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US 6,183,206 B2Granted
Magnetohydrodynamically-driven compressor
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
InventorsJavier A. Valenzuela, Stacy W. Dodd
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A duct is provided having a flattened portion containing a liquid slug of gallium, and a magnetic field is passed through the gallium while an alternating current is also passed through the gallium to produce back and forth motion of the liquid gallium slug in step with the alternating current, enabling compression of working fluid within the duct.
Claims21
A compressor comprising:
- (a) a duct having two working fluid portions and a slug containing portion positioned therebetween containing a liquid slug of an electrically conductive substance;
- (b) magnetic field producing means for passing a magnetic field through said liquid slug in a first direction;
- and
- (c) current generating means for causing an alternating current to pass through said liquid slug in a second direction transverse to said first direction for in turn causing said liquid slug to move back and forth within said slug containing portion in a third direction, transverse with respect to said first and second directions, at a frequency of the alternating current thus enabling compression of said working fluid.
1 more element
A compressor comprising:
- (a) a duct having a working fluid portion and a liquid slug containing chamber portion containing a liquid slug of an electrically conductive substance capable of compressing said working fluid;
- (b) magnetic field producing means for passing a magnetic field through said liquid slug;
- and
- (c) current generating means for causing an alternating current to pass through said liquid slug and interact with said magnetic field to in turn cause said liquid slug to move back and forth, enabling compression of said working fluid.
1 more element
A compressor comprising:
- (a) a duct having a flattened slug containing portion containing a liquid slug comprising gallium and at least one working fluid portion;
- (b) magnetic field producing means including a pair of pole pieces positioned adjacent said flattened portion of said duct for passing a magnetic field through said liquid slug in a first direction;
- and
- (c) current generating means for causing an alternating current to pass through said liquid slug in a second direction substantially perpendicular to said first direction for causing said liquid slug to move back and forth within said slug containing portion in a third direction, substantially perpendicular respect to said second direction, at a frequency of the alternating current thus enabling said liquid slug to act as a piston for compressing said working fluid.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.