US3816771A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Plasma energy to electrical energy converter
Assignee: United States Atomic Energy Commission
•
Filing: 1973-02-09
•
Granted: 1974-06-11
•
Expires: 1993-02-09
Abstract
Abstract Plasma from a fusion reactor is directed along a straight-line path and then converted directly to electrical energy by means of a plurality of parallel arrays of ''''venetian blind'''' collector grids, the planes of the arrays being mutually parallel and transverse to the plasma path. A relatively low retarding potential is applied to the first collector grid array for collecting low-energy ions, while successively higher retarding potentials are applied to each succeeding grid array for collecting ions of corresponding higher energy. The angles of the ''''venetian blind'''' grid arrays are adjusted to make them highly transparent to oncoming particles and highly opaque to particles that pass through but have insufficient energy to reach the next grid array and so return to and are collected by the preceding grid array.
Inventors
- 👤 R Moir
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 21:07
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02N; H02N3/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
383 words
A direct energy converter for converting the energy of a beam of ions following a translational path, including: a first ion collector comprised of a plurality of spaced apart parallel electrically conductive ribbons having opposing elongated edges lying in parallel planes that are transverse to said beam path, said ribbons being oriented at a first angle with respect to a perpendicular to said planes, said ribbons being parallel to the beam for maximal transparency thereto; a second ion collector spaced from and parallel to said first ion collector; means for applying a first potential to said first collector; means for applying a second potential to said second collector, said second potential being higher than said first potential to establish a first retarding field, ions having insufficient energy to overcome said field being collected on said first collector; said second collector being comprised of a plurality of spaced apart parallel electrically conductive ribbons having opposing elongated edges lying in parallel planes that are transverse to said beam and are parallel to the planes of said first collector, said ribbons of said second collector being oriented at a second angle with respect to a perpendicular to said planes, the ions that overcome said first field being deflected by the field to follow a first altered path, said ribbons of said second collector being parallel to said altered path; a third ion collector comprised of a plurality of spaced apart parallel electrically conductive ribbons having opposing elongated edges lying in parallel planes that are transverse to the beam and are parallel to said planes of said first collector, said ribbons of said third collector being oriented at a third angle with respect to a perpendicular to said planes; and means for applying a third potential to said third collector, said third potential being higher than said said second potential to establish a second retarding field for the ions that pass into the space between said second and third collectors so that ions having insufficient energy to overcome said second field are collected on said second collector, the ions that overcome said second field being deflected thereby to follow a second altered path, said ribbons of said third collector being parallel to said second altered path for maximal transparency to the ions following said second altered path.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
383 words
A direct energy converter for converting the energy of a beam of ions following a translational path, including: a first ion collector comprised of a plurality of spaced apart parallel electrically conductive ribbons having opposing elongated edges lying in parallel planes that are transverse to said beam path, said ribbons being oriented at a first angle with respect to a perpendicular to said planes, said ribbons being parallel to the beam for maximal transparency thereto; a second ion collector spaced from and parallel to said first ion collector; means for applying a first potential to said first collector; means for applying a second potential to said second collector, said second potential being higher than said first potential to establish a first retarding field, ions having insufficient energy to overcome said field being collected on said first collector; said second collector being comprised of a plurality of spaced apart parallel electrically conductive ribbons having opposing elongated edges lying in parallel planes that are transverse to said beam and are parallel to the planes of said first collector, said ribbons of said second collector being oriented at a second angle with respect to a perpendicular to said planes, the ions that overcome said first field being deflected by the field to follow a first altered path, said ribbons of said second collector being parallel to said altered path; a third ion collector comprised of a plurality of spaced apart parallel electrically conductive ribbons having opposing elongated edges lying in parallel planes that are transverse to the beam and are parallel to said planes of said first collector, said ribbons of said third collector being oriented at a third angle with respect to a perpendicular to said planes; and means for applying a third potential to said third collector, said third potential being higher than said said second potential to establish a second retarding field for the ions that pass into the space between said second and third collectors so that ions having insufficient energy to overcome said second field are collected on said second collector, the ions that overcome said second field being deflected thereby to follow a second altered path, said ribbons of said third collector being parallel to said second altered path for maximal transparency to the ions following said second altered path.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
104 words
The converter of claim 1, further including: a reference grid in the path of the beam before said first collector; means for applying a reference potential to said grid to collect the electrons from the plasma; an electron reflector grid in the path of the beam between said reference grid and said first collector; and means for applying a potential to said reflector grid that is less than said reference potential to reflect electrons that pass through said reference grid and to reflect secondary electrons which develop as a result of incidental impingement of the plasma on said reference grid and said reflector grid.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
81 words
The converter of claim 1, further including: a suppressor grid comprised of a plurality of elongated wires between said first and second collectors, each of said ribbons being associated with one of said wires, each of said wires being in-line with its associated ribbon; and means for providing a potential to said grid for suppressing secondary electrons emanating from said ribbons and to return the secondary electrons to said first collector in which they are developed when ions strike the ribbons.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
The converter of claim 1, wherein said plasma is generated in a fusion reactor, further including: a diverter for diverting plasma from the reactor; an expander for reducing the energy density in two dimensions of the diverted plasma and for changing rotational plasma energy to translational energy along a straight-line path towards said first ion collector.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
11 words
The converter of claim 4, wherein said expander is conically shaped.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-06-10 | 1977-12-10 | 1978-06-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-06-10 | 1981-12-10 | 1982-06-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-06-10 | 1985-12-10 | 1986-06-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |