# US 10,502,849 B1 · Pseudogas neutron detector > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,502,849 B1 - Document ID: US10502849B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 16/041,379 - Filed: 2018-07-20 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2018-07-20 - Assignees: Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLC - Applicants: Baker Hughes, a GE Company, LLC - Inventors: Rocco DiFoggio - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10502849B1 ## CPC - G01T 3/008: {using an ionisation chamber filled with a gas, liquid or solid, e.g. frozen liquid, dielectric (G01T3/006 takes precedence)} - G01V 5/107: {and detecting reflected or back-scattered neutrons} - G01V 5/125: {and detecting the secondary gamma- or X-rays in different places along the bore hole} - G01T: MEASUREMENT OF NUCLEAR OR X-RADIATION (radiation analysis of materials, mass spectrometry G01N23/00; tubes for determining the presence, intensity, density or energy of radiation or particles H01J47/00) - G01V: GEOPHYSICS; GRAVITATIONAL MEASUREMENTS; DETECTING MASSES OR OBJECTS; TAGS (means for indicating the location of accidentally buried, e.g. snow-buried, persons A63B29/02) ## Abstract Embodiments of the present disclosure include a system for detecting neutrons with a housing, a gas chamber at least partially defined by the housing, an anode extending through at least a portion of the gas chamber, and a pseudogas arranged within the gas chamber. The pseudogas comprises a mixture of gas and suspended solid particles that contain an element with a high cross-section for thermal neutron capture. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for detecting neutrons, the system comprising: a housing; a gas chamber at least partially defined by the housing; an anode extending through at least a portion of the gas chamber; and a pseudogas arranged within the gas chamber, wherein the pseudogas comprises a mixture of a gas and solid particles. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the gas is a dense gas. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the solid particles are Boron-containing particles. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein a density of the gas is substantially equal to a density of the solid particles such that the solid particles are suspended within the gas. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the housing is a cathode and the anode detects a current change in the anode due at least in part to neutron capture by the solid particles. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the solid particles are formed from a material having a thermal neutron cross section greater than a threshold amount. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the proportion of solid particles of the pseudogas does not fully fill the gas chamber. ### Claim 8 A method for forming a neutron detector, the method comprising: forming a gas chamber; determining a gas to particle ratio for a pseudogas; filling the gas chamber with the pseudogas; and sealing the gas chamber. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein forming the gas chamber comprises: forming a housing from a neutron-permeable material, the housing being a cathode; and arranging an anode to extend at least partially through the gas chamber. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein determining a gas to particle ratio comprises: determining a desired mole density; and determining a mass density of the particles. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the gas is a dense gas and the solid particle is a hollow Boron-containing sphere. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the Boron is naturally occurring Boron. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising: positioning the neutron detector on a downhole tool; interrogating an underground formation with radioactive particles; and measuring neutron emission from the underground formation. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising: calculating a first density of the gas; calculating a second density of the particle, the first density and the second density being substantially similar; and forming the particle having the second density. ### Claim 15 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising: suspending the particle within the gas. ### Claim 16 A system for detecting neutrons, the system comprising: a housing forming a cathode of a proportional gas counter; a gas chamber formed at least partially by the housing; an anode extending partially through the gas chamber; and a pseudogas formed from a combination of dense gas and Boron-containing particles positioned within the gas chamber, wherein the Boron-containing particles are arranged to capture incoming neutrons and increase a current at the anode via the production of charged particles from neutron capture. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the Boron-containing particles are formed as hollow spheres from naturally occurring Boron-containing compounds. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein a density of the dense gas is substantially equal to a density of the Boron-containing particles. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein a diameter of the Boron-containing particles is below a threshold amount to reduce a settling time of the Boron-containing particles. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the housing is arranged in a downhole formation.