Ablative Plasma Gun With Segmented Electrodes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing plasma guns require costly high-energy capacitors and high voltage to generate high current pulses, making them expensive and inefficient for applications like arc mitigation and plasma thrusters.
Innovation Solution
A dual electrode plasma gun design with ablative material proximate the electrodes generates conductive ablative plasma vapors using a low voltage high current arc, reducing the breakdown voltage required across the gap and allowing for efficient plasma generation with lower cost microfarad range capacitors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If high voltage greater than 5,000 Volts is utilized to overcome breakdown voltage and initiate high current pulse, then plasma generation is achieved, but cost and inefficiency increase
Solution Approach 1:
The plasma gun electrode assembly is segmented into multiple electrodes (first pair and second pair of gun electrodes) with ablative material positioned between them. This segmentation allows the use of lower voltage to initiate arcs between individual electrode pairs, which then collectively generate the required plasma without needing a single high-voltage breakdown event.
Solution Approach 2:
Ablative material is positioned in advance between the gun electrodes, ready to be converted into plasma. The preliminary placement of this material allows the arcs to directly作用于 the material and generate plasma vapors without requiring high voltage to overcome air breakdown, thereby improving energy efficiency.
2Quantity of substance
If costly high-energy capacitors with millifarad range are used to generate high current pulses, then adequate plasma vapors are generated, but device cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the operational parameters by using lower voltage (below 5,000 Volts) and utilizing the ablative material's properties to generate plasma. This parameter change allows the use of less expensive microfarad range capacitors instead of costly millifarad range capacitors, reducing device cost while still achieving adequate plasma vapor generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The ablative material is designed to be consumed during operation, converting itself into plasma vapors. This disposable nature of the ablative material eliminates the need for expensive, high-capacity capacitors, as the material itself provides the plasma source, thereby reducing overall device cost.
3Device complexity
If single electrode design is used, then structure is simple, but plasma generation efficiency is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode structure is segmented into multiple electrodes (first pair and second pair of gun electrodes) with ablative material positioned between them. This segmentation allows the use of lower voltage to initiate arcs between individual electrode pairs, which then collectively generate the required plasma without needing a single high-voltage breakdown event.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The dual electrode plasma gun design significantly reduces the operating voltage needed for plasma generation, achieving high current arcs at lower costs and enabling more efficient plasma thrusters and arc mitigation devices.
Implementation Method 1
an ablative plasma gun of the ablative plasma gun subassembly injects an ablative plasma into a main gap between the two or more main electrodes
Implementation Method 2
In response to a low voltage high current arc between the second pair of gun electrodes
Implementation Method 3
A high current pulse source can provide the high current pulse to trigger a plasma gun to generate conductive ablative plasma vapors between the main electrodes
Data Source
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AI summary
An ablative plasma gun subassembly (83) is disclosed. The subassembly (83) includes a body (35), a first pair (55) and a second pair of gun electrodes (60) having distal ends (125, 130, 135, 140) disposed within an interior of the body (87), and ablative material (85) disposed proximate the distal ends (125, 130, 135, 140) of at least one of the first pair of gun electrodes (55) and the second pair of gun electrodes (60).