Energy source using atomic species
AssigneePerriQuest Defense Research Enterprises, LLC
InventorsNicholas V. Perricone, Kurt Rauschenbach, Matthew Partlow
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An energy source includes a plasma ion source that generates ions from molecular gas species received at an input, wherein at least some of the ions generated are atomic species ions. An ion extractor is positioned proximate to an output of the plasma ion source and generates an electric field when energized that extracts ions that include the generated atomic species ions from the plasma ion source. A housing is positioned proximate to the ion extractor that receives extracted ions and neutrals of atomic species, and includes a recombination region wherein at least some of the atomic species ions recombine into molecular species, thereby releasing energy.
Claims35
An energy source comprising:
- a) a plasma ion source comprising a molecular gas input, the plasma source generating ions from received molecular gas species, wherein at least some of the ions generated are atomic species ions;
- b) an ion extractor positioned proximate to an output of the plasma ion source, the ion extractor generating an electric field when energized that extracts ions that include the generated atomic species ions from the plasma ion source;
- and
- c) a housing positioned proximate to the ion extractor that receives extracted ions and neutrals of atomic species, the housing including a recombination region wherein at least some of the atomic species ions recombine into molecular species, thereby releasing energy.
A method of generating energy, the method comprising:
- a) generating ions from molecular gas species, wherein at least some of the generated ions are atomic species ions;
- and
- b) extracting generated ions with at least some atomic species ions into a recombination region, wherein at least some of the atomic species ions recombine into molecular species, thereby releasing energy.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.