Reply To: Google offers $10M for ideas that can 'change the world'

[Henning]

I’ve gathered some ideas fitting the application form. Some revision is needed before submission (which should be finally done by Eric), but it’s a starting point.

8. Your idea’s name (maximum 50 characters):
Focus Fusion

9. Please select a category that best describes your idea.
Energy: How can we help move the world toward safe, clean, inexpensive energy?

10. What one sentence best describes your idea? (maximum 150 characters)
A cheap fusion device (USD 300000 per 10 MW unit in mass-production) converting alpha-particles and x-rays to electricity directly.

11. Describe your idea in more depth. (maximum 300 words)
Using a device called Dense Plasma Focus (DPF) temperature of 2 billion °C has been reached at Texas A&M University, where for an optimal fusing of Boron-11 and Hydrogen-1, which yields alpha-particles (Helium-4) and x-rays, a temperature of 4 billion °C is required. This temperature should be within reach of today’s technology, using stronger capacitors and faster switches. A DPF accelerates plasma with the help of very high currents, and at the end the plasma “pinches” within a tiny spot, fusing the fuel. The fusion results in x-rays a directed beam of Helium-4 ions, which is used to directly induce electricity into a coil. The x-rays are converted by a photovoltaic shell surrounding the device. The whole procedure is pulsed, and is repeated about 1000 times per second. See also focusfusion.org and patent application US 2007/0201598 A1 (Lerner & Blake).

12. What problem or issue does your idea address? (maximum 150 words)
Energy production and pollution. Boron-11 is abundantly available, requiring a few kg per MW per year. The “exhaust” is Helium-4 with minimal contamination of other elements, some are radioactive but will decay back to background radiation within a day. The more than thousandfold more expensive ITER fusion project utilizes a much more difficult to handle fuel Tritium and Deuterium (Hydrogen-2 and Hydrogen-3).

13. If your idea were to become a reality, who would benefit the most and how? (maximum 150 words)
Whole humanity because of broadly available energy sources and less pollution, especially greenhouse gasses.

14. What are the initial steps required to get this idea off the ground? (maximum 150 words)
Construction of a proof of concept device (costs < USD 1Mio).

15. Describe the optimal outcome should your idea be selected and successfully implemented. How would you measure it? (maximum 150 words)
Proof of energy net production, and with further funding availability of a 5 MW prototype generator (about USD 10Mio). Measuring the coil’s induction energy and x-ray energy, it should outperform the energy put in, leaving room for conversion losses of x-rays. Converting x-rays to electricity is actually easier than converting infrared or visible light, but not very well researched [Eric: please confirm].

Maybe a narrated version of Torulf’s DPF animation would fit better the 30 seconds video, including a mentioning of a unit’s price and the 2 billion degrees C reached. Remember it does not need to include all facts already mentioned in the textual part, because of its supplemental nature.

Please take a more detailed look at the idea’s description, as it is not complete (for example missing the magnetic field effect), or should be rewritten.