. Pat. No. 3,762,993--Oct. 2, 1973; Whittlesey: U.S. Pat. No. 3,378,446--Apr. 16, 1968; Daiber: U.S. Pat. No. 3,489,645--Jan. 13, 1970. Many other U.S. patents issued in this field recently, e.g. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,802,993; 3,748,226; 3,624,239; 3,152,958; 3,037,922; 3,748,226 and 3,152,958, exemplify the state of the art for production of chemicals by exposure to nuclear radiation in both fusion and fission reactor environment. Publications which show the details of construction of the reactors, laser systems and report the status of the art include: (a) Research/Development, May 1975, Vol. 26, No. 5, pp 55ff., "Thermonuclear fusion research with high-power lasers", an article showing fusion optics structure and requirements. (b) "Plasma Physics and Controlled Nuclear Fusion Research", 1974, Vol. II, International Atomic Energy Agency Vienna, which defines detailed conditions of target physics in laser fusion reactions. (c) Laser Focus, September 1975, pp 39ff., "More Evidence that Fusion Works", an article showing the production of neutrons by the laser-fusion process. (d) Advances in Nuclear Science and Technology, 1962, Academic Press, a general report of chemonuclear reactors and chemical processing. (e) KMS Optical Systems brochure pricing laser fusion systems and fuel pellets in the commercial market. (f) A joint KMS Industries and General Electric catalog of commercially available Laser Systems for Plasma Research (E H M 12,214). (g) Lawrence Livermore Laboratory reports including UCID 16850 reporting DT Fusion neutron radiation of various chemicals. (h) "Advances in Activation Analysis", Vol. 2, Academic Press, 1972, activation analysis with 14 MeV neutron generators, and (i) "The relevance of various neutron sources to Fusion-Reactor Radiation Effects", Nuclear Technology, Vol. 22, April 1974. All of the aforesaid art is incorporated into and made part of this specification and disclosure. Therefore, it is clear that the status of the art is well known, and it is unnecessary in this disclosure to obscure the nature of the invention in a myriad of details within the skill of those currently working in the nuclear arts. OBJECTIVES Current calculations of a first generation laser-driven nuclear fusion reaction utilizing deuterium-tritium pellets show that about 20 percent of the energy is available in the form of charged particles (particularly alpha-particles) which must be absorbed inside the reaction chamber, or on collision with the chamber wall. If this available energy can be absorbed and utilized within the cavity, there are a number of advantages which will accrue as follows: 1. The energy will be available directly without the losses occasioned by passage through the chamber wall and possible exterior heat transfer loops; 2. Thermal and mechanical stresses in the chamber wall will be alleviated; and 3. The radiation damage to the chamber wall will be reduced. It is, therefore, one of the primary objectives of the present invention to disclose a method and apparatus whereby an appreciable fraction of the fusion energy may be applied directly to the cracking of steam. Another object of the invention is to improve the integrity of the fusion reaction chamber by reduction of the direct charged particle impact on the wall. It is a further object of the invention to provide a source of hydrogen gas and oxygen from the dissociation of steam, each of which are valuable materials which may be utilized for additional sources of heat and fuel. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The above, as well as other objects, features and advantages of the invention, will become apparent by reference to the following detailed description and claims wherein there is set forth the principles of the invention together with a description of the utility thereof in connection with the best mode presently contemplated for the practice of the invention.