US5059866A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for cooling electrons, ions or plasma
Assignee: Apricot SA
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Filing: 1987-10-01
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Granted: 1991-10-22
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Expires: 2007-10-01
Abstract
Abstract Method and apparatus for cooling plasma generated by an ion source. The plasma is expanded together with neutral gas in an evacuated expansion chamber and subjected to a magnetic field.
Inventors
- 👤 Shui-Yin Lo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 03:28
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21K; G21K1/00; G21K1/20; H; H05; H05H; H05H1/00; H05H1/02; H05H1/22; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
An apparatus for cooling a plasma comprising: an ion source for producing the plasma together with neutral gas; a substantially evacuatable plasma expansion chamber; magnetic means associated with the expansion chamber; and means for substantially evacuating the expansion chamber, the expansion chamber being coupled to the ion source whereby the plasma and neutral gas generated in the ion source are directed to and expand within the substantially evacuated chamber, the magnetic means creating a magnetic field which moves said plasma through the expansion chamber while generally maintaining the density of said plasma as said neutral gas expands, said expansion of said neutral gas and the collision of the plasma with said neutral gas effecting a reduction of the temperature of the plasma.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
122 words
An apparatus for cooling a plasma comprising: an ion source for producing the plasma together with neutral gas; a substantially evacuatable plasma expansion chamber; magnetic means associated with the expansion chamber; and means for substantially evacuating the expansion chamber, the expansion chamber being coupled to the ion source whereby the plasma and neutral gas generated in the ion source are directed to and expand within the substantially evacuated chamber, the magnetic means creating a magnetic field which moves said plasma through the expansion chamber while generally maintaining the density of said plasma as said neutral gas expands, said expansion of said neutral gas and the collision of the plasma with said neutral gas effecting a reduction of the temperature of the plasma.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus for cooling a plasma in claim 1, wherein the expansion chamber is provided with exit means for exit of the expanded plasma therefrom.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus for cooling a plasma as claimed in claim 1 whereby the expanding plasma is subjected to said magnetic field to effect at least a partial exclusion of neutral gas from the plasma emerging from the expansion chamber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus for cooling a plasma as claimed in claim 1, including a skimmer positioned to exclude ions having substantial transverse velocities from passing from the ion source to the expansion chamber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus for cooling a plasma as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plasma and neutral gas are pre-cooled by heat exchange before expansion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus for cooling a plasma as claimed in claim 4 wherein the plasma and neutral gas are pre-cooled by heat exchange before expansion.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
66 words
A method of cooling a plasma comprising: directing the plasma in neutral gas together to a substantially evacuated plasma expansion chamber, said expansion chamber being subjected to a magnetic field to move said plasma therethrough, whereby the plasma and neutral gas expand within said expansion chamber, the temperature of the plasma being reduced by the collision of the plasma with the neutral gas during said expansion.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
66 words
A method of cooling a plasma comprising: directing the plasma in neutral gas together to a substantially evacuated plasma expansion chamber, said expansion chamber being subjected to a magnetic field to move said plasma therethrough, whereby the plasma and neutral gas expand within said expansion chamber, the temperature of the plasma being reduced by the collision of the plasma with the neutral gas during said expansion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of cooling a plasma as claimed in claim 7, further comprising exiting the cooled plasma from the expansion chamber.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of cooling a plasma as claimed in claim 8 wherein the subjecting of said plasma in the expansion chamber to a magnetic field enables at least the partial exclusion of neutral gas from the plasma emerging from the expansion chamber.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of cooling a plasma as claimed in claim 7, wherein an ion source is used to create said plasma and said neutral gas and said method further comprises passing ions from the ion source through a skimmer to exclude ions having large transverse velocities from entering the expansion chamber.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of cooling a plasma as claimed in claim 7, wherein the plasma is so cooled that the plasma forms a coherent beam.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of cooling a plasma as claimed in claim 10 wherein the plasma is so cooled that the plasma forms a coherent beam.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of cooling a plasma as claimed in claim 7 wherein the plasma is cooled by heat exchange prior to the expansion.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of cooling a plasma as claimed in claim 10 wherein the plasma is cooled by heat exchange prior to the expansion.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
136 words
A fusion reactor comprising apparatus for cooling a plasma comprising: an ion source for producing the plasma together with neutral gas; a substantially evacuatable plasma expansion chamber; magnetic means associated with said expansion chamber; and means for substantially evacuating the expansion chamber, the expansion chamber being coupled to the ion source whereby the plasma and the neutral gas generated in the ion source are directed to and expand within the substantially evacuated chamber, said magnetic means acting to direct said plasma through said chamber and enable at least the partial separation of neutral gas from said plasma, said expansion of said neutral gas and the collision of the plasma with said neutral gas effecting the cooling of said plasma; and an accelerator and director means to accelerate and direct a beam of particles from the plasma.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
136 words
A fusion reactor comprising apparatus for cooling a plasma comprising: an ion source for producing the plasma together with neutral gas; a substantially evacuatable plasma expansion chamber; magnetic means associated with said expansion chamber; and means for substantially evacuating the expansion chamber, the expansion chamber being coupled to the ion source whereby the plasma and the neutral gas generated in the ion source are directed to and expand within the substantially evacuated chamber, said magnetic means acting to direct said plasma through said chamber and enable at least the partial separation of neutral gas from said plasma, said expansion of said neutral gas and the collision of the plasma with said neutral gas effecting the cooling of said plasma; and an accelerator and director means to accelerate and direct a beam of particles from the plasma.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
117 words
A method of generating energy by nuclear fusion comprising: forming a beam of particles by forming a plasma and neutral gas; directing the plasma and neutral gas together to a substantially evacuated plasma expansion chamber associated with a magnetic field, whereby the plasma and the neutral gas expand and move through said expansion chamber, said magnetic field facilitating the movement of said plasma and at least the partial separation of neutral gases from said plasma, said expansion of said neutral gas and the collision of the plasma with said neutral gas effecting the cooling of said plasma whereby the plasma forms said beam, accelerating said beam and directing the beam upon its exit from said expansion chamber.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
117 words
A method of generating energy by nuclear fusion comprising: forming a beam of particles by forming a plasma and neutral gas; directing the plasma and neutral gas together to a substantially evacuated plasma expansion chamber associated with a magnetic field, whereby the plasma and the neutral gas expand and move through said expansion chamber, said magnetic field facilitating the movement of said plasma and at least the partial separation of neutral gases from said plasma, said expansion of said neutral gas and the collision of the plasma with said neutral gas effecting the cooling of said plasma whereby the plasma forms said beam, accelerating said beam and directing the beam upon its exit from said expansion chamber.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of cooling a plasma as claimed in claim 8 wherein the plasma is cooled by heat exchange prior to the expansion.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of cooling a plasma as claimed in claim 9 wherein the plasma is cooled by heat exchange prior to said expansion.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of cooling plasma comprising: directing the plasma and neutral gas to a substantially evacuated plasma expansion chamber such that the plasma and the neutral gas are subjected to expansionary influence due to the existence of reduced pressure in the expansion chamber; exposing said plasma to a magnetic field so that the tendency of the plasma to expand is at least substantially suppressed by application of the magnetic field thereto and the neutral gas is permitted to expand in the expansion chamber, whereby the neutral gas is cooled by such expansion and the plasma is cooled by collision with the cooled neutral gas.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of cooling plasma comprising: directing the plasma and neutral gas to a substantially evacuated plasma expansion chamber such that the plasma and the neutral gas are subjected to expansionary influence due to the existence of reduced pressure in the expansion chamber; exposing said plasma to a magnetic field so that the tendency of the plasma to expand is at least substantially suppressed by application of the magnetic field thereto and the neutral gas is permitted to expand in the expansion chamber, whereby the neutral gas is cooled by such expansion and the plasma is cooled by collision with the cooled neutral gas.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
135 words
An apparatus for cooling plasma comprising: an ion source for producing plasma together with neutral gas; a substantially evacuable plasma expansion chamber; magnetic means associated with said expansion chamber; and means for substantially evacuating the expansion chamber, the expansion chamber being coupled to the ion source whereby the plasma and neutral gas generated in the ion source are directed to the substantially evacuated chamber such that the plasma and neutral gas are subjected to expansionary influence due to the existence of the reduced pressure in the expansion chamber, the tendency of the plasma to so expand being at least substantially suppressed by the magnetic field, whilst the neutral gas expands in the expansion chamber, whereby the neutral gas is cooled by said expansion and the plasma is cooled by collision with the cooled neutral gas.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
135 words
An apparatus for cooling plasma comprising: an ion source for producing plasma together with neutral gas; a substantially evacuable plasma expansion chamber; magnetic means associated with said expansion chamber; and means for substantially evacuating the expansion chamber, the expansion chamber being coupled to the ion source whereby the plasma and neutral gas generated in the ion source are directed to the substantially evacuated chamber such that the plasma and neutral gas are subjected to expansionary influence due to the existence of the reduced pressure in the expansion chamber, the tendency of the plasma to so expand being at least substantially suppressed by the magnetic field, whilst the neutral gas expands in the expansion chamber, whereby the neutral gas is cooled by said expansion and the plasma is cooled by collision with the cooled neutral gas.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-10-21 | 1995-04-22 | 1995-10-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-10-21 | 1999-04-22 | 1999-10-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-10-21 | 2003-04-22 | 2003-10-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |