Capacitive, magnetic, and inertial energy storage and high power switching

Many experimental fusion devices can extract energy directly from the power line, but others must store it temporarily, delivering it finally at a power level far in excess of that available from the utility line. Development work has been carried out at LASL on three different energy storage and delivery systems of this kind, which are designed for use in theta-pinch fusion devices. These can be classified as capacitive, inductive, and inertial systems. We present some of the key features of these systems, compare their economic and technical merits, and discuss those elements of their designs which are most important when a choice must be made between them.