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US 4,431,901 AGranted
Induction plasma tube
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
InventorDonald E. Hull
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AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
InventorDonald E. Hull
Estimating the term…
An induction plasma tube having a segmented, fluid-cooled internal radiation shield is disclosed. The individual segments are thick in cross-section such that the shield occupies a substantial fraction of the internal volume of the plasma enclosure, resulting in improved performance and higher sustainable plasma temperatures. The individual segments of the shield are preferably cooled by means of a counterflow fluid cooling system wherein each segment includes a central bore and a fluid supply tube extending into the bore. The counterflow cooling system results in improved cooling of the individual segments and also permits use of relatively larger shield segments which permit improved electromagnetic coupling between the induction coil and a plasma located inside the shield. Four embodiments of the invention, each having particular advantages, are disclosed.
An induction plasma tube comprising an electrical induction coil having a central longitudinal axis, a tubular enclosure centered coaxially on said axis and located inside said coil, and a segmented metal radiation shield centered coaxially on said axis inside said enclosure, said shield consisting of a plurality of elongate fluid-cooled metal shield segments extending parallel to said axis, said segments being disposed in a circular arrangement adjacent the interior surface of said enclosure and being substantially equally spaced apart circumferentially such that said shield has a generally tubular configuration, and said shield segments being shaped in cross-section so as to occlude line-of-sight transmission of light through said radiation shield.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.