Patent Description:
Fusion power is power that is generated by a nuclear fusion process in which two or more atomic nuclei collide at very high speed and join to form a new type of atomic nucleus. A fusion reactor is a device that produces fusion power by confining and controlling plasma.

Certain components of a fusion reactor or a plasma confinement device may be immersed in or exposed to plasma. Exposure to plasma may damage or otherwise interfere with the operation of components of the fusion reactor or plasma confinement device. Additionally, interference by components of the plasma confinement device to the plasma or electromagnetic fields contingent thereupon may reduce the efficiency and/or stability of confining and/or controlling the plasma.

<CIT> describes a fusion reactor including an enclosure having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a midpoint substantially equidistant between the first and second ends of the enclosure. The fusion reactor includes two internal magnetic coils suspended within the enclosure and positioned on opposite sides of the midpoint of the enclosure, one or more encapsulating magnetic coils positioned on each side of the midpoint of the enclosure, two mirror magnetic coils positioned on opposite sides of the midpoint of the enclosure, and one or more support stalks for supporting the two internal magnetic coils suspended within the enclosure. The one or more encapsulating magnetic coils and the two mirror magnetic coils are coaxial with the internal magnetic coils. The magnetic coils are operable, when supplied with electric currents, to form magnetic fields for confining plasma within the enclosure.

<CIT> describes an inductive method and apparatus for forming detached spheromak plasma using a thin-walled metal toroidal ring, with external current leads and internal poloidal and toroidal field coils located inside a vacuum chamber filled with low density hydrogen gas and an external axial field generating coil. The presence of a current in the poloidal field coils, and an externally generated axial field sets up the initial poloidal field configuration in which the field is strongest toward the major axis of the toroid. The internal toroidal-field-generating coil is then pulsed on, ionizing the gas and inducing poloidal current and toroidal magnetic field into the plasma region in the sleeve exterior to and adjacent to the ring and causing the plasma to expand away from the ring and toward the major axis. Next the current in the poloidal field coils in the ring is reversed. This induces toroidal current into the plasma and causes the poloidal magnetic field lines to reconnect. The reconnection continues until substantially all of the plasma is formed in a separated spheromak configuration held in equilibrium by the initial external field.

Obstacles, such as supports, functional structures, diagnostic equipment, etc., in plasma (e.g., used in fusion) may result in significant collection of ions and electrons at or near these obstacles. Plasma losses due to the obstacles can strongly modify the plasma density and temperature, which is typically undesirable. As a result, non-perturbative optical and beam techniques to measure plasma parameters have been required to account for such complex interactions. Further, some designs for confinement systems utilize complicated and expensive levitation techniques for creating magnetic field geometries of interest to high-beta fusion in order to reduce the number of obstacles within plasma to avoid some of these issues. Additionally, this problem prevents realistic exploration of certain classes of magnetic fusion concepts that require components, such as electromagnetic coils, to be immersed in or otherwise surrounded by plasma. Accordingly, certain embodiments address this problem by shielding obstacles in plasma using magnetic field guarding and shaping.

According to one embodiment, a plasma confinement system includes an enclosure, one or more internal magnetic coils, and one or more supports. The one or more internal magnetic coils are suspended within the enclosure in a plasma region. The one or more supports support the one or more internal magnetic coils suspended within the enclosure. Each support of the one or more supports includes a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and electrical conducting material. The first end is coupled to an interior portion of the enclosure. The second end is coupled to a component disposed within the plasma region. The electrical conducting material is disposed between the first end and the second end. The electrical conducting material is configured to, when supplied with one or more electrical currents, generate a magnetic field having a magnetic field gradient that varies along the support from the first end to the second end.

According to yet another embodiment, a method includes disposing one or more internal magnetic coils suspended within a plasma region of an enclosure. The method further includes using one or more supports to support the one or more internal magnetic coils suspended within the enclosure. The one or more supports are disposed at least partially within the plasma region. The method further includes generating a magnetic field along each of the one or more supports, the magnetic field having a non-zero magnetic field gradient along a length of the support to and from the supported internal magnetic coil, the magnetic field generated using a current supplied to electrical conducting material disposed within each of the one or more supports.

Each of the embodiments summarized above may have one or more variations or optional features that may provide one or more additional or different advantages. Non-limiting examples of such variations and/or optional features are disclosed herein, but further variations and/or features may be suitably understood in light of the disclosure, including the detailed description, claims, and accompanying drawings.

The present disclosure may provide numerous technical advantages. For example, certain embodiments provide a support for a component immersed in plasma that generates a magnetic field with a non-zero magnetic field gradient along the length of the support. In this manner, the magnetic field may be superimposed with an existing magnetic field thereby reducing the incidence of plasma on the component, the support, or an enclosure in which the plasma is confined. In another example, certain embodiments provide electrical conducting material within a support that includes windings of conducting material that is configured to create a magnetic field with non-zero gradient. In this manner, the windings may be configured in a variety of ways to provide the magnetic field that minimized plasma losses. As yet another example, certain embodiments further reduce plasma losses to the support by providing a slot through which plasma may pass. Although the provided magnetic fields of the support may shield the support, the slot may allow plasma following certain magnetic field lines to pass through support without impacting the support.

Other technical advantages will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the following figures, descriptions, and claims. Moreover, while specific advantages have been enumerated above, various embodiments may include all, some, or none of the enumerated advantages.

For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure and its advantages, reference is now made to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:.

Previous attempts to shield or "guard" objects and other obstacles from plasma using magnetic fields has been met with skepticism and controversy. For example, previous attempts to use dipole magnetic fields to shield obstacles in plasma have encountered problems of how to implement the magnetic field shielding in different geometries and across various plasma environments. Accordingly, different schemes for protecting and shielding components from plasma have been contemplated, including removing components from plasma regions, e.g., by levitation of internal components, and avoiding immersing components in plasma regions, thereby limiting the potential configurations of plasma confinement systems.

As detailed herein, improvements to magnetic field shielding are proposed by creating a magnetic field around a support structure, such as a support for an electromagnetic coil disposed in a plasma region, that has a non-zero gradient along the length of the magnetic field. As a result, impacts of plasma on internal components, including components other than the support structure, of the plasma confinement device may be minimized.

To facilitate a better understanding of the present disclosure, the following examples of certain embodiments are given. The following examples are not to be read to limit or define the scope of the disclosure. Embodiments of the present disclosure and its advantages are best understood by referring to <FIG>, where like numbers are used to indicate like and corresponding parts.

Plasma can be confined with electromagnetic fields and if heated, can be made to produce net energy via nuclear fusion reactions. These fields can be created by electrodes and/or magnetic field coils. Often these are external to the plasma confinement chamber, but some configurations require vacuum compatible, internal components. These internal electrodes and/or magnetic field coils may require mechanical support and protection from the hazardous nature of the plasma environment, without severely disrupting the plasma.

<FIG> illustrate an example plasma confinement system <NUM> having an internal magnetic coil <NUM> in a plasma region <NUM> supported by one or more supports <NUM>, according to certain embodiments. Plasma confinement system <NUM> may be any system that uses components, such as internal magnetic coil <NUM>, that may be exposed to plasma and may require structures supporting those components, e.g., supports <NUM>. For example, plasma confinement system <NUM> may utilize magnetic fields generated using internal magnetic coil <NUM>, and optionally magnetic fields generated via other coils (e.g., coils or other magnets outside or embedded within enclosure <NUM>) or other coils coaxial with internal magnetic coil <NUM>, to control and confine plasma within a plasma region <NUM>.

Prior internal-to-plasma components have been supported via cables, insulated feedthroughs, or levitated by external magnetic fields. Each of these approaches pose problems. Cables may provide structural support, but provide no isolation from the plasma. Cables may also be disruptive to the plasma environment as flow around the cables may not be smooth, and cable surfaces are often rough. Insulated feedthroughs usually only provide one service, such as power, cooling, or diagnostics, and may be made of ceramic materials. Ceramic materials are brittle, and may provide little support. Also, a ceramic surface may suffer from electrical charging as the plasma deposits charge on the surface that can disrupt the plasma environment. External levitation is an overly complex approach and cannot be sustained indefinitely. External levitation is therefore an inadequate solution for maintaining steady-state operation, which may be desirable for operating a fusion reactor. Some embodiments of the present disclosure may address these and other deficiencies of existing approaches by using one or more support stalks, such as supports <NUM>, to provide protection from the plasma environment in addition to mechanical support and in service of electrical, diagnostics, and cooling lines, in a manner designed to minimize deleterious effects on plasma confinement.

In general, support <NUM> may provide mechanical support for internal magnetic coil <NUM> of plasma confinement system <NUM>. Internal magnetic coil <NUM> may require special support mechanisms at least in part because they may be immersed in plasma, e.g., in plasma region <NUM>. In some embodiments, one or more supports <NUM> may mechanically support internal magnetic coils <NUM> and be able to withstand sustained contact with the plasma environment without disrupting or minimizing disruption to the plasma environment. In some embodiments, supports <NUM> may include an internal cavity through which any suitable components may extend into the interior of internal magnetic coil <NUM>. For example, components used to supply electricity to generate magnetic fields with internal magnetic coil <NUM> or components used to cool or provide diagnostics within internal magnetic coil <NUM> may extend through the interior of supports <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates three supports <NUM> supporting internal magnetic coil <NUM> within plasma confinement system <NUM>, in accordance with certain embodiments. Although <FIG> illustrates a trio of supports <NUM>, the present disclosure contemplates that any suitable number of supports <NUM> may be used to support internal magnetic coil <NUM> or each internal magnetic coil <NUM> that may be disposed within plasma region <NUM>. For example, in some embodiments each internal magnetic coil <NUM> may be supported by two or one supports <NUM>. The present disclosure contemplates that the one or more supports <NUM> may have any suitable shape. For example, supports <NUM> may have ellipsoid or circular cross-sections.

In some embodiments, supports <NUM> may each be coupled to enclosure <NUM> at a first end <NUM> of support <NUM> and to internal magnetic coil <NUM> at a second end <NUM> The present disclosure contemplates that support <NUM> may be coupled to internal magnetic coil <NUM> and enclosure <NUM> in any suitable manner. As an example, support <NUM> may be welded to internal magnetic coil <NUM> and enclosure <NUM>. As another example, support <NUM> may be coupled to internal magnetic coil <NUM> and enclosure <NUM> using any suitable number of any suitable fasteners. The present disclosure contemplates the use of any suitable combination of materials for coupling support <NUM> to internal magnetic coil <NUM> and enclosure <NUM>. In some embodiments, the one or more supports <NUM> may be modular, which may advantageously allow for easier replacement and/or servicing of supports <NUM>.

In some embodiments, support <NUM> may provide mechanical support for suspending internal magnetic coil <NUM> in plasma region <NUM>. In some embodiments, support <NUM> can be placed in tension or compression. Support <NUM> may be formed from any suitable material or combination of materials. As an example, support <NUM> may be formed from stainless steel or tungsten. As another example, support <NUM> may be formed from aluminum coated with tungsten. The one or more materials used for forming support <NUM> may vary according to particular applications of support <NUM> within plasma confinement system <NUM>. As an example, in some embodiments internal magnetic coil <NUM> may weigh substantially more than in other embodiments, possibly necessitating use of a material better suited for supporting a heavier internal magnetic coil <NUM>.

Support <NUM> may be located in any suitable area of enclosure <NUM>. In some embodiments, support <NUM> may be immersed or partially immersed in plasma region <NUM>. In some embodiments, support <NUM> may be located in plasma confinement system <NUM> in an area where the concentration of plasma in plasma region <NUM> is weakest, such as in a recirculation zone, e.g., where plasma circulates around internal magnetic coil <NUM> and/or between internal magnetic coil <NUM> and another magnetic coil within plasma region <NUM>. Support <NUM> may be adapted to withstand exposure to plasma within enclosure <NUM> without having a deleterious effect on confinement or control of plasma.

As discussed above, supports <NUM> may have any suitable shape. In some embodiments, support <NUM> may have a cross-sectional shape of an ellipsoid. In some embodiments, the ellipsoid shape may allow plasma to flow smoothly around support <NUM>, which may advantageously prevent deleterious effects on plasma confinement by support <NUM>. In some embodiments, the cross-section of support <NUM> is thinner in a direction orthogonal to the magnetic field. Orienting support <NUM> in such a manner may advantageously result in reduced plasma flux to the surface, while still providing stiffness. In some embodiments, the surface of support <NUM> may be coated to provide sputtering resistance to impacting plasma.

An example of a plasma confinement system in which one or more internal magnetic coils, such as internal magnetic coil <NUM>, are disposed within a plasma region, e.g., plasma region <NUM>, is provided in <CIT>. While certain embodiments and examples disclosed herein may make reference to a particular plasma confinement system. Certain techniques and apparatuses disclosed herein may be implemented in any suitable confinement system in which components are disposed in a region of plasma and require some mechanical support.

<FIG> and <FIG> illustrate an example support <NUM> configured to generate a magnetic field "B" for shielding against plasma, respectively, according to certain embodiments. <FIG> illustrates an example support <NUM> that is configured to have currents 225a and 225b flow through support <NUM>. As shown in this particular example, currents 225a and 225b flow in opposite directions, e.g., from enclosure <NUM> to internal magnetic coil <NUM> and from internal magnetic coil <NUM> to enclosure <NUM>. Each current 225a and 225b generates a magnetic field, which due to the superposition principle, generates a single combined magnetic field designated by symbol B. As shown in <FIG>, the magnetic field B is generally oriented into the page between currents 225a and 225b in support <NUM> and out of the page outside currents 225a and 225b and outside support <NUM>.

In some embodiments, currents 225a and 225b may be carried by electrical conducting material disposed within support <NUM>. For example, support <NUM> may include one or more wires or other deposition of material that is configured to conduct electricity. In some embodiments, currents 225a and 225b are carried by first portions and second portions of electrical conducting material, respectively. For example, current 225a may be carried by first portions of electrical conducting material disposed within support <NUM> and current 225b may be carried by second portions of electrical conducting material disposed within support <NUM>. In some embodiments, first and second portions may be coupled together as different portions of a coiled wiring having one or more windings. For example, first portions may be the portions of the windings that carry current in a first direction from enclosure <NUM> to internal magnetic coil <NUM> and second portions may be the portions of the windings that carry current in a second direction from internal magnetic coil <NUM> to enclosure <NUM>. Any suitable configuration of conducting material that can carry current within support <NUM> is contemplated herein.

<FIG> illustrates a cross-sectional view of support <NUM>. Currents 225a and 225b are oriented along the length of support <NUM> and into and out of the page, respectively. <FIG> illustrates example magnetic field lines <NUM> in the illustrated cross-section plane that may result from the pair of currents 225a and 225b. As shown, the field lines <NUM> may be open or closed. For example, the magnetic field lines <NUM> nearer currents 225a and 225b are tighter and closed loops. However, at a certain distance from a midpoint between currents 225a and 225b, the field lines <NUM> are spread further apart and no longer closed loops. The boundary <NUM> between closed and open magnetic field lines <NUM> may be referred to as a flux boundary or a magnetosphere. Boundary <NUM> may be defined by one or more parameters, including a radius "r" that defines the distance between a midpoint between currents 225a and 225b and the transition point between open and closed magnetic field lines <NUM>. Radius "r" may vary according to the particular configuration of currents 225a and 225b. Generally, radius "r" may be larger if larger currents are provided through support <NUM>. As detailed further herein, the boundary <NUM> and its associated magnetosphere radius "r" may be configured to vary along the length of support <NUM>.

In certain embodiments, the magnetic fields shown in the example of <FIG> and <FIG> may be generated without flowing one or more currents through support <NUM>. For example, in some embodiments, the magnetic fields may be generated using a combination of permanent magnets. The use of permanent magnets may reduce the need to provide currents and electrical conducting material within support <NUM>. However, the use of permanent magnets may limit the geometries of magnetic fields that may be realized and/or the availability of certain levels of magnetic field strengths.

<FIG> illustrate various example configurations of support <NUM> that generate magnetic fields having non-zero gradients, according to certain embodiments. As mentioned above, boundary <NUM> and its associated magnetosphere radius "r" may be configured to vary along the length of support <NUM>. The variation of the magnetosphere radius "r" may have several benefits. For example, depending on the configuration of plasma confinement device <NUM> and its constituent components, such as internal magnetic coil <NUM>, plasma within plasma region <NUM> may be subject to a plasma pressure, e.g., via the magnetic field controlling/confining the plasma, that causes the plasma to impact internal magnetic coil <NUM> and/or enclosure <NUM> with greater incidence. Accordingly, the magnetic field generated by supports <NUM> may be configured to counteract some of the "drift" experienced by the plasma and thereby reduce plasma losses to internal magnetic coil <NUM> and/or enclosure <NUM>. In particular, the magnetic field of support <NUM> may be superimposed on the magnetic field of plasma confinement system <NUM> to result in a more stable plasma region <NUM>.

The variation of the magnetic field along support <NUM> may be represented by a varying magnetosphere radius "r" along support <NUM> between internal magnetic coil <NUM> and enclosure <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates a configuration of support <NUM> wherein the magnetosphere radius "r" varies along support <NUM> and thereby provides a magnetic field with a non-zero gradient, e.g., ∇ B ≠ <NUM> along support <NUM>. In particular, <FIG> illustrates a configuration of support <NUM>, e.g., by a particular configuration of the currents within support <NUM>, such that the resulting magnetic fields have magnetosphere radii ra, rb, and rc. In this particular example, ra is larger than rb and rc is larger than rb. As a result, the magnetosphere radius "r" decreases and then increases along the length of support <NUM>.

According to another embodiment, <FIG> illustrates a configuration of support <NUM> having magnetosphere radii rd, re, and rf. In this particular configuration, rd is less than re and rf is less than re. Accordingly, the magnetosphere radius "r" increases and then, decreases along the length of support <NUM>.

According to another embodiment, <FIG> illustrates a configuration of support <NUM> having magnetosphere radii rg, rh, and ri. In this example, the magnetosphere radius "r" only decreases from enclosure <NUM> to internal magnetic coil <NUM>. According to another embodiment, <FIG> illustrates a configuration of support <NUM> having magnetosphere radii rj, rk, and rl. In this example, the magnetosphere radius "r" only increases from enclosure <NUM> to internal magnetic coil <NUM>. In some embodiments, the decrease/increase of the magnetosphere radius along length of support <NUM> may be uniform, linear, non-linear, step-wise, or any other suitable variation.

While <FIG> provide particular example configurations of support <NUM> in which the magnetosphere radius "r" varies along the length of support <NUM>, any other suitable configuration that may reduce plasma losses is contemplated herein. For example, different configurations of plasma confinement system <NUM> may warrant different magnetic field configurations of support <NUM> to reduce plasma losses. As another example, supports for different coils in plasma confinement system <NUM> may be subject to different magnetic field topology, requiring different superimposed magnetic fields from support <NUM>. Accordingly, any suitable configuration of support <NUM> generating a magnetic field with a non-zero gradient along support <NUM> is contemplated herein and in light of the understanding of a person having ordinary skill in the art.

<FIG> illustrates an example support <NUM> having electrical conducting material <NUM> in a particular configuration. Support <NUM> may have disposed within electrical conducting material <NUM> that has one or more loops or windings, as shown in the illustrated example of <FIG>. In some embodiments, electrical conducting material <NUM> includes one or more windings of a metal wire or coil that is configured to conduct current within support <NUM>. In certain embodiments, electrical conducting material <NUM> is disposed within support <NUM> such that a magnetic field with a non-zero gradient is produced when one or more currents flow through electrical conducting material <NUM>. For example, the distances d1, d2, and d3 between portions of electrical conducting material <NUM> in which current is flowing in opposite directions may vary along the length of support <NUM>. In particular, opposite portions of electrical conducting material <NUM> may be a first distance d1 apart proximate internal magnetic coil <NUM>, a second distance d2 apart near a middle of support <NUM>, and a third distance d3 apart proximate enclosure <NUM>.

The relative values of d1, d2, and d3 may be chosen based on the desired variation of the magnetic field (e.g., the profile of the gradient of the magnetic field) along support <NUM>. Specifically, the configuration of electrical conducting material <NUM> within support <NUM> may be chosen based on the particular configuration of the magnetic field. In the illustrated example of <FIG>, d1 is smaller than d2 and d2 is larger than d3. Accordingly, the corresponding magnetosphere radius r1 is larger than r2, and r2 is less than r3.

In the above example, the effective magnetosphere radius for support <NUM> decreases and then increases along the length of support <NUM> based on the variation of the distance between portions of electrical conducting material <NUM> within support <NUM>. This represents only one such configuration and variations of the configuration of electrical conducting material <NUM> within support <NUM> are expressly contemplated for any magnetic field having a non-zero gradient along the length of support <NUM>, including configurations shown in <FIG> and any others that may be recognized by persons having ordinary skill in the art.

<FIG> illustrate an example support <NUM> defining a slot <NUM> through which plasma may flow, according to certain embodiments. Support <NUM> may include electrical conducting material <NUM> in which current may flow to produce a magnetic field shielding support <NUM>. Electrical conducting material <NUM> may have any suitable configuration, including configurations discussed above that produce magnetic fields having a non-zero gradient along the length of support <NUM>. Additionally, support <NUM> defines a slot <NUM> in which the material making up support <NUM> and electrical conducting material <NUM> is not present.

While the magnetic field generated by support <NUM> may have a shielding effect, e.g., based on the effective boundary defined by the magnetosphere radius, the produced magnetic field may still allow plasma to flow towards support <NUM> and impact it. For example, as shown in <FIG>, there are one or more magnetic field lines <NUM> that begin outside of magnetosphere boundary <NUM>, enter within boundary <NUM>, and exit again outside boundary <NUM>. Plasma may travel along magnetic field lines <NUM> and therefore, may not be completely excluded from the region within boundary <NUM>. As a result, plasma may attempt to follow a magnetic field line that leads the plasma to impact a portion of support <NUM>.

In certain embodiments, support <NUM> defines slot <NUM> such that the orientation of slot <NUM> matches the orientation of the magnetic field lines between the opposite portions of electrical conducting material <NUM>. For example, slot <NUM> may be defined to have an axial direction that is the same as the magnetic field line. As shown in <FIG>, slot <NUM> may be oriented in the plasma flow direction. In this manner, plasma that is not redirected via the shielding magnetic fields of support <NUM> may flow through slot <NUM> instead of impacting support <NUM>.

The size and shape of slot <NUM> may be defined to minimize impacts of plasma with support <NUM>. For example, the size of slot <NUM> may be maximized given the necessary mechanical strength of support <NUM> and/or the required space and configuration of electrical conducting material within support <NUM>. For example, if a winding configuration, as illustrated in <FIG>, is used, then slot <NUM> may be defined in the middle portion of support <NUM> where there is no electrical conducting material <NUM>. In some embodiments, slot <NUM> may be an elongated hole and in a specific embodiment, slot <NUM> may have an oval or circular shape.

Although slot <NUM> is provided in example support <NUM>, slot <NUM> or any similar cutout or hole may be used in conjunction with any configuration or features of supports <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> disclosed herein.

<FIG> illustrates an example support <NUM> with electrical conducting material <NUM> having a plurality of windings with different cross-sectional areas, according to certain embodiments. Stated in a different way, support <NUM> may include electrical conducting material <NUM> that supports varying concentrations of electrical current along the length of support <NUM>. Different from the embodiments discussed in relation to <FIG>, the distance between portions of electrical conducting material <NUM> carry current in opposite directions need not vary. As shown in the illustrated example, a varying magnetosphere radius may be accomplished by providing windings that start and stop at different locations. In other words, the areas of the windings may vary.

As shown in the example in <FIG>, windings of electrical conducting material 625a may loop around inside support <NUM> proximate internal magnetic coil <NUM>, thereby creating a region within support <NUM> having a higher concentration of current, and therefore generate a magnetic field having a larger magnetosphere radius. Likewise, windings of electrical conducting material 625c may loop around inside support <NUM> proximate enclosure <NUM>, thereby creating a region within support <NUM> having a higher concentration of current, and therefore generate a magnetic field having a larger magnetosphere radius. In contrast, the windings of electrical conducting material 625b near the middle of support <NUM> may have larger area and therefore have a lower concentration of current. Accordingly, the magnetosphere radius near the middle of support <NUM> may be less than the radii at the ends of support <NUM>. In this manner, a magnetic field may be generated with electrical conducting material <NUM> within support <NUM> that varies along the length of support <NUM> and has a non-zero gradient.

<FIG> illustrates only a single example configuration of electrical conducting material <NUM> that has windings with different areas and/or different concentrations within support <NUM>. Any suitable configuration varying the placement of windings of electrical conducting material <NUM> is contemplated herein. For example, configurations of electrical conducting material <NUM> with windings of different cross-sectional areas may be used to create any suitable magnetic field that varies along the length of support <NUM> and has a non-zero gradient in along that direction. In particular, electrical conducting material <NUM> may be configured to create the magnetosphere radii configurations shown in <FIG> or any other configurations that may be used within plasma confinement system <NUM> to reduce plasma losses.

<FIG> illustrates a flowchart diagram of an example method <NUM> for shielding structures exposed to plasma, according to certain embodiments. For example, method <NUM> may be implemented in a plasma confinement system, such as plasma confinement system <NUM>, in which one or more components disposed or immersed in plasma need mechanical support. Method <NUM> may begin at step <NUM> wherein one or more internal magnetic coils, such as internal magnetic coil <NUM>, is suspended within a plasma region of an enclosure. For example, an internal magnetic coil may be used in a plasma confinement system to generate magnetic fields to control and/or confine plasma, e.g., to generate energy using fusion processes. The internal magnetic coils may be advantageously disposed within a region within the system such that the internal magnetic coils are exposed to plasma, e.g., within a region of the enclosure where plasma is flowing or otherwise present during operation of the system. The coils may require mechanical support to maintain their position and their location away from unshielded components or other components of the plasma confinement system that are not designed to be immersed in plasma.

At step <NUM>, one or more supports are used to support the one or more internal magnetic coils suspended within the enclosure. The one or more supports may be disposed at least partially within the plasma region. For example, if the internal magnetic coils are completely immersed in the plasma region, then the supports may be coupled to the internal magnetic coils within the plasma region. This may subject the supports to potential impacts of the plasma within the plasma region as a tradeoff of supporting the placement of the internal magnetic coils within the plasma region.

At step <NUM>, a magnetic field may be generated along each of the one or more supports. The generated magnetic field may shield or "guard" the supports from incident plasma. For example, the generated magnetic field may modify the background magnetic field topology to modify the magnetic field lines proximate the supports. This may include creating magnetic field lines that extend around the supports instead of having a trajectory that intersects with a portion of the support. In certain embodiments, the generated magnetic field varies along the support along a length of the support to and from the supported internal magnetic coil using a current supplied to electrical conducting material disposed within each of the one or more supports. In particular, the electrical conducting material may be configured in a particular way within the support such that when it is supplied with electricity, the resulting magnetic field has a non-zero gradient in the direction along the length of the support. Put another way, the effective magnetosphere radius of the magnetic field generated in the support may vary along its length, as shown in example supports <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. In this manner, the support may generate a magnetic field that reduces plasma losses.

Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to method <NUM> depicted in <FIG>. Any steps may be performed in parallel or in any suitable order. Furthermore, method <NUM> may include more, fewer, or other steps. Additionally, one or more of the steps of method <NUM>, or embodiments thereof, may be performed by any suitable component or combination of components of plasma confinement system <NUM> or supports <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and/or <NUM>.

The present disclosure may provide numerous advantages, such as the various technical advantages that have been described with respective to various embodiments and examples disclosed herein. Other technical advantages will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the following figures, descriptions, and claims. Moreover, while specific advantages have been enumerated in this disclosure, various embodiments may include all, some, or none of the enumerated advantages.

The scope of this disclosure encompasses all changes, substitutions, variations, alterations, and modifications to the example embodiments described or illustrated herein that a person having ordinary skill in the art would comprehend. The scope of this disclosure is not limited to the example embodiments described or illustrated herein. Moreover, although this disclosure describes and illustrates respective embodiments herein as including particular components, elements, functions, operations, or steps, any of these embodiments may include any combination or permutation of any of the components, elements, functions, operations, or steps described or illustrated anywhere herein that a person having ordinary skill in the art would comprehend. Furthermore, reference in the appended claims to an apparatus or system or a component of an apparatus or system being adapted to, arranged to, capable of, configured to, enabled to, operable to, or operative to perform a particular function encompasses that apparatus, system, component, whether or not it or that particular function is activated, turned on, or unlocked, as long as that apparatus, system, or component is so adapted, arranged, capable, configured, enabled, operable, or operative.

Claim 1:
A plasma confinement system (<NUM>), comprising
an enclosure (<NUM>);
one or more internal magnetic coils (<NUM>) suspended within the enclosure (<NUM>) in a plasma region (<NUM>); and
one or more supports (<NUM>) configured to support the one or more internal magnetic coils (<NUM>) suspended within the enclosure (<NUM>), wherein each support (<NUM>) of the one or more supports (<NUM>) comprises:
a first end (<NUM>) coupled to an interior portion of the enclosure (<NUM>);
a second end (<NUM>) opposite the first end (<NUM>), the second end (<NUM>) coupled to a component disposed within the plasma region (<NUM>); and
electrical conducting material disposed between the first end and the second end,
characterized in that the electrical conducting material is configured to, when supplied with one or more electrical currents (225a, 225b), generate a magnetic field having a magnetic field gradient that varies along the support (<NUM>) from the first end (<NUM>) to the second end (<NUM>).