US3878409A — Explosively driven electric power generation syst…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 169 words

A method of producing a flow of an electrically conductive driver working gas of the kind required for a magnetohydrodynamic electric generator, said method comprising, positioning an elongated core of an explosive inside a container, spacing one surface of the elongated core of explosive a selected distance from a related inside surface of the container, filling the space between the core and the inside surface with a working gas to be made electrically conductive, igniting the elongated core of explosive at one end edge and progressively detonating the explosive along the length of the core to the other end edge while simultaneously progressively compressing the working gas against said related inside surface of the container in the direction of detonation to an electrically conductive state and forcing the compressed gas in a flow stream along the container surface in the direction of detonation by the outward expansion of the explosive to thereby concentrate explosive energy in an intermediary driver gas having very high values of temperature and electrical conductivity.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 169 words

A method of producing a flow of an electrically conductive driver working gas of the kind required for a magnetohydrodynamic electric generator, said method comprising, positioning an elongated core of an explosive inside a container, spacing one surface of the elongated core of explosive a selected distance from a related inside surface of the container, filling the space between the core and the inside surface with a working gas to be made electrically conductive, igniting the elongated core of explosive at one end edge and progressively detonating the explosive along the length of the core to the other end edge while simultaneously progressively compressing the working gas against said related inside surface of the container in the direction of detonation to an electrically conductive state and forcing the compressed gas in a flow stream along the container surface in the direction of detonation by the outward expansion of the explosive to thereby concentrate explosive energy in an intermediary driver gas having very high values of temperature and electrical conductivity.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 53 words

The method defined in claim 1 including placing a sealing material on the surface of the core facing the fixed surface of the container and progressively moving the sealing material from the core and into sealing engagement with the surface of the container to provide a seal behind the compressed gas flow stream.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 26 words

The invention defined in claim 2 wherein the detonation of the explosive core pRoduces a shock wave in the gas in advance of the sealing material.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 109 words

The invention defined in claim 2 including spacing the core between at least two opposed and inside surfaces of the container, placing expandable sealing members on at least the two opposite sides of the core facing the two inside surfaces of the container, filling the spaces between the sealing members and the related inside surfaces of the container with the gas to be made electrically conductive and processing the gas between each sealing member and the related container surface to the electrically conductive state by compression produced by the outward expansion of the sealing members and a shock wave produced in the gas on detonation of the explosive core.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 26 words

The invention defined in claim 4 wherein the explosive core is an elongated cylindrically shaped core and the expandable sealing member encircles the cylindrical explosive core.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 16 words

The invention defined in claim 4 wherein the explosive core is a rectangular plate shaped core.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 15 words

The invention defined in claim 4 wherein the core is a circular disc shaped core.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 35 words

The invention defined in claim 1 wherein the explosive core had an energy value high enough to cause the gas to be fully disassociated and fully ionized on completion of the detonation of the explosive.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 25 words

The invention defined in claim 1 including reducing the velocity by collecting the compressed and electrically conductive gas at stagnation pressure in a settling chamber.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 22 words

The invention defined in claim 9 including temporarily sealing the discharge end of the settling chamber to maintain a selected working pressure.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 63 words

The invention defined in claim 10 including locating the end edge of the explosive core near the inlet end of the settling chamber, placing material for the temporary seal on that edge of the core and then moving the material from the end edge of the core to the outlet end of the settling chamber as the detonation of the core is completed.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 17 words

The invention defined in claim 9 including expanding the gas from the settling chamber through a nozzle.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 29 words

The invention defined in claim 12 including directing the expanded gas through a magnetohydrodynamic channel and converting the mechanical and thermal energy of the flowing gas to electrical energy.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 21 words

The invention defined in claim 13 including building up the magnetic field by the initial flow of gas through the channel.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 39 words

The invention defined in claim 13 including producing a continuous flow of electrical energy by repetitively detonating explosive cores in sequence and collecting the generated gases in a common settling chamber and directing the gases through said magnetohydrodynamic channel.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 96 words

A method of generating electrical power from the stored chemical energy of an explosive, said method comprising, compressing and ionizing a gas to an electrically conductive state by an explosive driver, processing the ionized gas through a settling chamber to reduce the velocity and to collect the gas at stagnation pressure, then processing the gas through a nozzle, to control the flow rate of the gas and the duration of electrical power flow and directing the processed gas through a magnetohydrodynamic channel to convert the mechanical and thermal energy of the flowing gas to electrical energy.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 96 words

A method of generating electrical power from the stored chemical energy of an explosive, said method comprising, compressing and ionizing a gas to an electrically conductive state by an explosive driver, processing the ionized gas through a settling chamber to reduce the velocity and to collect the gas at stagnation pressure, then processing the gas through a nozzle, to control the flow rate of the gas and the duration of electrical power flow and directing the processed gas through a magnetohydrodynamic channel to convert the mechanical and thermal energy of the flowing gas to electrical energy.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 144 words

An explosive driver for converting the stored chemical energy of an explosive into a dynamic gas flow stream and comprising, container means having inner surfaces for containing and directing the gas flow stream, an elongated core of explosive spaced from at least one inner surface of the container, a sealing material on the surface of the explosive core spaced from the container inner surface, a working gas in the space between the sealing material and said container inner surface, and igniter means for igniting one end of the core to initiate detonation of the explosive and progressive compression and movement of the gas by outward movement oF the sealing material into sealing engagement with the container inner surface along the length of the explosive core to thereby concentrate explosive energy in an intermediary driver gas having very high values of temperature and electrical conductivity.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 144 words

An explosive driver for converting the stored chemical energy of an explosive into a dynamic gas flow stream and comprising, container means having inner surfaces for containing and directing the gas flow stream, an elongated core of explosive spaced from at least one inner surface of the container, a sealing material on the surface of the explosive core spaced from the container inner surface, a working gas in the space between the sealing material and said container inner surface, and igniter means for igniting one end of the core to initiate detonation of the explosive and progressive compression and movement of the gas by outward movement oF the sealing material into sealing engagement with the container inner surface along the length of the explosive core to thereby concentrate explosive energy in an intermediary driver gas having very high values of temperature and electrical conductivity.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 41 words

The invention defined in claim 17 wherein the stored energy of the explosive is sufficiently large in relation to the volume of the gas to process the gas to a fully ionized and electrically conductive state on detonation of the explosive.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 49 words

The invention defined in claim 18 wherein the stored energy of the explosive is sufficiently large in relation to the volume of the gas to produce a shock wave across the entire cross-section of the space between the explosive and the container inner surface on detonation of the explosive.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 25 words

The invention defined in claim 17 including settling chamber means for collecting the gas at stagnation pressure at the end of detonation of the explosive.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 28 words

The invention defined in claim 20 including nozzle means connected to the settling chamber means for controlling the rate of flow of gas from the settling chamber means.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 36 words

The invention defined in claim 21 including a magnetohydrodynamic electrical generator having a channel aligned with the outlet of said nozzle means for converting the mechanical and thermal energy of the flowing gas to electrical energy.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 48 words

The invention defined in claim 22 including sealing plug means at the end of the core opposite that ignited by the igniter means and aligned with the inlet end of the settling chamber for movement into the settling chamber at the end of detonation of the explosive core.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 36 words

The invention defined in claim 22 wherein the container is a cylindrical container, the explosive core is a cylindrical core and is centrally positioned with and uniformly spaced from the inside surface of the cylindrical container.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 40 words

The invention defined in claim 22 wherein the container means contain two flat wall plates and wherein the explosive core is a rectangular plate shaped core located centrally between and uniformally spaced from the inside surfaces of said container plates.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 42 words

The invention defined in claim 22 wherein the container means include two flat disc shaped plates and wherein the explosive core is a circular disc shaped core centrally disposed between and uniformally spaced from the inside surfaces of said disc shaped plates.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 64 words

The invention defined in claim 22 wherein the container means have a plurality of explosive cores mounted therein and wherein the igniter means include control means for igniting the individual explosive cores in sequence and the container means are connected to a common settling chamber so that the explosive cores can be repetitively fired in sequence to produce continuous power from the magnetohydrodynamic generator.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 126 words

An electrical power generator for generating electrical power from the stored chemical energy of an explosive, said generator comprising, explosive driver means for compressing and ionizing a gas to an electrically conductive state, magnetohydrodynamic generator means including a gas flow channel for converting the mechanical and thermal energy of the ionized gas to electrical energy, and gas processing means for collecting the ionized gas from the explosive driver means and directing the gas through said flow channel said gas processing means including settling chamber means for reducing the gas flow velocity and for collecting the ionized gas at stagnation pressure and nozzle means at the outlet of the settling chamber means for controlling the flow rate of the gas and the duration of the power flow.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 126 words

An electrical power generator for generating electrical power from the stored chemical energy of an explosive, said generator comprising, explosive driver means for compressing and ionizing a gas to an electrically conductive state, magnetohydrodynamic generator means including a gas flow channel for converting the mechanical and thermal energy of the ionized gas to electrical energy, and gas processing means for collecting the ionized gas from the explosive driver means and directing the gas through said flow channel said gas processing means including settling chamber means for reducing the gas flow velocity and for collecting the ionized gas at stagnation pressure and nozzle means at the outlet of the settling chamber means for controlling the flow rate of the gas and the duration of the power flow.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1978-04-14	1978-10-14	1979-04-15	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1982-04-14	1982-10-14	1983-04-15	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1986-04-14	1986-10-14	1987-04-15	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Explosively driven electric power generation system

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