SBIR-STTR Award

A practical design for a photoneutralized beam of neutral atoms formed from negative ions would contribute substantially toward current research aimed at making magnetic fusion a viable source of energy. In this process, negative deuterium ions are accelerated and stripped of extra electrons in the laser resonator. A critical determinant of the energy efficiency of the most promising photoneutralization system is the performance of chemical recycling processes needed to sustain the continuous production of 02(1[delta]) for an oxygen-iodine chemical laser. The goal of this project is to estimate the efficiency and cost for reacting H202, NaOH, and Cl2 to produce about 200 to 500 kW of 02(1[delta]) and then regenerating the reactants. Reaction conditions will be reviewed to suggest process modifications for continuous operation and to improve the net energetic efficiency of the chemical recycling plant. Energy reduction concepts to be explored include, for example: modifying reaction conditions to reduce refrigeration, vacuum pumping, and ancillary energy use; using part of the available brine to extract H202 from the 2-ethyl anthraquinone solution after the oxidation step, and storing a brine containing 25% H202 for recycle; introducing one or more perfluorosulfinated cation exchange membrane cells, and changes in the reaction sequence and conditions. Promising alternatives will be discussed and recommendations for testing a laboratory prototype will be made.The potential applications as described by the company: Primary benefits of this research would be improved energy efficiency estimates and in Phase II a prototype process. A feasible, efficient, and continuous chemical recycling process is critical to the chemical laser photoneutralization concept for processes for H202, Cl2 and for 02('A) production magnetic fusion. Small-scale commercial chemical could also benefit.

Laser photoneutralization is a desirable technique to convert high energy negative ions to neutral beams for potential use in magnetic fusion reactors. A critical determinant of the energy efficiency of the most promising photoneutralization system is the performance of chemical recycling processes needed to sustain the continuous production of 02('A) which provides the excitation energy for the oxygen-iodine chemical laser. In this project conditions for continuously reacting H20 NAOH, and C12 to produce from about 5 to 5OOkW of 02(lA) and for regenerating the reactants will be evaluated. (This rate corresponds to an estimated fusion electric power plant output of approximately 20 MW to 2 GW.) Estimates of net energetic efficiencies will be verified at laboratory scale $. and two potentially continuous processes for generating 02(lA) at higher thermodynamic efficiency than current batch processes will be tiisted at a 3 millimole/sec production rate. Both a modification of a currently used batch singlet oxygen generator and a novel, more efficient singlet oxygen generator conceived in Phase I should be capable of continuous operation. Approximate capital and operating costs for the chemical recycling plant have been estimated in Phase I to be relatively small compared to the costs of an electric power plant. More detailed designs and laboratory-scale tests for the new methods of excited singlet oxygen generation are warranted based on the processes developed in the Phase I research.Anticipated Results/

Potential Commercial Applications:
Of all the methods for forming high-energy neutral beams, photoneutralization of negative ions using an oxygen-iodine laser appears most attractive. Current processes for O,)(1 @ generation are not continuous, are thermodynamically inefficient, and would @roduce large quantities of waste products. The two new processes to be tested at laboratory scale appear capable of providing continuous 02(l A) efficiently. The new processes are critical to the photoneutralizafion concept for magnetic fusion and could have commercial applications for both chemical oxygen-iodine lasers and for chemical processes for 02( 16) production.