Some Unsolved Challenges In Radio-Frequency Heating and Current Drive

Microwave and Radio Frequency Heating

Progress in ITER Heating and Current Drive System

Recent progress in the R&D and the design work of plasma heating and current drive (H&CD) technologies for ITER are described. The H&CD systems are composed of 20 MW electron cyclotron (EC), 20 MW ion cyclotron (IC) and 33 MW negative ion based neutral beam (N-NB) systems, and design and R&D work continues for plasma commissioning. Significant progress in R&D during the preceding two years has ...

Sterilization of Foodstuffs Using Radio Frequency Heating

A study was conducted with a pilot-scale sterilization system based on 27-MHz radio frequency (RF) energy to investigate the effectiveness in shortening process time and in improving quality for foods sealed in 6pound military-ration polymeric trays. Chemical marker M-1 was used to evaluate heating uniformity in 20% whey protein gels as a model food, and macaroni and cheese was processed to ass...

Spectral Effects on Fast Wave Core Heating and Current Drive

RF heating and current drive is an essential component in most magnetic fusion devices, including ITER. Recent results obtained with high harmonic fast wave (HHFW) heating and current drive (CD) on NSTX strongly support the hypothesis that the onset of perpendicular fast wave propagation right at or very near the launcher is a primary cause for reduced core heating efficiency at long wavelength...

The Viability of Oil Extraction from Trinidad Tar Sands by Radio Frequency Heating: A Simulation Approach

Trinidad has tar sand resources of about 2 billion barrels of oil on land in the Parrylands/Guapo and Brighton areas. With an oil price of over USD 25 per barrel, the commercial extraction of oil from Trinidad tar sands is viable, but it requires a careful study. The relatively small extent of this tar sand (about 10,000 acres and with depths varying from surface to less than 500 feet) and with...