The Plasma Accelerator

Helion's plasma accelerator raises fusion fuel to 100 million degrees Celsius and directly extracts electricity with a high-efficiency pulsed approach.

Formation

Deuterium and helium-3 fuel is heated to plasma conditions. Magnets confine this plasma in a Field Reversed Configuration (FRC).

Acceleration

Magnets accelerate two FRCs to 1 million mph from opposite ends of the 40-foot accelerator. They collide in the center.

Compression

When the FRCs collide in the center of the system, they are further compressed by a powerful magnetic field until they reach fusion temperatures of 100 million degrees Celsius.

Fusion

At this temperature, the deuterium and helium-3 ions are moving fast enough to overcome the forces that would otherwise keep them apart and they fuse. This releases more energy than is consumed by the fusion process. As new fusion energy is created, the plasma expands.

Electricity Recapture

As the plasma expands, it pushes back on the magnetic field. By Faraday's law, the change in field induces current, which is directly recaptured as electricity. This clean fusion electricity is used to power homes and communities, efficiently and affordably.

Helion's patents

Advanced fuel cycle and fusion reactors utilizing the same

Advanced D-3He fuel cycle for a pulsed fusion reactor

Apparatus, systems, and methods for fusion based power generation and engine thrust generation

Apparatus and methods for generating a pulsating, high-strength magnetic field

Cartridge apparatuses for electrical interconnection

Energy recovery in electrical systems

High-speed switching apparatus for electromagnetic coils

Inertially-damped segmented coils for generating high magnetic fields

Hybrid gettering diffusion pump

Method and apparatus for the generation, heating and/or compression of plasmoids and/or recovery of energy therefrom

Monolithic high field magnets for plasma target compression

Powering the future

Helion's 6th fusion prototype, Trenta, has confirmed what we've always known is possible - fusion energy will be the ultimate source of zero-carbon electricity in the near future.