Apparatus and method for electrical insulation in plasma discharge systems
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Department of Energy
InventorsMark A. Rhodes, Scott N. Fochs
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Abstract
An apparatus and method to contain plasma at optimal fill capacity of a metallic container is disclosed. The invention includes the utilization of anodized layers forming the internal surfaces of the container volume. Bias resistors are calibrated to provide constant current at variable voltage conditions. By choosing the appropriate values of the bias resistors, the voltages of the metallic container relative to the voltage of an anode are adjusted to achieve optimal plasma fill while minimizing the chance of reaching the breakdown voltage of the anodized layer.
Claims22
A structure to contain plasma discharge within a container at best fill capacity of the container and minimum dielectric breakdown, the structure comprising:
- a plasma discharge containment chamber in the structure having an inner and outer surfaces;
- cathode and anode terminals interstitially disposed and supported at said inner surface of said containment chamber;
- a dielectric layer forming an epidermic cover on said inner surface;
- a power source connected to said anode and cathode to provide a plasma discharge source;
- and
- a plurality of resistors connected to said power source;
- said plurality of resistors having connections to said outer surface and said anode terminal and further having operable electrical connections to said cathode terminal via said power source to thereby confine the plasma discharge at optimal space-volume capacity of said containment chamber.
A device to optimize container and anode potentials for best plasma fill of a container while attenuating insulation breakdown, the device comprising:
- the container forming an enclosed structure;
- an anode terminal and a cathode terminal attached to internal surfaces of the container;
- a power source connected to the cathode terminal;
- and
- first and second bias resistors connected to the power source;
- said internal surfaces being formed from an anodized layer applied to the container and said first bias resistor being connected between a positive terminal of said power source and the container and further said second bias resistor being connected between said positive terminal of the power source and said anode terminal.
A method for electrical insulation in plasma discharge containers, to maintain the plasma discharge at best fill capacity of the container and minimum dielectric breakdown, comprising the device-implemented steps of:
- providing a plasma discharge containment chamber having an inner and outer surfaces;
- coating said inner surface to form an anodized layer therein;
- placing a cathode and anode terminals in a spaced-apart relations therewith on said inner surface of said container;
- providing a power source with a negative and positive terminals having operable electrical connections with said cathode terminal on the negative side and with a plurality of bias resistors on the positive side;
- connecting one of said plurality of bias resistors to said outer surface of the container;
- connecting another one of said plurality of bias resistors to said anode terminal;
- and
- controlling voltage across said inner and outer surfaces by choosing appropriate values for said plurality of bias resistors.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.