tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90077532946528501172024-03-13T14:37:23.263-07:00Will's Amateur Science and EngineeringFrom Air Cannons to Nuclear Reactors-It's all hereTidbit77http://www.blogger.com/profile/12079640214150397890noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9007753294652850117.post-86866947016364378252011-05-03T17:22:00.000-07:002011-05-03T17:22:34.710-07:00New website/blogHello all, I'm in the process of moving my web-presence from this site to my new one:<a href="http://www.wjscience.com/"> www.wjscience.com</a>.<br />
Please give it a visit, and tell me if you like it.Tidbit77http://www.blogger.com/profile/12079640214150397890noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9007753294652850117.post-68051806701444072402011-04-03T13:23:00.000-07:002011-04-03T13:25:00.867-07:00Fusor Mk. II Video<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Well, I figured that I should probably post a video of Fusor Mk. II to Youtube, so I made a quick video designed to serve as somewhat of an introduction to the reactor. So here it is:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/FYlgyEyWg1g" title="YouTube video player" width="640"></iframe></div>Tidbit77http://www.blogger.com/profile/12079640214150397890noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9007753294652850117.post-86290199977195799482011-03-21T08:19:00.000-07:002011-03-21T08:36:06.713-07:00Fusion AchievedSince I have last written, I have done much work on the reactor, including the addition of a new mounting system, based upon an old scroll saw stand, and the completion of the deuterium system. Also, the neutron detection system was completed.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ImkYq4StLa8/TYdoW_-1maI/AAAAAAAAAJY/yoDNp_nsGAw/s1600/laser+026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ImkYq4StLa8/TYdoW_-1maI/AAAAAAAAAJY/yoDNp_nsGAw/s640/laser+026.JPG" width="474" /></a></div><br />
Here is a picture of the full reactor.<br />
The new detection system utilizes a boron-10 lined proportional tube, which can detect thermal neutrons, however, the neutrons from the D+D -> He-3 + n reaction have very high energies, and therefore must have their energy reduced prior to entering the tube. Therefore, the tube is placed inside a HDPE neutron moderator, which reduces neutron energy through elastic collisions with protons inside the moderator. The tube is read by a Ludlum Model-3.<br />
<br />
I eventually fired the reactor up and did some trials with the gas system. My data indicates that the reactor does indeed work!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Data:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-2jqYaMh7yn0/TYdpdHZ5QQI/AAAAAAAAAJc/GL28V_6zD7k/s1600/chart+pic.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="401" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-2jqYaMh7yn0/TYdpdHZ5QQI/AAAAAAAAAJc/GL28V_6zD7k/s640/chart+pic.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-S-XI_IR8JeQ/TYdpy0yLNsI/AAAAAAAAAJg/quAUIFm8kVA/s1600/graph.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="457" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-S-XI_IR8JeQ/TYdpy0yLNsI/AAAAAAAAAJg/quAUIFm8kVA/s640/graph.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">Due to the lack of the increase between tests 2 (background, unmoderated) and 3 (reactor on, unmoderated), it can be known that the tube was not detecting x-rays or EMI from the fusor, and that any recorded count would be due to neutrons.<br />
The following three tests, (4-6, reactor on, moderated) show a large increase over background, indicating that the reactor was indeed producing a measurable neutron flux, and was indeed working!<br />
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I entered the reactor, with this simple experiment into the science fair, and I won both the district and regional fairs, and because of this, I will be attending the Intel International Science and Engineering fair in LA!</div><div style="text-align: left;">________________________________________________________________________________</div><div style="text-align: center;">What's Next?<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">I am in the process of rebuilding the gas system to allow for lower leak rates, and hence higher deuterium purity, this should allow for substantially higher neutron fluxes. Additionally, I am developing a penning type ion source, which will be added to the reactor and will allow it to operate at lower pressure with greater stability. Also, I may move the reactor to a new, recently acquired chamber with an exceptionally low leak rate, and a water cooling jacket.</div><div style="text-align: left;">________________________________________________________________________________<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And finally, some pictures of the reactor</div><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ODdi8XxdRaw/TYdtATTxNrI/AAAAAAAAAJk/SXZ5Pmjs_Ak/s1600/fusionrun2+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ODdi8XxdRaw/TYdtATTxNrI/AAAAAAAAAJk/SXZ5Pmjs_Ak/s640/fusionrun2+012.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-tjZCTjamorE/TYdtOIAVMeI/AAAAAAAAAJo/1vsp33lAIFQ/s1600/fusionrun3+022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-tjZCTjamorE/TYdtOIAVMeI/AAAAAAAAAJo/1vsp33lAIFQ/s640/fusionrun3+022.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-tHgeFnG9qco/TYdtaru4BcI/AAAAAAAAAJs/6g20jZdBH00/s1600/tor+chamber+009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-tHgeFnG9qco/TYdtaru4BcI/AAAAAAAAAJs/6g20jZdBH00/s640/tor+chamber+009.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Tidbit77http://www.blogger.com/profile/12079640214150397890noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9007753294652850117.post-7554533427057801232010-12-30T13:42:00.000-08:002011-01-01T15:12:32.738-08:00Fusor Mk. II ProgressIt's been a while since I've written, school and other commitments have continued to devour my free time.<br />
It's good to be back.<br />
Since I left off with my last post on my Mk.II reactor, I have made much progress. I have had the chamber machined, gone through two different power supplies, acquired a bottle of deuterium, and gotten an ultra high vacuum system working.<br />
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Before I go into any more detail on my current apparatus, I'm just gonna recap how the fusor works in Layman's terms:<br />
<br />
The vacuum chamber is pumped down to a very low pressure, and a high negative voltage is applied to the inner grid, which is a spherical electrode in the center of the chamber. The outside of the chamber is left grounded. Due to electrostatic field emission from the grid, the gas in the chamber is ionized, forming a plasma. These gas ions are positively charged, and due to the inner grid's strong negative charge, they are accelerated towards it. In the center of the grid, some of the ions collide. If the gas in the chamber is deuterium (hydrogen-2), the two colliding deuterium nuclei will fuse into a helium-3 nucleus and eject a fast neutron. The nucleus then will remix with electrons emitted from the grid and become neutral.<br />
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Just to start off, here is a picture of my current setup:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OkMGp1sbItM/TRzC93a_ciI/AAAAAAAAAFw/tNvxkoMcfFI/s1600/fusorcloseups+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OkMGp1sbItM/TRzC93a_ciI/AAAAAAAAAFw/tNvxkoMcfFI/s400/fusorcloseups+006.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">.<br />
Now for a quick walkthrough of the different sections of the reactor...<br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The Chamber:</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OkMGp1sbItM/TRzguPJbEsI/AAAAAAAAAF0/Q1gyK8lyQYs/s1600/fusor+chamber+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OkMGp1sbItM/TRzguPJbEsI/AAAAAAAAAF0/Q1gyK8lyQYs/s320/fusor+chamber+002.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> The reactor's stainless steel, spherical chamber was machined with the help of Tom Egan at Mercury Machine Company's machine shop, and my deepest thanks goes out to them, I really couldn't have done this without their excellent work. The chamber has a 1.5" wide viewport, a high voltage feedthrough port, a port connecting to an air cooled diffusion pump, a 6" long tube for a future ion source, additionally, there are two 3/8" NPT ports on the top of the chamber for vacuum gauging and a soon to come gas system. The flanging on the chamber is a mixture of commercial and custom hardware. Both the pump flange and the feedthrough flange are ISO-esque flanges in which an o-ring is pressed against a flat plate, forming a seal. The 8" diameter flanges holding the halves of the chamber together, as well as the 2.75" flanges on the ion gun tube and viewport are conflat-type flanges. In a conflat flange, a copper gasket is pinched tightly between two "knife edges" on either flange. This creates a very strong seal between the flanges.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>High Voltage System:</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OkMGp1sbItM/TRzivu1I8jI/AAAAAAAAAF4/aOqLuvILfr0/s1600/glassman+056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OkMGp1sbItM/TRzivu1I8jI/AAAAAAAAAF4/aOqLuvILfr0/s320/glassman+056.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
Originally, I had planned to use an x-ray transformer to power the fusor, and later I decided on using a two stage, lines frequency voltage multiplier to run the reactor, constructed of 2 stages of 2 banks of 16 microwave capacitors, driven by a few neon sign transformers (In the future, I plan to use this supply, however with a distribution transformer powering it). However, recently, I was graciously given a 30kV Glassman high voltage power supply, which I currently am using to power the reactor. The<br />
supply uses a simple D25 connector to interface with a simple controller I made for it.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>The Vacuum System:</b></span></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The fusor's vacuum system consists of two pumps, a rotary vane mechanical pump, and a air cooled, oil diffusion pump. The mechanical pump first pulls the chamber down to a pressure of around 160 millitorr -1/4750th of atmospheric pressure. At this point, the diffusion pump is turned on. A diffusion pump is a type of ultra-high vacuum pump that uses fast moving heated oil to pump a gas from a chamber. The diffusion pump will bring the overall system pressure down to less than one millitorr of pressure. The diffusion pump can be throttled by a variac that controls the oil heater's voltage.</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Pictures of Runs: </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OkMGp1sbItM/TRz6ICZtABI/AAAAAAAAAF8/iAjCSHuVHT0/s1600/glassman+051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OkMGp1sbItM/TRz6ICZtABI/AAAAAAAAAF8/iAjCSHuVHT0/s400/glassman+051.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Three loop grid, pressure around 10 millitorr</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OkMGp1sbItM/TRz6uqcaVCI/AAAAAAAAAGE/M1rbEqNoS_I/s1600/reactorrun+018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OkMGp1sbItM/TRz6uqcaVCI/AAAAAAAAAGE/M1rbEqNoS_I/s400/reactorrun+018.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Two loop grid, pressure around 5 millitorr</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OkMGp1sbItM/TRz6bATLRLI/AAAAAAAAAGA/9zDsR0tEeUo/s1600/3+loop+god+010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OkMGp1sbItM/TRz6bATLRLI/AAAAAAAAAGA/9zDsR0tEeUo/s400/3+loop+god+010.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Toroidal grid<br />
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</div>Tidbit77http://www.blogger.com/profile/12079640214150397890noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9007753294652850117.post-26189509978515510172010-07-30T13:20:00.000-07:002010-07-30T13:20:14.813-07:00High Speed Videos of The Air CannonI recently shot a couple of videos of my air cannon and put them in a compilation. The camera used was a casio Exilim Fc-100.<br />
<div><br />
</div><div>Enjoy</div><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1I-npNUVVFU&hl=en_US&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1I-npNUVVFU&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>Tidbit77http://www.blogger.com/profile/12079640214150397890noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9007753294652850117.post-71682851306076994782010-07-03T14:24:00.000-07:002010-08-13T08:19:03.777-07:00Fusor Mk. II: Update and PlansIt feels nice to be writing again. Since my last update I have acquired a 75kV x-ray transformer, as well as all the parts to make my vacuum chamber. I also got a Veeco EP-2A air cooled diffusion pump. Inconveniently, both this pump and my HV feedthrough require custom flanges to be machined. The plans for my new chamber are below.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OkMGp1sbItM/TC-FENLhLzI/AAAAAAAAAEo/7LHw348Hp_U/s1600/newchamber.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="203" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OkMGp1sbItM/TC-FENLhLzI/AAAAAAAAAEo/7LHw348Hp_U/s400/newchamber.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In the plans, the HV feedthrough port is the lower left one, the diffusion pump port is the bottom middle one, and the long one on the bottom right is an ion gun based on a DC magnetron, which is not shown. The DC magnetron is unlike it's cousin, the cavity magnetron, which creates microwaves, whereas the DC magnetron helps ionize gas by setting electrons into a spiraling path. Inside the source, there will be a 6"x1/4" rod charged to 3-5 kV. The magnets will surround the source partially, or I will use a large electromagnet wound around the source.. The 30kV will be generated by a 15kV NST (floating center tap) run through a voltage doubler constructed of microwave oven capacitors and diodes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have also decided that I will leak deuterium into the chamber through a 5 micron wide orifice on the ion gun. The deuterium will first be regulated down to 5 psi from tank pressure by a hydrogen regulator, and then it will pass through the 5 micron orifice and through a ball valve. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">To detect neutrons, I will be using a much cheaper approach than the normal bubble dosimeter or a He-3 or B-10 tube. I will be using a cloud chamber to view proton recoil from neutrons as they pass through a hydrogenous moderator. The chamber will be lead shielded, allowing only strong cosmic rays and neutrons to pass into it. There will be a piece of LDPE inside the chamber to allow for the proton recoil to occur. Below is a picture of proton recoil tracks in a cloud chamber.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="Cloud4.jpg" src="http://www.fusor.net/board/getfile.php?bn=fusor_neutrons&att_id=1984" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>Tidbit77http://www.blogger.com/profile/12079640214150397890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9007753294652850117.post-47580708448371126792010-05-24T19:12:00.000-07:002010-07-09T20:31:25.638-07:00Fusor Update and Pictures<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sorry I haven't written for a while, but the science fair and school have completely consumed my life.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is just a quick update on the fusor. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am currently upgrading my vacuum system and and adding in a diffusion pump, which is a type of high vacuum pump used in series with a mechanical pump, this pump should allow me to reach pressures of less than 1 millitorr. I am also going to build a 50kV/5mA power supply, which should allow me to do fusion. I am also building a 6", spherical stainless steel chamber, complete with conflat high vacuum flanges, a nice high voltage feedthrough, an ion source operating off the magnetron principle, and a nice viewport.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recently, I also entered my fusor in the science fair as part of a project titled "Effects of an Outer Grid on an Inertial Electrostatically Confined Fusion Reactor", and I received many awards! </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I received the following awards:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mars Society Grand Prize</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1st Place in Physics at the District Science Fair</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">District Fair Grand Prize </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Superior Rating at Districts</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Akron Council of Engineering and Scientific Societies Grand Prize </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bridgestone America Best Physics Project</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2nd in Physics at NEOSEF</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Superior Rating at NEOSEF</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Office of Naval Research Naval Science Award</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">International Society of Automation Grand Prize</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Superior Rating and Perfect Score at Ohio State Science Fair (no prizes like 1st 2nd or 3rd were given out)</span></li>
</ul></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I also received a perfect score at states, meaning my work will be published in the Ohio Academy of Science's Publication. And I will attend a Junior Academy of Science Conference in D.C. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OkMGp1sbItM/S_sxvlTWMhI/AAAAAAAAAEI/OrC7wvfGcdY/s1600/IMG00311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OkMGp1sbItM/S_sxvlTWMhI/AAAAAAAAAEI/OrC7wvfGcdY/s320/IMG00311.jpg" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Me at states in front of my project</span></div><div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now for some pictures of the fusor, these were taken during, or just prior to, it's last run before being critically damaged. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OkMGp1sbItM/S_spmQH7vKI/AAAAAAAAADg/7lryuq--UUw/s1600/z.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OkMGp1sbItM/S_spmQH7vKI/AAAAAAAAADg/7lryuq--UUw/s320/z.JPG" /></span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This picture is my favorite, makes an excellent desktop background</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OkMGp1sbItM/S_srm_PDIqI/AAAAAAAAADo/Ay9gzZWU0pA/s1600/fusor+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OkMGp1sbItM/S_srm_PDIqI/AAAAAAAAADo/Ay9gzZWU0pA/s320/fusor+007.JPG" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another one of my favorites, camera is looking down an e-beam</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OkMGp1sbItM/S_ss7_kivYI/AAAAAAAAADw/q5qYv679PA4/s1600/grids+011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OkMGp1sbItM/S_ss7_kivYI/AAAAAAAAADw/q5qYv679PA4/s320/grids+011.JPG" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yet another of my favorites</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OkMGp1sbItM/S_stQHXKtDI/AAAAAAAAAD4/7KojSq3moM8/s1600/tinybigbugle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OkMGp1sbItM/S_stQHXKtDI/AAAAAAAAAD4/7KojSq3moM8/s320/tinybigbugle.jpg" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BIG bugle jet</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OkMGp1sbItM/S5w80f_qQdI/AAAAAAAAADQ/uqxa4-rDB6U/s1600-h/SUPERSTAR+016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OkMGp1sbItM/S5w80f_qQdI/AAAAAAAAADQ/uqxa4-rDB6U/s320/SUPERSTAR+016.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OkMGp1sbItM/S5w8N4qXalI/AAAAAAAAADA/rp666BqWhIs/s1600-h/SUPERSTAR+011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OkMGp1sbItM/S5w8N4qXalI/AAAAAAAAADA/rp666BqWhIs/s320/SUPERSTAR+011.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OkMGp1sbItM/S5w8fat48XI/AAAAAAAAADI/oNVz7L2v3CM/s1600-h/SUPERSTAR+022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OkMGp1sbItM/S5w8fat48XI/AAAAAAAAADI/oNVz7L2v3CM/s320/SUPERSTAR+022.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OkMGp1sbItM/S5w7z7q6QGI/AAAAAAAAAC4/anFQvO4RsXw/s1600-h/SUPERSTAR+026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OkMGp1sbItM/S5w7z7q6QGI/AAAAAAAAAC4/anFQvO4RsXw/s320/SUPERSTAR+026.JPG" /></a></div>Tidbit77http://www.blogger.com/profile/12079640214150397890noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9007753294652850117.post-22392767295576024842010-03-02T12:17:00.000-08:002010-03-02T12:18:53.109-08:00Video of the FusorHere's a video of the fusor running. I built a new rectifier and the NST can now exhibit its full potential.<br />
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<object width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/FJZGVHuh8Iw&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/FJZGVHuh8Iw&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="295"></embed></object>Tidbit77http://www.blogger.com/profile/12079640214150397890noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9007753294652850117.post-34633190726317550922010-02-24T14:40:00.000-08:002010-02-24T14:40:08.429-08:00How the Fusion Reactor WorksI have received many questions about how exactly my reactor operates so here is a post explaining it. I may make a video for those who more easily grasp concepts when images are provided.<br />
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The concept of fusor operation is much simpler in theory than in execution. Basically, I pump the bell jar down to a high vacuum, charge the inner electrode (outer one is grounded) to a high negative DC potential.<br />
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Field emmition from the grid causes the gas inside (air for non fusion, deuterium (2H) for fusion) the gas ions, as they are positively charged, are accelerated towards the negatively charged inner grid. They carry enough inertia to continue past the grid wires and collide in the center.<br />
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The remixing of ions and electrons creates the plasma discharge.Tidbit77http://www.blogger.com/profile/12079640214150397890noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9007753294652850117.post-4546805025199845562010-02-22T15:44:00.000-08:002010-02-22T15:44:31.289-08:00No more Fusor for a little while/What's coming up.Sorry, but there won't be many fusor posts for the next week or two due to some minute electronics issues. However, my CDV-700 geiger counter is on it's way, and I plan to do a review on it.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OkMGp1sbItM/S4MWxve6M4I/AAAAAAAAACE/TQGOWM7eWLg/s1600-h/rectifier+fryification+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OkMGp1sbItM/S4MWxve6M4I/AAAAAAAAACE/TQGOWM7eWLg/s320/rectifier+fryification+003.JPG" /></a></div>Here is a recent pic of the plasma star.Tidbit77http://www.blogger.com/profile/12079640214150397890noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9007753294652850117.post-8038106456154891032010-02-22T07:52:00.000-08:002010-02-22T07:52:06.862-08:00Star Mode-Achieved!Finally, with a new grid based off of interlocking washers, I have achieved "star mode" from my fusor. This occurs when plasma jets, electron, and ion beams emanate from the plasma at many points inside the inner grid.<br />
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The ground fault protection on my neon sign transformer fires rapidly (I desperately need a new NST) when operating in this mode, rendering it hard to get a good picture of this. My best efforts are shown below.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OkMGp1sbItM/S4KnOAe-6xI/AAAAAAAAABc/zLwXp4m7fwE/s1600-h/STARMODE!!+008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OkMGp1sbItM/S4KnOAe-6xI/AAAAAAAAABc/zLwXp4m7fwE/s320/STARMODE!!+008.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OkMGp1sbItM/S4KngXFQYfI/AAAAAAAAABk/JwIJhgYc8zM/s1600-h/STARMODE!!+024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OkMGp1sbItM/S4KngXFQYfI/AAAAAAAAABk/JwIJhgYc8zM/s320/STARMODE!!+024.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OkMGp1sbItM/S4KnuxX8TSI/AAAAAAAAABs/xRa9cU49Ia4/s1600-h/STARMODE!!+026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OkMGp1sbItM/S4KnuxX8TSI/AAAAAAAAABs/xRa9cU49Ia4/s320/STARMODE!!+026.JPG" /></a></div>Tidbit77http://www.blogger.com/profile/12079640214150397890noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9007753294652850117.post-1471623161191035502010-02-13T19:47:00.000-08:002010-02-13T19:47:16.537-08:00New Inner Grids!<div style="text-align: center;">Here are some new inner grids I made:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OkMGp1sbItM/S3dxTqYMYjI/AAAAAAAAABM/WoXYIWm7UeU/s1600-h/new+fusor+grid+039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OkMGp1sbItM/S3dxTqYMYjI/AAAAAAAAABM/WoXYIWm7UeU/s320/new+fusor+grid+039.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Heres a nice spiral torus shaped grid</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OkMGp1sbItM/S3dyJf2eIBI/AAAAAAAAABU/o9Wn4X5PQXc/s1600-h/valentines+day+fusor+009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OkMGp1sbItM/S3dyJf2eIBI/AAAAAAAAABU/o9Wn4X5PQXc/s320/valentines+day+fusor+009.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">And, because of valentine's day, why not a heart shaped grid.</div>Tidbit77http://www.blogger.com/profile/12079640214150397890noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9007753294652850117.post-1670942051106200792010-02-09T19:16:00.000-08:002010-02-09T19:16:44.705-08:00Fusion Reactor's First Light!<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OkMGp1sbItM/S3IZIkQszxI/AAAAAAAAAAk/Egjx9NBNUNE/s1600-h/More+fusor+016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OkMGp1sbItM/S3IZIkQszxI/AAAAAAAAAAk/Egjx9NBNUNE/s320/More+fusor+016.JPG" /></a>After about 1000 hours of work and research, halon fire extinguisher in hand, donning my lead jacket...I flipped the variac's power switch, turned its knob, turned the ground fault protection off, and frankly, much to my surprise, a brilliant glow of blue plasma appeared. Yup, it works. The next step after this is to move on to fusion by upping the input voltage and building a deuterium injection system. To find out more about how this type of reactor works go here: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fusor">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fusor</a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OkMGp1sbItM/S3IfiyQ8arI/AAAAAAAAAAs/9iq_PY4-K_0/s1600-h/Fusor3.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OkMGp1sbItM/S3IfiyQ8arI/AAAAAAAAAAs/9iq_PY4-K_0/s320/Fusor3.bmp" /></a></div>Heres a picture of the fusor's control panel<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OkMGp1sbItM/S3IgjrWDpDI/AAAAAAAAAA0/yaxcm3vD3mE/s1600-h/fusorstuff+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OkMGp1sbItM/S3IgjrWDpDI/AAAAAAAAAA0/yaxcm3vD3mE/s320/fusorstuff+002.JPG" /></a></div>Here are the oil filled cylinder's containing the circuit boards..in this picture they aren't completely hooked up.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OkMGp1sbItM/S3IlAlLqdyI/AAAAAAAAABE/ZFvPK4XwY1Q/s1600-h/More+fusor+018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OkMGp1sbItM/S3IlAlLqdyI/AAAAAAAAABE/ZFvPK4XwY1Q/s320/More+fusor+018.JPG" /></a></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OkMGp1sbItM/S3Ikv-VUsAI/AAAAAAAAAA8/tMK3vAn7xVw/s1600-h/fusor+test+light.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OkMGp1sbItM/S3Ikv-VUsAI/AAAAAAAAAA8/tMK3vAn7xVw/s320/fusor+test+light.JPG" /></a><br />
Here are more pictures of the plasma:Tidbit77http://www.blogger.com/profile/12079640214150397890noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9007753294652850117.post-3009294090001957722010-01-12T17:16:00.000-08:002010-01-12T17:36:39.555-08:00The Rubberband MinigunI build this a couple summers ago just for kicks, to challenge myself. It is a 6+ foot long minigun (gatling gun) that shoots industrial sized rubber bands at rates of up to 60 bands a second. Theoretically, it can hold 2000-3000 rubber bands, but, for the sake of my sanity, this has not been tested (reloading is a slow process). The gun works by stretching rubber bands around pegs with a slot in them and then running a ribbon through the slot, when the ribbon is spooled in, the barrel spins, and the ribbon is pulled out of the slot, thus firing the rubber band. The gun Is powered by a cordless drill.<br />
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<object width="320" height="265"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/oKtMcLEL4I0&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/oKtMcLEL4I0&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="320" height="265"></embed></object>Tidbit77http://www.blogger.com/profile/12079640214150397890noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9007753294652850117.post-43302209926429167792010-01-12T14:44:00.000-08:002010-01-12T14:45:08.815-08:00Coming Soon!I am in the middle of building a Farnsworth Fusion Reactor. I will get around to posting it soon, I am a bit delayed in my projects because midterms are fast approaching. In the meantime, to learn more about what exactly this is, visit <a href="http://www.fusor.net/">www.fusor.net</a>.Tidbit77http://www.blogger.com/profile/12079640214150397890noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9007753294652850117.post-22931731163866061882010-01-12T14:35:00.000-08:002010-01-12T15:23:16.132-08:0010' Air CannonWell, I figured I might as well start this blag off with a quite literal bang. This is an air cannon I made about a year ago that fires projectiles at 800 feet per second. The barrel is 10' of either 1.5" or 2.5" PVC pipe and the chamber is a total of 10' of 4" PVC pipe (All the components on the cannon are<b> pressure rated). </b>This cannon doesn't use a ball valve or any other slow opening valve to fire, instead it uses a <a href="http://www.spudfiles.com/forums/piston-valves-explained-visually-t8157.html">chamber sealing piston valve</a> to quickly dump the air pressurized to 120 psi in the chambers out the barrel. The effects of all this energy imparted on a tennis ball or arrow are quite substantial, as evidenced by the video below.(+1 Internets if you caught the XKCD reference.)<br />
<object height="295" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/aVyo9IeNmbk&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/aVyo9IeNmbk&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="295"></embed></object>Tidbit77http://www.blogger.com/profile/12079640214150397890noreply@blogger.com1