Pulsed Plasma Engine and Method
OwnerHeinrich Franz Klostermanninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Pulsed plasma engine and method in which a noncombustible gas is introduced into an explosion chamber, the gas is ionized to form a plasma within the chamber, an electrical pulse is applied to the plasma to heat the plasma, the pulse is turned off to produce an explosive pressure pulse in the plasma, and the plasma is confined in the chamber by a magnetic field that directs the pressure pulse toward an output member which is driven by the pressure pulse.
Claims16
A method of operating an engine to drive an output member, comprising the steps of:
- introducing a noncombustible gas into an explosion chamber which communicates with the output member, ionizing the gas to form a plasma within the chamber, applying an electrical pulse to the plasma to heat the plasma, turning off the pulse to produce an explosive pressure pulse in the plasma, and magnetically confining the plasma in the chamber and directing the pressure pulse toward the output member.
A method of operating an engine having an axially extending explosion chamber with open ends and a generally cylindrical side wall, the steps of:
- introducing a noncombustible gas into the chamber, ionizing the gas to form a plasma within the chamber, applying an electrical pulse to electrodes within the chamber to heat the plasma, turning off the pulse to produce an explosive pressure pulse in the plasma, and creating an axially extending magnetic field within the chamber with magnets disposed coaxially of the chamber on opposite sides of the electrodes to confine the plasma and direct the pressure pulse toward the open ends of the chamber.
A method of operating an engine to drive turbine wheels at opposite ends of an axially extending explosion chamber with a generally cylindrical side wall, the steps of:
- introducing a noncombustible gas into the chamber, ionizing the gas to form a plasma within the chamber, applying an electrical pulse to electrodes within the chamber to heat the plasma, turning off the pulse to produce an explosive pressure pulse in the plasma, and creating an axially extending magnetic field within the chamber with magnets disposed coaxially of the chamber on opposite sides of the electrodes to confine the plasma and direct the pressure pulse toward the turbine wheels.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.