Focus Fusion: Transformative Energy Technology
Lawrenceville Plasma Physics, Inc. Derek Shannon | [email protected] | http://LPPhysics.com Focus Fusion: Transformative Energy Technology
Lawrenceville Plasma Physics, Inc. Derek Shannon| [email protected] | http://LPPhysics.com Investor Highlights
• Market: Baseload electric generation – Valuable spin-offs in NDI, medical isotopes • Best results with most capital efficient tech – $2M+ into facility opened 2009, record fusion yields • Closest to game-changing breakthrough – <$2M, this year, straightforward engineering • Proven team – 50+ years biz/tech experience, with unique expertise • US/Oz patent issued, worldwide pending • Strong shareholder’s agreement, traction – 40 private investors, with Abell Foundation • Exit: IPO or buy back upon commercialization
Competition illustrates key advantages for LPP
TriAlpha, Polywell, LPP Aneutronic fusion
Nat’l Ignition Facility, Iter, General Fusion D-T fusion
B&W mPower, NuScale, Terrapower, Areva Fission Aneutronic: No neutrons → No $$$ turbines • Direct conversion to electricity • Large reduction in costs • Abundant fuel: – Hydrogen and Boron
Safe, nothing to run away NO radioactive waste Worth a try, goshdarnit! What is Focus Fusion?
Controlled Nuclear Fusion using Dense Plasma Focus + Hydrogen-Boron (Aneutronic) Fuel But is Focus Fusion HOT?
Yes, A patented, low-cost approach…
…backed by peer-reviewed research This beam means business
Meet Focus Fusion – 1
• 12 capacitor bank • Stored energy – 115 kJ • Capacitor potential – 45 kV • Goal peak current >2 MA • Pressure <5% atmosphere • Key Features: – Small electrodes for mega-amp DPF – 5 cm cathode, 2.8 cm anode – Axial field coil
10 Innovation on the shoulders of giants • Rich body of DPF • 2009: LPP Focus Fusion-1 scientific literature lab begins experiments since invention in ‘60’s • Testing our key • Dozens of research innovations to groups worldwide demonstrate scientific – X-ray/neutron applications feasibility of focus fusion – US teams at KSU, NSTec
Optimal Accurate Efficient angular beam momentum DPF capture
QMF to model reduce X- Efficient X-ray rays capture Innovation at the heart of FoFu-1
Anode
Cathode
AFC coil
Drift tube • Time of flight neutron/X-ray detectors • Time of flight ion beam detectors (Rogowski coils) Silver activation detector • Bubble detectors
12 Goal product: 5 MW Focus Fusion generator Lower projected cost than any other energy tech $60/kW, .2 cents/kW-hr The Product
5 MW Generator • Clean • Inexpensive • Safe • Compact Pulsed power makes it possible
• Inherent safety • Brief confinement US Patent #7,482,607 (2009) Method and apparatus for producing x-rays, ion beams and nuclear fusion energy Record relative fusion yields
January 2011 Focus Fusion ready to extend lead
Dinosaurs ready for disruption!
NIF - lasers ITER - tokamak 30 years, $30 billion, not designed to produce power LPP leads the clean fusion race
LPP!
w/<$1M Goal conditions machine for energy $8M breakthrough! Bussard polywell Princeton Tokamak
Competition $100M+ Paul Allen/Tri-Alpha ICOPS 2011: LPP’s FoFu-1 leads NIF The challenges: Two down, one to go
Enough heat
Enough time
Density: On track for 2012 Local, international media take note Fast track to commercialization
Next: Achieve high densities with commercial fuel $1M / 1 yr – conclude scientific feasibility $38M / 4 yrs – for commercial generator Timeline for Total Energy Transformation
Example: Tesla Model S, 1st year (2012) production 5-7k vehicles Example: 2M total EV’s in 2014
2016: Mass manufacture 2015-2016: with worldwide JV Commercial partners and licensees prototype 2012-2013: Scientific demo
They’ll stack! Huge Market Potential
Tesla S launch year equivalent 5,000 FoFu units: 25GW; 1/100th 2014 global EV equivalent 20,000 FoFu units: 100 GW
“Chindia” price: the price at which India and China would adapt a technology for economic reasons. “Everything’s a toy until it reaches that point” –Vinod Khosla Team
• Eric Lerner, President and Chief Scientist – 28 years in plasma physics research – 2 patents, papers, Google TechTalk • Aaron Blake, CFO/Chief mechanic – MBA, 2 start-ups, 9 years USAF officer, patent • Derek Shannon, Bus. Development/Lab Coordinator – Caltech, USC; tech commercialization and space policy • Off-site/part-time – Fred von Roessel, electrical engineer, IEEE lifetime – Dr. John Guillory, GMU Prof. Emeritus – Dr. Warwick Dumas, simulation lead, UK – Dr. John Thompson, leading pulsed power expert – Ivana Karamitsos, IT – Grad students M. Ismail and A. Mohamed, Kansas State • Active Board of Advisors • Focus Fusion Society: Nonprofit outreach/education Questions?
http://LPPhysics.com | [email protected] Investor Highlights
• Market: Baseload electric generation – Valuable spin-offs in NDI, medical isotopes • Best results with most capital efficient tech – $2M+ into facility opened 2009, record fusion yields • Closest to game-changing breakthrough – <$2M, this year, straightforward engineering • Proven team – 50+ years biz/tech experience, with unique expertise • US/Oz patent issued, worldwide pending • Strong shareholder’s agreement, traction – 40 private investors, with Abell Foundation • Exit: IPO or buy back upon commercialization