Fluorine generator
AssigneeArchimedes Technology Group, Inc.
InventorsStephen F. Agnew, Sergei Putvinski
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fluorine generator includes a vacuum chamber filled with a working gas. An r-f antenna is positioned outside the chamber across a dielectric window from a potassium fluoride (KF) source located in the chamber. The r-f antenna radiates through the window to heat the working gas and sublime the PK source to create a plasma. Crossed electric and magnetic fields in the chamber drive the heavier potassium ions in the plasma toward a collector in the chamber while confining the lighter fluorine and working gas ions for evacuation from the chamber.
Claims20
A fluorine generator which comprises:
- a chamber having a first end and a second end and defining an axis, said chamber being filled with a working gas;
- a dielectric window enclosing said first end of said chamber;
- a potassium fluoride (KF) source positioned in said chamber adjacent said window;
- an r-f (radio frequency) antenna for heating the working gas, to sublime the KF source, and create a plasma of potassium ions, fluorine ions, fluorine atoms and working gas ions in said chamber, said r-f antenna being positioned outside said chamber with said window between said KF source and said r-f antenna;
- a collector positioned in said chamber between said first end and said second end at a distance “a” from the axis;
- a means for generating a radially oriented electric field (Er) in said chamber;
- a means for generating an axially oriented magnetic field (B) in said chamber to establish crossed electric and magnetic fields (Er×B);
- and
- a means for controlling (Er×B) to drive potassium ions on unconfined orbits in said chamber to said collector for collection thereon, and to place fluorine ions and working gas ions on confined orbits around the axis inside said chamber for evacuation from said chamber through said second end thereof for collection of fluorine.
A fluorine generator which comprises:
- a means for positioning a potassium fluoride (KF) source in a vacuum chamber, said chamber defining an axis;
- a means for filling said vacuum chamber with a working gas;
- a means for heating the working gas to sublime the KF source and create a plasma of potassium ions, fluorine ions, fluorine atoms and working gas ions in said chamber;
- a means for crossing a radially oriented electric field with an axially oriented magnetic field (Er×B) in said chamber;
- a means for controlling (Er×B) to drive potassium ions on unconfined orbits in said chamber to a collector mounted in said chamber for collection thereon, and to place fluorine ions and working gas ions on confined orbits around the axis inside said chamber;
- and
- a means for evacuating fluorine from said chamber substantially along the axis thereof.
A method for generating fluorine which comprises the steps of:
- positioning a potassium fluoride (KF) source in a vacuum chamber, said chamber defining an axis;
- filling said vacuum chamber with a working gas;
- heating the working gas to sublime the KF source and create a plasma of potassium ions, fluorine ions, fluorine atoms and working gas ions in said chamber;
- crossing a radially oriented electric field with an axially oriented magnetic field (Er×B) in said chamber;
- controlling (Er×B) to drive potassium ions on unconfined orbits in said chamber to a collector mounted in said chamber for collection thereon, and to place fluorine ions and working gas ions on confined orbits around the axis inside said chamber;
- and
- evacuating fluorine from said chamber substantially along the axis thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.