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US 10,984,917 B2Granted
Systems and methods for compressing plasma
AssigneeGeneral Fusion Inc.
InventorsMichel Georges Laberge, Douglas H. Richardson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments of systems and methods for compressing plasma are described in which plasma pressures above the breaking point of solid material can be achieved by injecting a plasma into a funnel of liquid metal in which the plasma is compressed and/or heated.
Claims10
A liquid metal funnel system configured for compressing plasma, the liquid metal funnel system comprising:
- a liquid metal funnel having a passage having a first inner diameter at a first end of the passage and a second inner diameter at a second end of the passage, the second inner diameter less than the first inner diameter, the liquid metal funnel oriented such that the first end of the passage is higher than the second end of the passage;
- and
- a liquid guide extending along a longitudinal axis of the passage, the liquid guide spaced apart from an inner surface of the liquid metal funnel thereby providing an annular space between the inner surface of the liquid metal funnel and an outer surface of the liquid guide,
- wherein the liquid metal funnel is configured to receive a plasma from a plasma injector and to compress the plasma as the plasma moves along the annular space from the first end of the passage toward the second end of the passage.
1 more element
A liquid metal funnel system configured for compressing plasma, the liquid metal funnel system comprising:
- a liquid metal funnel having a passage having a first inner diameter at a first end of the passage and a second inner diameter at a second end of the passage, the second inner diameter less than the first inner diameter, the liquid metal funnel oriented such that the first end of the passage is higher than the second end of the passage;
- and
- a liquid guide extending along a longitudinal axis of the passage, the liquid guide spaced apart from an inner surface of the liquid metal funnel thereby providing an annular space between the inner surface of the liquid metal funnel and an outer surface of the liquid guide,
- wherein the liquid metal funnel is configured to receive a plasma having a first pressure from a plasma injector and to compress the plasma as the plasma moves along the annular space from the first end of the passage toward the second end of the passage such that the plasma at a position below the first end of the passage has a second pressure greater than the first pressure.
1 more element
A liquid metal funnel system configured for compressing plasma, the liquid metal funnel system comprising:
- a liquid metal funnel having a passage having a first inner diameter at a first end of the passage and a second inner diameter at a second end of the passage, the second inner diameter less than the first inner diameter, the liquid metal funnel oriented such that the first end of the passage is higher than the second end of the passage;
- and
- a liquid guide extending along a longitudinal axis of the passage, the liquid guide spaced apart from an inner surface of the liquid metal funnel thereby providing an annular space between the inner surface of the liquid metal funnel and an outer surface of the liquid guide,
- wherein the liquid metal funnel is configured to receive a compact toroid plasma from a plasma injector and to compress the compact toroid plasma as the plasma moves along the annular space from the first end of the passage toward the second end of the passage.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.