Millimeter-wave directed-energy excavation
AssigneesMassachusetts Institute of Technology, Regency Technologies LLC
InventorsDaniel Cohn, Paul P. Woskov, Herbert Einstein, Kenneth Oglesby
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Abstract
Apparatus and methods are described for excavating earthen material with millimeter-wave (MMW) radiation or a combination of MMW radiation and mechanical apparatus. The MMW radiation can reduce costs and hazards associated with excavation using mechanical means only and/or explosives. MMW-assisted excavation has significant energy advantages over optical or long-wavelength microwave excavation techniques.
Claims20
A system for excavating earthen material, the system comprising:
- a millimeter-wave (MMW) source configured to generate and output MMW radiation having a free-space wavelength in a range from 0.1 millimeter (mm) to 30 mm;
- a transmission line, coupled to the MMW source, to guide the MMW radiation to an excavation site having the earthen material and to launch the guided MMW radiation as an excavation beam from a distal end of the transmission line into the earthen material;
- a gas inlet coupled to the transmission line to inject a gas into the transmission line and pressurize the excavation site;
- and
- sealing apparatus to form a chamber enclosing the distal end of the transmission line and the excavation site such that the excavation site can be pressurized,
- wherein the MMW source and the transmission line are configured to deliver at least 10 kW/cm2 of the MMW radiation in the excavation beam to the excavation site such that the earthen material at the excavation site is at least fractured by the excavation beam, and
- wherein the MMW source and/or the transmission line are further configured to move the distal end of the transmission line in a first direction that is perpendicular to a second direction in which the excavation beam propagates to the excavation site.
A method of excavating earthen material, the method comprising:
- generating, with a millimeter-wave (MMW) source, MMW radiation having a free-space wavelength in a range from 0.1 mm to 30 mm;
- coupling the MMW radiation to a transmission line;
- guiding, with the transmission line, the MMW radiation to an excavation site having the earthen material;
- forming an excavation beam from the MMW radiation at a distal end of the transmission line;
- illuminating the earthen material at the excavation site with the excavation beam at an irradiance of at least 10 kW/cm2;
- fracturing the earthen material at the excavation site with the excavation beam;
- removing, with mechanical apparatus, the earthen material fractured by the excavation beam from the excavation site;
- forming a chamber to enclose the distal end of the transmission line and the excavation site;
- and
- injecting gas into the chamber such that the excavation site is pressurized.
A method of excavating earthen material, the method comprising:
- generating, with a millimeter-wave (MMW) source, MMW radiation having a free-space wavelength in a range from 0.1 mm to 30 mm;
- coupling the MMW radiation to a transmission line;
- guiding, with the transmission line, the MMW radiation to an excavation site having the earthen material;
- forming an excavation beam from the MMW radiation at a distal end of the transmission line;
- illuminating the earthen material at the excavation site with the excavation beam at an irradiance of at least 10 kW/cm2;
- fracturing the earthen material at the excavation site with the excavation beam;
- forming a trench in the earthen material with the excavation beam;
- inserting a mechanical hydraulic device into the trench;
- and
- breaking a portion of the earthen material from the trench with the mechanical hydraulic device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.