In the 1980s while visiting the USS Pampanito in San Francisco as a graduate student, Jim Connell wondered if the concept of submarines’ opposed-piston diesel engines could apply to fusion.
Recently, the fruits of that inspiration that eventually led to Connell’s U.S. patent, “System of Converging Plasma Pistons,” were recognized by the Boston Intellectual Property Association at its 14th Annual Invented Here! event.
For Connell, it honored his groundbreaking exploration, marked a milestone in his career—and potentially, in the future of energy production.
“This is high-risk, high-reward research,” says Connell, ?whose primary research at UNH is measuring energetic particle radiation in space. “My goal is determining if this invention can lead to practical power or not, but this is not something a lone scientist can do. If the award helps by raising the concept’s profile, I will be thrilled.”
Connell’s work offers a fresh approach to magnetic confinement fusion, a process that mimics the energy production of stars. In his system, two plasma "pistons" compress and heat a “target plasma,” creating conditions necessary for nuclear fusion.
Connell calls it, somewhat tongue-in-cheek, a “thermonuclear diesel” ?in recognition of its origins and, if successful, the technology could generate immense energy without the long-lived radioactive waste of traditional nuclear reactors, offering a cleaner, safer path to reducing carbon emissions.
Though the specific research was not part of his regular “day job” that often aims to develop new and innovative space instrumentation, the lingering curiosity of the submarine visit stayed with Connell. In 2014, Connell discovered the idea was uncharted territory and pursued it, often on weekends and evenings, before being awarded the patent in August of 2023. With assistance from UNH Innovation, he submitted two patents with the other currently patent pending.
“I am deeply grateful to UNH Innovation for treating this seriously knowing it might not work, but that the rewards would be huge if it does,” says Connell.
The patent granted is listed as US 11,744,002 B2, while the patent pending is U.S. 2024/0015876 A1.
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Written By:
Brooks Payette | College of Engineering and Physical Sciences
