Method and apparatus for separation of ions from a plasma
AssigneeJersey Nuclear-Avco Isotopes, Inc.
InventorGeorge Sargent Janes
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In a system for isotope separation, method and apparatus empolying crossed-field MHD particle accelerating techniques for collecting ions of a desired isotope after selective ionization of that isotope. In the plasma of electrons and selectively ionized atoms which results from selective isotope ionization, the ions are collected by inducing a circulation of the plasma electrons to provide a JXB relationship for MHD acceleration of the ions. The electron circulation enhances penetration of the plasma by the accelerating electric field and avoids the generation of large Hall voltages within the system as well as reducing the required magnitude of electrode currents.
Claims26
A method for separating particles of a first charge type from a neutral, bounded environment containing at least particles having a second charge type and wherein said particles of said first and second charge type have different mass-to-charge ratios, said method including the steps of:
- circulating the second charge type particles in said environment on paths which generally close within the bounded environment;
- and
- accelerating said particles of said first charge type toward a collection surface in a direction distinct from the circulation of said second charge type particles.
In a system for isotope enrichment a method for separating ions in a bounded plasma environment of selectively ionized particles, said method comprising the steps of:
- applying a magnetic field to said environment;
- and
- applying an electric field to said environment in a configuration to produce circulation of the plasma electrons on paths which generally close within the bounded environment and to accelerate said ions in a predetermined direction.
In a system for isotope enrichment, a method for separating a selectively ionized isotope in a plasma which includes ions of said selectively ionized isotope and corresponding electrons, said method including the steps of:
- applying a magnetic field to said plasma in a preset direction;
- periodically applying an electric field to said plasma between a first electrode and an at least partially surrounding second electrode with the direction of said electric field between said first and second electrodes being different from said preset direction for said magnetic field;
- establishing said magnetic and electric fields to produce an interaction on said ions and electrons which accelerates said electrons on closed paths around said first electrode and which accelerates said ions to a path directed toward one of said first and second electrodes.
In a system for isotope enrichment wherein a plasma is generated comprising electrons and ions of said isotope in a substantially greater percentage than in the neutral state, a method for separating said ions in said plasma including the steps of:
- applying a magnetic field to said plasma;
- applying a pulsed electric field to said plasma between electrodes to accelerate said ions and said electrons in opposite directions;
- said magnetic field operating to deflect the accelerated ions and electrons;
- and
- said electric field being established in a configuration to provide a high driving point impedance of said electric field in said plasma by impeding the flow of electrons between said electrodes and low skin effect of said plasma in response to said electric field for rapid penetration of said electric field with each pulse.
In a technique for isotope enrichment apparatus for separating ions of one isotope in a plasma environment having selective ionization of said one isotope and wherein said plasma environment is bounded, said apparatus including:
- means for accelerating said ions and the electrons of said plasma environment in different directions;
- means for deflecting the accelerated ions and electrons on curved paths having different curvatures representative of the different mass-to-charge ratios of said ions and electrons;
- the deflected acceleration of said electrons being on paths generally closing within the bounded environment;
- and
- means for collecting said deflected, accelerated ions.
Apparatus for collecting particles of a first charge type in an environment containing said particles and at least particles of an opposite charge type differing in mass-to-charge ratio from said particles of said first charge type comprising:
- a first electrode placed within said environment;
- a second electrode placed a distance from said first electrode through said environment;
- means for applying a magnetic field to said environment;
- means for applying electric potential to said first and second electrodes to induce general circulation of the opposite charge type particles around said first electrode and for accelerating said particles of said first charge type in a direction distinct from said circulation to permit separate collection of said particles of said first charge type.
In a technique for isotope enrichment, a system for separating a selectively ionized isotope in a plasma which includes ions of said selectively ionized isotope and corresponding electrons, said system comprising:
- a first electrode in said plasma;
- a second electrode at least partially surrounding said first electrode;
- means for applying a magnetic field to said plasma in a preset direction in the region between said first and second electrodes;
- means for applying an electric field between said first and second electrodes in a direction different from said preset direction;
- and
- means for collecting ions directed thereto;
- said electric and magnetic fields being established for accelerating said electrons into general circulation around said first electrode on generally closed paths and for accelerating said ions toward said collecting means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.