# US 11,029,429 B2 · 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 11,029,429 B2 - Document ID: US11029429B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/707,905 - Filed: 2019-12-09 - Published: 2020-04-16 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2018-07-20 - Assignees: Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLC - Applicants: Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLC - Inventors: Rocco DiFoggio - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11029429B2 ## 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 5/04: specially adapted for well-logging - G01V 5/107: {and detecting reflected or back-scattered neutrons} - 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, the solid particles containing an element that generates a charged particle after absorbing a thermal neutron. ### 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 contain at least one of Li-6, U-235, Cd-133, or Gd-157. ### 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 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the solid particles are formed from Uranium-containing particles, and the Uranium-containing particles are a compound. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the solid particle are formed from Lithium-containing particles, and the Lithium-containing particles are a compound. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the solid particles are formed from Cadmium-containing particles, and the Cadmium-containing particles are a compound. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the solid particle are formed from Gadolinium-containing particles, and the Gadolinium-containing particles are a compound. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the element includes at least one of a Lithium-containing particle, a Uranium-containing particle, a Cadmium-containing particle, or a Gadolinium-containing particle that is naturally occurring. ### Claim 13 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 Lithium-containing particles positioned within the gas chamber, wherein the Lithium-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 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the Lithium-containing particles are formed as hollow spheres from naturally occurring Lithium-containing compounds. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein a density of the dense gas is substantially equal to a density of the Lithium-containing particles. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein a diameter of the Lithium-containing particles is below a threshold amount to reduce a settling time of the Lithium-containing particles. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the housing is arranged in a downhole formation. ### Claim 18 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 Uranium-containing particles positioned within the gas chamber, wherein the Uranium-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 19 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein the Uranium-containing particles are formed as hollow spheres from naturally occurring Uranium-containing compounds. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein a density of the dense gas is substantially equal to a density of the Uranium-containing particles.