Backyard Nuclear Fusion

Steps to Ensure Safety:

1.    Clear Fusor room, make sure that everyone is aware that the fusor is going to be turned on and that no one, except the operator, will enter the fusion room.

2.    Ensure that the master switch is locked out, all wiring is safe, secure and attached properly, as well as that the wiring  to the grounding system is connected correctly.  The PVC tube must also be checked to make sure that it is connected securely to both the HV output from the power supply and the HV feed through.

3.    Activate the LED switch indicating that the HV will be turned on as well as the LED indicating that radiation will be produced. Have all four of the blinking LEDs inside and outside of the fusor room turned on will ensure that no one will go into the fusor room once the fusor is on.

4.    After the fusor room is cleared and the LED lights are on, a solo operative will go into the fusor room. The solo operative will turn the vacuum gauges on, ensure that the fore line valve is closed, turn the mechanical pump on and plumb the fore line connection. As soon as the fore line connection is plumbed, the throttle valve will be opened and the diffusion pump and chamber will be plumbed down to 1.5 * 10^-2 torr (15 microns). When this is achieved, the diffusion pump will be turned on the and the chamber pressure will be plumbed down to its ultimate chamber level of below one micron. Once the fusor achieves less than 10^-3 torr (1 micron) the main bellows valve between the vacuum system and chamber will be closed. Deuterium will be released into the chamber by opening the regulator valve releasing the deuterium from its container, followed by the needle valve which controls the deuterium flow rate to precision. This causes the pressure to rise and at ten to fifteen microns the operator will close the needle valve to stop the flow. The operative will then exit and lock the fusor room, return to the control room, unlock the master switch and the high voltage will be activated, beginning the fusion reactions.

5.    Once the high voltage is on, x-rays will be produced. At voltages under 35kV, no x-rays will be able to pass through the stainless-steel chamber, only the viewport and HV feed through, both of which will be covered with lead plates to stop the x-rays. At voltages, higher than 35kV, x-rays do begin to pass through the chamber and lead must be applied to cover the entire chamber. For all periods of testing and for the first period of data analysis, we will only be experimenting with voltages under 35kV, lead will be needed only around the viewport and HV feed through. As we enter the secondary data analysis period we will raise our voltage testing levels above 35kV and more lead shielding will be used.

6.    After operation is complete the fusor and LEDs must be entirely turned off, the high voltage supply must be shut down, master switch locked out and leads unplugged from any inputs so no electricity is flowing through the device. The safety lockout system will be locked. Once the right precautions have been taken to ensure all equipment is turned off, the doors to the control and fusor rooms must be locked.