This is a very preliminary engineering design of a new direct energy conversion device for use in conjunction with a mirror fusion reactor. The device described re claims the energy lost by the reactor through leakage of charged particles. Energy selection is accomplished through the angular dependence of transmission through a system of ribbon grids resembling a venetian blind. In contrast to previously described converters in which the beam of ions from the reactor is expanded in a flat fan like expander, the beam in this device is ex panded in two directions in a conical expander. Prob lems of grid construction, radiation damage, grid heat ing, and vacuum pumping are discussed. A preliminary cost estimate shows that for a power han dled of 1000 MW, the cost for the direct converter is 110 million or 110 per kW of power into the direct converter. The e ciency is estimated to be 59 for a two state collector and 65 for a four stage collector. Further development of the basic concept could possi bly raise the e ciency to as high as 75. Optimized designs might increase the power handled by a factor of several without significantly increasing the unit cost, thus greatly lowering the cost/kW.

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