Structured plasma energy cell system

Abstract

A system includes a first electrode, a second electrode, a third electrode, and a switch. The switch is electrically connected to the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode. The first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode are electrically isolated when the switch is in an open configuration. The first electrode and the second electrode are electrically connected when the switch is in a closed configuration.

Description

STRUCTURED PLASMA ENERGY CELL SYSTEMCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 688,012 filed August 28, 2024, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure relates to a structured plasma energy cell system.SUMMARY

[0003] At low power levels, radiation from a nuclear reactor is insufficient to create a plasma within a SPACE electrode. This allows for current to be extracted from the SPACE electrode to measure neutron or gamma flux, a method known as "current-mode." At these low power levels, where detecting individual neutron interactions is crucial, "Campbelling" and "pulse modes" are used in the intermediate and source power ranges, respectively. While it is possible to operate in these modes with standard SPACE electrodes (e.g., where first and second electrodes are electrically connected), it is not ideal. This is because ionization events occur only between the SPACE electrode (e.g., first and second electrodes) and an outer electrode (e.g., third electrode), making the setup less effective.

[0004] A better way is to electrically isolate the first, second, and third electrodes via a switch when a plasma cannot be produced so that an external bias can be applied between the first and second electrodes and between the second and third electrodes. This makes detection possible within both the SPACE electrode system and the outer electrode. Once current-mode is possible, the switch may be closed so that the first and second electrodes are at the same potential, thus making an electrically connected SPACE electrode.Atorney Docket No. 49539-28

[0005] Further areas of applicability of the present disclosure will become apparent from the detailed description, the claims, and the drawings. The detailed description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] The present disclosure will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings.

[0007] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an example structured plasma energy cell system in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure.

[0008] FIG. 2 is a flowchart of an example method for operating the system of FIG. 1 in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure.

[0009] In the drawings, reference numbers may be reused to identify similar and / or identical elements.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0010] With reference to FIG. 1, an example structured plasma energy cell system 10 is shown. In various implementations, the system 10 includes a first electrode 12, a second electrode 14, a third electrode 16, a first voltage source 18, a second voltage source 20, a switch 22, and / or an electrical load 24, among others. In some example configurations, the first electrode 12 and the second electrode 14 define a foam structure (e.g., a triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) structure). The third electrode 16 may at least partially surround and / or enclose the first electrode 12 and the second electrode 14.

[0011] In various implementations, a plurality of spaces 30 (e.g., inter-electrode gaps) are disposed between the first electrode 12, the second electrode 14, and / or the third electrode 16. In various implementations, a gas (e.g., argon, helium, neon, air, etc.) is disposed in the spaces 30.Atorney Docket No. 49539-28

[0012] In various implementations, the first voltage source 18 is electrically connected to the first electrode 12, the second electrode 14, and / or the switch 22. The first voltage source 18 may provide voltage to the first electrode 12 and the second electrode 14. In various implementations, the second voltage source 20 is electrically connected to the first electrode 12, the second electrode 14, the third electrode 16, and / or the switch 22. The second voltage source 20 may provide voltage to the first electrode 12, the second electrode 14, and / or the third electrode 16.

[0013] In various implementations, the switch 22 is electrically connected to the first electrode 12, the second electrode 14, the third electrode 16, the first voltage source 18, and / or the second voltage source 20. In various implementations, in response to the switch 22 being in an open configuration (e.g., a deactivated state), the first electrode 12, the second electrode 14, and the third electrode 16 are electrically isolated.

[0014] In response to the switch 22 being in a closed configuration (e.g., an activated state), the first electrode 12 and the second electrode 14 are electrically connected so that the first electrode 12 and the second electrode 14 can receive the same amount of voltage (e.g., same potential) from at least one voltage source (e.g., the first voltage source 18 and / or the second voltage source 20). In various implementations, the load 24 is electrically connected to the first electrode 12, the second electrode 14, and / or the third electrode 16.

[0015] The system 10 may include a controller (not depicted). The controller may be electrically connected to the first voltage source 18, the second voltage source 20, and / or the switch 22, among others. The controller may control operation of the first voltage source 18, the second voltage source 20, and / or the switch 22, among others. For example, the controller may selectively deactivate (e.g., open) the switch 22 to electrically isolate the first electrode 12, the second electrode 14, and the third electrode 16. The controller may selectively activate (e.g., close) the switch 22 to electrically connect the first electrode 12 and the second electrode 14.Atorney Docket No. 49539-28

[0016] In various implementations, the controller includes an electronic controller and / or an electronic processor, such as a programmable microprocessor and / or microcontroller. The controller may include an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The controller may include a central processing unit (CPU), a memory (for example, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium), and / or an input / output (I / O) interface. The controller may perform various functions, including those described in greater detail herein, with appropriate programming instructions and / or code embodied in software, hardware, and / or other medium. The controller may include a plurality of controllers. The controller may be connected to a display, such as a touch screen.

[0017] In various implementations, the system 10 generates electrical current to power the load 24. For example, in response to a voltage source (e.g., the first voltage source 18, the second voltage source 20) providing voltage to an electrode (e.g., the first electrode 12, the second electrode 14, the third electrode 16), the electrode may emit charged particles (e.g., electrons) into at least some of the spaces 30. In various implementations, the emitted charged particles collide with the gas disposed in the spaces 30 to form an ionized gas (e.g., plasma). The generation of the ionized gas creates electrical current that may be provided to the load 24. In various implementations, the quantity of charged particles emitted into the spaces 30 represents the amount of electrical current generated by the system 10.

[0018] FIG. 2 is a flowchart of an example method 100 of operating the system 10. The method 100 may begin at 104. At 104, the method 100 may include, in response to system 10 being unable to generate plasma, electrically isolating the first electrode 12, the second electrode 14, and the third electrode 16 via the switch 22. For example, the first electrode 12, the second electrode 14, and the third electrode 16 may be electrically isolated in response to the switch 22 being in the open configuration. In various implementations, in response to the first electrode 12, the second electrode 14, and the third electrode 16 being electrically isolated, an external bias can be applied between the first electrode 12 and theAtorney Docket No. 49539-28 second electrode 14 and / or between the second electrode 14 and the third electrode 16. In various implementations, the system 10 may be unable to generate plasma when the system 10 is operating below a power level threshold (e.g., counts per second less than 106counts s'1). The method 100 may proceed to 108.

[0019] At 108, the method 100 may include, in response to the system 10 generating plasma, electrically connecting the first electrode 12 and second electrode 14 via the switch 22, for example, to operate the system 10 in the current mode. In various implementations, the system 10 may be generate plasma when the system 10 is operating above a power level threshold (e.g., counts per second greater than 106counts s'1). The method 100 may proceed to 112.

[0020] At 112, the method 100 may include, in response to the first electrode 12 and the second electrode 14 being electrically connected, providing, by at least one voltage source (e.g., the first voltage source 18 and / or the second voltage source 20) the same amount of voltage (e.g., potential) to the first electrode 12 and the second electrode 14. The method 100 may proceed to 116.

[0021] At 116, the method 100 may include generating, by the system 10, electrical current, for example, to provide to the load 24. Then the method 100 may end.

[0022] The foregoing description is merely illustrative in nature and is in no way intended to limit the disclosure, its application, or uses. The broad teachings of the disclosure can be implemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, while this disclosure includes particular' examples, the true scope of the disclosure should not be so limited since other modifications will become apparent upon a study of the drawings, the specification, and the following claims. In the written description and claims, one or more steps within a method may be executed in a different order (or concurrently) without altering the principles of the present disclosure. Similarly, one or more instructions stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium may be executed in a different order (or concurrently)Atorney Docket No. 49539-28 without altering the principles of the present disclosure. Unless indicated otherwise, numbering or other labeling of instructions or method steps is done for convenient reference, not to indicate a fixed order. Numerical terms, such as “first,” “second,” and “third,” may be used in the disclosure and claims as unique labels: they are not used to imply a sequence or order unless the context clear indicates otherwise. In other words, a “second element” could be relabeled as a “first element” without departing from the principles of the present disclosure. Further, the presence of a “second element” does not imply or require the presence of a “first element.”

[0023] Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular articles “a,” “an,” and “the” before a noun do not restrict the noun to a single instance. The verbs “comprise,” “include,” and “have” are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of elements without excluding the presence of one or more additional elements.

[0024] Further, although each of the embodiments is described above as having certain features, any one or more of those features described with respect to any embodiment of the disclosure can be implemented in and / or combined with features of any of the other embodiments, even if that combination is not explicitly described. In other words, the described embodiments are not mutually exclusive, and permutations of one or more embodiments with one another remain within the scope of this disclosure.

[0025] Spatial and functional relationships between elements (for example, between modules, circuit elements, semiconductor layers, etc.) are described using various terms, including “connected,” “coupled,” “engaged,” “adjacent,” “next to,” “on top of,” “above,” “below,” and “disposed.” Unless explicitly described as being “direct,” when a relationship between first and second elements is described in the above disclosure, that relationship encompasses a direct relationship where no other intervening elements are present between the first and second elements as well as an indirect relationship where one or moreAtorney Docket No. 49539-28 intervening elements are present (either spatially or functionally) between the first and second elements.

[0026] The term “set” generally means a grouping of one or more elements. The elements of a set do not necessarily need to have any characteristics in common or otherwise belong together. However, in various implementations a “set” may, in certain circumstances, be the empty set (in other words, the set has zero elements in those circumstances). As an example, a set of search results resulting from a query may, depending on the query, be the empty set. In contexts where it is not otherwise clear, the term “non-empty set” can be used to explicitly denote exclusion of the empty set — that is, a non-empty set will always have one or more elements.

[0027] A “subset” of a first set generally includes some of the elements of the first set. In various implementations, a subset of the first set is not necessarily a proper subset: in certain circumstances, the subset may be coextensive with (equal to) the first set (in other words, the subset may include the same elements as the first set). In contexts where it is not otherwise clear, the term “proper subset” can be used to explicitly denote that a subset of the first set must exclude at least one of the elements of the first set. Further, in various implementations, the term “subset” does not necessarily exclude the empty set. As an example, consider a set of candidates that was selected based on first criteria and a subset of the set of candidates that was selected based on second criteria; if no elements of the set of candidates met the second criteria, the subset may be the empty set. In contexts where it is not otherwise clear, the term “non-empty subset” can be used to explicitly denote exclusion of the empty set.

[0028] The phrase “at least one of A, B, and C” should be construed to mean a logical (A OR B OR C), using a non-exclusive logical OR, and should not be construed to mean “at least one of A, at least one of B, and at least one of C.” The phrase “at least one of A, B, or C” should be construed to mean a logical (A OR B OR C), using a non-exclusive logical OR. The phrase "A, B, and / or C" should be construed in the same way as the phrase “at least one of A, B, and C.”Atorney Docket No. 49539-28

[0029] In the figures, the direction of an arrow, as indicated by the arrowhead, generally demonstrates the flow of information (such as data or instructions) that is of interest to the illustration. For example, when element A and element B exchange a variety of information but information transmitted from element A to element B is relevant to the illustration, the arrow may point from element A to element B. This unidirectional arrow does not imply that no other information is transmitted from element B to element A. Further, for information sent from element A to element B, element B may send requests for, or receipt acknowledgments of, the information to element A.

[0030] In this application, including the definitions below, the term “module” can be replaced with the term “controller” or the term “circuit.” In this application, the term “controller” can be replaced with the term “module.” The term “module” may refer to, be pail of, or include: an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC); a digital, analog, or mixed analog / digital discrete circuit; a digital, analog, or mixed analog / digital integrated circuit; a combinational logic circuit; a field programmable gate array (FPGA); processor hardware (shared, dedicated, or group) that executes code; memory hardware (shared, dedicated, or group) that is coupled with the processor hardware and stores code executed by the processor hardware; other suitable hardware components that provide the described functionality; or a combination of some or all of the above, such as in a system-on-chip.

[0031] The module may include one or more interface circuits. In some examples, the interface circuit(s) may implement wired or wireless interfaces that connect to a local area network (LAN) or a wireless personal area network (WPAN). Examples of a LAN are Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Standard 802.11-2020 (also known as the WIFI wireless networking standard) and IEEE Standard 802.3-2018 (also known as the ETHERNET wired networking standard). Examples of a WPAN are IEEE Standard 802.15.4 (including the ZIGBEE standard from the ZigBee Alliance) and, from the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), the BLUETOOTH wireless networkingAtorney Docket No. 49539-28 standard (including Core Specification versions 3.0, 4.0, 4.1, 4.2, 5.0, and 5.1 from the Bluetooth SIG).

[0032] The module may communicate with other modules using the interface circuit(s). Although the module may be depicted in the present disclosure as logically communicating directly with other modules, in various implementations the module may actually communicate via a communications system. The communications system includes physical and / or virtual networking equipment such as hubs, switches, routers, and gateways. In some implementations, the communications system connects to or traverses a wide area network (WAN) such as the Internet. For example, the communications system may include multiple LANs connected to each other over the Internet or point-to-point leased lines using technologies including Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) and virtual private networks (VPNs).

[0033] In various implementations, the functionality of the module may be distributed among multiple modules that are connected via the communications system. For example, multiple modules may implement the same functionality distributed by a load balancing system. In a further example, the functionality of the module may be split between a server (also known as remote, or cloud) module and a client (or, user) module. For example, the client module may include a native or web application executing on a client device and in network communication with the server module.

[0034] Some or all hardware features of a module may be defined using a language for hardware description, such as IEEE Standard 1364-2005 (commonly called “Verilog”) and IEEE Standard 1076-2008 (commonly called “VHDL”). The hardware description language may be used to manufacture and / or program a hardware circuit. In some implementations, some or all features of a module may be defined by a language, such as IEEE 1666-2005 (commonly called “SystemC”), that encompasses both code, as described below, and hardware description.Atorney Docket No. 49539-28

[0035] The term code, as used above, may include software, firmware, and / or microcode, and may refer to programs, routines, functions, classes, data structures, and / or objects. Shared processor hardware encompasses a single microprocessor that executes some or all code from multiple modules. Group processor hardware encompasses a microprocessor that, in combination with additional microprocessors, executes some or all code from one or more modules. References to multiple microprocessors encompass multiple microprocessors on discrete dies, multiple microprocessors on a single die, multiple cores of a single microprocessor, multiple threads of a single microprocessor, or a combination of the above.

[0036] The memory hardware may also store data together with or separate from the code. Shared memory hardware encompasses a single memory device that stores some or all code from multiple modules. One example of shared memory hardware may be level 1 cache on or near a microprocessor die, which may store code from multiple modules. Another example of shared memory hardware may be persistent storage, such as a solid state drive (SSD) or magnetic hard disk drive (HDD), which may store code from multiple modules. Group memory hardware encompasses a memory device that, in combination with other memory devices, stores some or all code from one or more modules. One example of group memory hardware is a storage area network (SAN), which may store code of a particular module across multiple physical devices. Another example of group memory hardware is random access memory of each of a set of servers that, in combination, store code of a particular module. The term memory hardware is a subset of the term computer-readable medium.

[0037] The apparatuses and methods described in this application may be partially or fully implemented by a special-purpose computer created by configuring a general-purpose computer to execute one or more particular functions embodied in computer programs. Such apparatuses and methods may be described as computerized or computer- implemented apparatuses and methods. The functional blocks and flowchart elements described above serve as softwareAtorney Docket No. 49539-28 specifications, which can be translated into the computer programs by the routine work of a skilled technician or programmer.

[0038] The computer programs include processor-executable instructions that are stored on at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium. The computer programs may also include or rely on stored data. The computer programs may encompass a basic input / output system (BIOS) that interacts with hardware of the special-purpose computer, device drivers that interact with particular devices of the special-purpose computer, one or more operating systems, user applications, background services, background applications, etc.

[0039] The computer programs may include: (i) descriptive text to be parsed, such as HTML (hypertext markup language), XML (extensible markup language), or JSON (JavaScript Object Notation), (ii) assembly code, (iii) object code generated from source code by a compiler, (iv) source code for execution by an interpreter, (v) source code for compilation and execution by a just-in-time compiler, etc. As examples only, source code may be written using syntax from languages including C, C++, C#, Objective C, Swift, Haskell, Go, SQL, R, Lisp, Java®, Fortran, Perl, Pascal, Curl, OCaml, JavaScript®, HTML5 (Hypertext Markup Language 5th revision), Ada, ASP (Active Server Pages), PHP (PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor), Scala, Eiffel, Smalltalk, Erlang, Ruby, Flash®, Visual Basic®, Lua, MATLAB, SIMULINK, and Python®.

[0040] The term non-transitory computer-readable medium does not encompass transitory electrical or electromagnetic signals propagating through a medium (such as on a carrier wave). Non-limiting examples of a non-transitory computer- readable medium are nonvolatile memory circuits (such as a flash memory circuit, an erasable programmable read-only memory circuit, or a mask read-only memory circuit), volatile memory circuits (such as a static random access memory circuit or a dynamic random access memory circuit), magnetic storage media (such as an analog or digital magnetic tape or a hard disk drive), and optical storage media (such as a CD, a DVD, or a Blu-ray Disc).Atorney Docket No. 49539-28

[0041] Various example embodiments of the invention are described in the following clauses.

[0042] Clause 1: A system comprising: a first electrode; a second electrode; a third electrode; and a switch electrically connected to the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode, wherein the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode are electrically isolated when the switch is in an open configuration, and wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are electrically connected when the switch is in a closed configuration.

[0043] Clause 2: The system of clause 1, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode define a foam structure.

[0044] Clause 3: The system of clause 1 or 2, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode define a triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) structure.

[0045] Clause 4: The system of any of clauses 1 through 3, wherein the third electrode surrounds the first electrode and the second electrode.

[0046] Clause 5: The system of any of clauses 1 through 4, wherein a plurality of spaces are disposed between the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode.

[0047] Clause 6: The system of clause 5, wherein a gas is disposed in the plurality of spaces.

[0048] Clause 7: The system of any of clauses 1 through 6, further comprising a voltage source electrically connected to the first electrode, the second electrode, and the switch.

[0049] Clause 8: The system of clause 7, further comprising an additional voltage source electrically connected to the first electrode, the second electrode, the third electrode, and the switch.

[0050] Clause 9: The system of clause 7, further comprising an electrical load electrically connected to the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode.Atorney Docket No. 49539-28

[0051] Clause 10: The system of clause 9, wherein the system is configured to generate electrical current to power the electrical load.

[0052] Clause 11: The system of any of clauses 1 through 10, wherein: a plurality of spaces are disposed between the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode, and in response to a voltage source providing voltage to at least one of the first electrode, the second electrode, or the third electrode, charged particles are emitted into at least some of the spaces to form an ionized gas.

[0053] Clause 12: The system of clause 11, further comprising an electrical load electrically connected to the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode, wherein forming the ionized gas causes electrical current to be generated, and wherein the generated electrical current is used to power the electrical load.

[0054] Clause 13: The system of any of clauses 11 through 12, wherein a quantity of charged particles emitted into the spaces correlates to an amount of electrical current generated by the system.

[0055] Clause 14: The system of any of clauses 1 1 through 13, wherein the ionized gas includes a plasma.

[0056] Clause 15: The system of any of clauses 11 through 14, wherein the system is configured to generate the ionized gas in response to the system operating above a power level threshold.

[0057] Clause 16: The system of any of clauses 1 through 15, wherein, in response to the system being unable to generate an ionized gas, the switch is moved to the open configuration to electrically isolate the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode.

[0058] Clause 17: The system of clause 16, wherein, in response to the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode being electrically isolated, an external bias is generated so that the ionized gas can be formed.Atorney Docket No. 49539-28

[0059] Clause 18: The system of clause 17, wherein, in response to the ionized gas being formed, the switch is moved to the closed configuration to electrically connect the first electrode and the second electrode.

[0060] Clause 19: The system of clause 18, further comprising a voltage source electrically connected to the first electrode, the second electrode, and the switch, wherein, in response to the first electrode and the second electrode being electrically connected, the voltage source is configured to supply an equal amount of voltage to the first electrode and the second electrode.

[0061] Clause 20: The system of clause 19, further comprising an electrical load electrically connected to the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode, wherein, in response to the voltage source supplying voltage to the first electrode and the second electrode, electrical current is generated and is supplied to the electrical load.

Claims

Atorney Docket No. 49539-28CLAIMS1. A system comprising: a first electrode; a second electrode; a third electrode; and a switch electrically connected to the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode, wherein the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode are electrically isolated when the switch is in an open configuration, and wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are electrically connected when the switch is in a closed configuration.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the first electrode and the second electrode define a foam structure.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the first electrode and the second electrode define a triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) structure.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the third electrode surrounds the first electrode and the second electrode.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein a plurality of spaces are disposed between the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein a gas is disposed in the plurality of spaces.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising a voltage source electrically connected to the first electrode, the second electrode, and the switch.Atorney Docket No. 49539-288. The system of claim 7 further comprising an additional voltage source electrically connected to the first electrode, the second electrode, the third electrode, and the switch.

9. The system of claim 7 further comprising an electrical load electrically connected to the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the system is configured to generate electrical current to power the electrical load.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein: a plurality of spaces are disposed between the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode, and in response to a voltage source providing voltage to at least one of the first electrode, the second electrode, or the third electrode, charged particles are emitted into at least some of the spaces to form an ionized gas.

12. The system of claim 11 further comprising an electrical load electrically connected to the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode, wherein forming the ionized gas causes electrical current to be generated, and wherein the generated electrical current is used to power the electrical load.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein a quantity of charged particles emitted into the spaces correlates to an amount of electrical current generated by the system.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein the ionized gas includes a plasma.Atorney Docket No. 49539-2815. The system of claim 11 wherein the system is configured to generate the ionized gas in response to the system operating above a power level threshold.

16. The system of claim 1 wherein, in response to the system being unable to generate an ionized gas, the switch is moved to the open configuration to electrically isolate the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein, in response to the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode being electrically isolated, an external bias is generated so that the ionized gas can be formed.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein, in response to the ionized gas being formed, the switch is moved to the closed configuration to electrically connect the first electrode and the second electrode.

19. The system of claim 18 further comprising a voltage source electrically connected to the first electrode, the second electrode, and the switch, wherein, in response to the first electrode and the second electrode being electrically connected, the voltage source is configured to supply an equal amount of voltage to the first electrode and the second electrode.

20. The system of claim 19 further comprising an electrical load electrically connected to the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode, wherein, in response to the voltage source supplying voltage to the first electrode and the second electrode, electrical current is generated and is supplied to the electrical load.

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