1. Focus Fusion:
Transformative Energy Technology
Major LPP Milestones:
2009 - Focus Fusion 1 device becomes operational; LPP granted US Patent
#7,482,607 for key technologies.
2010 - LPP achieves record relative fusion yields for DPF devices.
2012 - LPP device achieves record plasma confinement at 1.8 billion degrees.
Scientific paper published in Physics of Plasmas journal is that year’s most
read paper.
LPP is a high-tech R&D company working towards low cost, clean fusion
energy using a Dense Plasma Focus device and fuel which creates no
radioactive waste. LPP originated and patented this “Focus Fusion”
approach and is conducting research to prove its feasibility.
Lawrenceville Plasma Physics, Inc
2. What is Focus Fusion?
What is Fusion?
Key Concepts to Understand LPPs Patented Focus Fusion
Technology and Business Plans
What is a Dense Plasma Focus?
It’s LPPs approach to controlled nuclear fusion using a Dense Plasma Focus device
and Hydrogen – Boron fuel. These fuse aneutronically to release only charged
particles, but NO neutrons or radioactivity.
A dense plasma focus (DPF) is a machine that releases stored energy instantly
through a set of electrodes to produce a short-lived plasma, hot and dense enough
to produce and sustain nuclear fusion.
It’s the energy source of our sun and all stars. The power that drives the Universe
and supports all Life.
What is a Plasma?
A plasma is produced when a gas is ionized into a mix of positively charged ions
and negatively charged electrons. Plasmas are very electrically conductive so
they react strongly to electromagnetic fields. Magnetic fields form structures in
plasmas like filaments and beams.
3. LPP Dense Plasma Focus Plasma ‘Pinch’
Plasma filaments coalesce into a tiny magnetic pinch inside the hollow end of
the central anode. This is where plasma temperature and density reach
levels where fusion reactions can occur and produce fusion energy.
4. Key Benefits to LPP Fusion using Aneutronic Fuel
• Power systems are physically small yet
produce high electric output
• Direct conversion of fusion energy to
electricity
• Design simplicity, small size and direct
conversion = ultra low cost to deliver
decentralized electric power to grid
• Abundant fuel: Hydrogen and Boron
• Ecologically safe, NO radioactive waste p + 11B → 3 4He + 8.7 MeV
5. LPP Business Plan Road Map
Phase I:
Build on progress of past 3 years and continue enhancing LPPs DPF research device
Focus Fusion – 1 until it has achieved Fusion Breakeven Milestone.
With adequate funding LPP projects net fusion output in 1 – 2 years. Having proved
feasibility, assemble grants and investment capital to fund Phase II.
Phase II:
Expand staff and facilities and begin engineering development of a prototype
continuously operating Focus Fusion generator. Contract out some system
development to engineering companies with best in class expertise in necessary
technologies. Add to patents/intellectual property. Estimated duration 3 – 4 years.
Phase III:
Negotiate non exclusive licensing agreements with several large international high tech
companies to manufacture LPP design fusion power units. LPP will provide consulting
services to licensees as they refine their commercial designs prior to mass production.
At some time in Phase III LPP expects to engage an investment bank to manage an Initial
Public Offering (IPO).
6. LPP Phase I Goal: Proving “Focus Fusion” Can Work by Reaching
the Fusion Breakeven Milestone and Net Energy Production
A Forbes magazine article in March 2013 commented:
"Nuclear fusion power plants, in theory, can provide clean, safe, cheap and
ubiquitous power.... Several national labs and (private) companies are working
toward the same goal. If anyone achieves it, the rewards will be billions in profits and
scientific immortality."
Pictured at Left
The electrodes at the heart of Focus
Fusion-1, just five inches across.
If LPP can reach Fusion Breakeven, it
will attract grants and large scale
investments to fund development of a
commercial prototype fusion generator.
Breakeven is when plasmas in a fusion device release at least as much energy as is
required to produce them. Fusion breakeven has been the goal of fusion research
programs for 30+ years. Reaching it will bring world wide attention.
7. Q: Wait a minute! How can a small company based in New Jersey reach
Fusion Breakeven in just another year or two, when Government financed
Tokomaks and Laser Fusion Projects have not yet succeeded?
A: Because LPP is developing a far more practical and inexpensive fusion approach. An
approach consistent with how hot plasmas behave throughout nature. Tokomaks must
stabilize and control naturally unstable plasmas. 30 years along and they are still trying!
LPP Focus Fusion in contrast leverages and exploits a series of naturally occurring plasma
instabilities to funnel 2 MA of electric current into a tiny magnetic pinch already proven
to produce plasma temperatures of 1.8 billion degrees C.
By using hydrogen boron as fuel, continuously running LPP fusion generators will be
ultra low cost, because the fusion energy produced can be directly converted to electric
power without expensive steam turbines and generators and with NO radioactivity.
Eric Lerner, LPP’s President and Chief Scientist, has worked with Dense Plasma Focus
machines for 25 years and has refined and extended the theoretical understanding of
how they can produce the high plasma temperature, density and duration needed to
fuse hydrogen and boron.
The longer Investor Power Point presentation includes slides with more details on why
LPP is on track to succeed where larger efforts have failed.
8. LPP Plasma Science, Experiments and Papers Judged to
be Sound by Highly Qualified Fusion Review Committee
• The committee concluded the LPPs research deserves “ a much higher level
of investment, … based on … progress to date”. The report concludes that
LPPs approach to power “ is worthy of a considerable expansion of effort”.
Assessment Findings:
In November, 2013 a committee of senior fusion researchers, led by Dr. Robert
Hirsch, former director of fusion research for the US Atomic energy Commission and the
Energy Research and Development Agency met with LPP research team and reviewed all
aspects of LPPs plasma fusion science and experimental results from it’s DPF device.
• The committee also found that: ”While a number of near-term physics issues
remain to be resolved, it is likely that with adequate financial support these
matters could be addressed in a relatively short period of time “ If addressed,
“the committee does not see any fundamental roadblock to power system
viability”.
9. • Prediction: Smaller electrodes increase DPF yield
Confirmed: LPPs 2010 JOFE paper shows FF-1 yield above others at same current
• Prediction: DPF can reach temperatures needed for pB11 fusion
Confirmed: 2012 Phys. Of Plasmas paper – 1.8 billion degrees achieved
• Prediction: Fusion in DPF produced by trapped ions, not ion beam passing through
Confirmed: 2012 Phys. Of Plasmas paper – symmetric neutron production shown
• Prediction: Fusion reactions in DPF will scale exponentially (5th power) with
increasing current
Confirmed: Experimental results in 2012 verified fusion output increases at the
expected 5th power of input current
Next Steps to Achieve Fusion Breakeven Milestone:
Enhancements planned to LPP research device in 2014 will greatly increase electric
current forming the magnetic pinches. Having already verified the exponential effect
of higher current on fusion output, makes LPP confident these planned enhancements
will increase fusion output many fold starting in early 2014.
LPP Predictions Confirmed:
LPP theoretical insights into DPF plasma physics have so far been
proven correct by results from its FF-1 experimental device
10. Phase 2 Goal: 5 MW Focus Fusion Generator
Low cost direct conversion of fusion energy to electric power. Induction coil type
device converts energy in + charged ion beam. Concentric thin conducting layers
around core convert energy from fusion reaction X rays. NO steam turbine or
generator is needed to yield electric power. Reactor never becomes radioactive .
11. LPP Fusion Cost Advantage Over Other Power Sources
12 Times Less Than Lowest Cost Conventional Source *
Adv. Gas - 6.71 cents /KWh
SOURCE: US Energy Information Agency (Gas, Coal, Wind)
Wind Power - 8.66 /Kwh
Coal - 10 cents/Kwh
LPP Fusion Power - .5 cent/KWh
* LPP Fusion est. based on 20 year total costs for mass produced 5MW plants
12. World Carbon Dioxide Emissions Are Projected to Increase By 46% by 2030 *
* U.S. Energy Information Administration International Energy Outlook 2013
Renewable sources are NOT projected to displace fossil fuel
use quickly enough to halt continued grown of CO2
emissions – much less reduce or displace them.
Low Cost of Clean LPP Fusion Power Will Have Huge Environmental Benefits
13. .Latest Climate Reports Say C02 Emissions Must be Reduced Over Next
20 – 30 Years to Avert Worst Case Climate Change Scenarios *
* Citations from US EIA International Energy Outlook 2013 and 2013 IPCC Climate Change Report
• “The United States Energy Information Administration forecasts that global
energy consumption will grow 56 percent between now and 2040. Almost 80
percent of that energy demand will be satisfied by fossil fuels.
• Only truly clean power far less costly than existing sources and able to be mass
produced, can displace fossil fuels quickly enough to level off World CO2
emissions and bring them down over the next several decades.
• Displacing fossil fuels with clean fusion energy can help prevent run away global
warming and hardships from extreme weather, drought, sea level rise, etc.
LPPs patented fusion power generation approach can be mass produced at costs
12 times less expensive than ANY fossil fuel source. Market economics will drive
fusion to displace fossil fuels - quickly enough to reduce drastic climate change
impact and deliver growing licensing fees to LPP and its stock holders as companies
rapidly increase production of LPP design fusion power units.
14. Projected LPP Fusion Units Production Ramp Up Over 10 Years
Assumptions:
1. Several major manufactures will license from LPP and mass produce units, ramping
production volume each year.
2. Licensing in place by 2018. Manufacturers take 3 years for commercial designs and to
build first manufacturing plants.
3. First commercial sales at low volume begin in 2021. Manufacturers build out production
facilities rapidly to capture market share.
LPP Fusion Power Cost Advantage over All Other Sources Will Propel
Rapid Scale Up of Production by Manufacturers Licensing from LPP
15. Quickly Ramping Production of LPP Design Fusion Units to Replace
High C02 Sources Can Decrease World CO2 Emissions in Time
Year
5MW Units
Produced
Cumulative
Total Installed
Mega Watts
Total Cumulative
CO2 Savings vs Coal
(Billion Metric Tons)
2021 1,500 7500 0.07
2022 3,000 22,500 0.22
2023 6,000 52,500 0.51
2024 9,000 97,500 0.94
2025 15,000 172,500 1.67
2026 21,000 277,500 2.69
2027 27,000 412,500 4.00
2028 33,000 577,500 5.59
2029 39,000 772,500 7.48
2030 45,000 997,500 9.66
16. Change in Global Energy Mix by 2030 From Displacing
1 Terawatt of Coal with Clean LPP Fusion
U.S. Energy Information Administration International Energy Outlook 2013
17. CO2 Impact If 1 Terawatt of Coal was Displaced with LPP Fusion by 2030
U.S. Energy Information Administration International Energy Outlook 2013
Continued ramping of Fusion Power System production beyond 2030
can displace additional Coal, Oil and Natural Gas burned for power.
Continuing the downward trend of lower CO2 emissions after 2030.
18. A Plasma Physicist and Investor Endorses LPP Fusion
Notes on Focus Fusion 1-14-13
by Dr. Timothy E. Eastman, PhD plasma physicist - Silver Spring, Maryland
My background is in plasma physics with a specialty in space plasmas, including studies
of solar-terrestrial relations, planetary magnetospheres, and space weather. After
serving as Program Director for space plasma research nationwide at both NASA HQ (’85-
’88) and NSF (’91-’94), I created the Web site plasmas.org (’94 & later) that provides
information about all area of plasma science and applications.
A basic reason why LPP has made such outstanding progress so quickly is that they
teamed up with “mother nature” and simply added a few special “tricks” to amplify
nature’s approach.
I’m very confident that my investment is well worth it, both as a financial investment
with serious consideration of its potential return on investment, and as a scientific and
moral commitment to a very important option towards truly long-term energy (with
essentially no negative environmental impact) for the benefit of all humanity.