DC Charged Particle Accelerator With Isolated Regulated Gap Voltages

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing d.c. charged particle accelerators face instability and limited beam current due to voltage fluctuations caused by beam strikes on intermediate electrodes, leading to potential arcing and reduced stability, especially at high beam powers and multiple acceleration gaps.

Innovation Solution

A d.c. charged particle accelerator design with regulated high voltage power supply apparatus, utilizing multiple d.c. voltage generators and an isolating power delivery system with alternators to provide isolated and regulated output voltages across acceleration gaps, reducing the impact of beam strikes and maintaining stability at higher beam powers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single high voltage power supply is used for multiple acceleration gaps, then device complexity is reduced, but voltage stability deteriorates due to beam strikes on intermediate electrodes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower supply structureVSAvoidvoltage stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The power supply system is segmented into multiple independent regulated d.c. power supplies, with each power supply dedicated to a specific acceleration gap. This segmentation isolates voltage fluctuations caused by beam strikes on intermediate electrodes to individual gaps, preventing propagation to other gaps and maintaining overall system stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If regulated power supplies are used for each acceleration gap, then voltage stability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevoltage stabilityVSAvoidpower supply structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The intermediate electrodes serve as electrical intermediaries between acceleration gaps, each connected to a dedicated regulated power supply. This intermediary arrangement allows independent voltage control for each gap while maintaining electrical isolation, resolving the complexity-stability trade-off by localizing control functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If high beam power is used to increase productivity, then ion beam acceleration efficiency is improved, but voltage fluctuations increase leading to arcing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebeam currentVSAvoidvoltage stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Each regulated d.c. power supply incorporates feedback control mechanisms that continuously monitor and adjust the voltage across its associated acceleration gap. This feedback system compensates for voltage fluctuations caused by beam strikes, even at high beam currents, preventing arcing and maintaining stable operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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 solution enhances the stability and performance of the d.c. charged particle accelerator, allowing operation at higher beam powers and energies with reduced voltage fluctuations, thereby preventing arcing and maintaining efficient ion beam acceleration.

Implementation Method 1

a rotor carrying at least one rotor magnet to produce a rotating magnetic field in the stator to induce alternating currents in the stator winding to provide the a. c. power

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

N d. c. high voltage power supply units providing said regulated high voltage d. c. outputs from unregulated input electric power

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical energy conversion and regulation:

Implementation Method 3

The acceleration electrodes define at least N acceleration gaps between adjacent pairs of said electrodes... to provide gap voltages across said N acceleration gaps

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrostatic acceleration: Electric Field

Data Source

PatentEP2649863B1A d.c. charged particles accelerator
Publication Date: 2017.03.15 GTAT CORPORATION
  • EP2649863B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2649863B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2649863B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A d. c. charged particle accelerator comprises accelerator electrodes separated by insulating spacers defining acceleration gaps between adjacent pairs of electrodes. Individually regulated gap voltages are applied across each adjacent pair of accelerator electrodes. In embodiments, the individually regulated gap voltages are generated by electrically isolated alternators mounted on a common rotor shaft driven by an electric motor. Alternating power outputs from the alternators provide inputs to individual regulated d. c. power supplies to generate the gap voltages. The power supplies are electrically isolated and have outputs connected in series across successive pairs of accelerator electrodes. The described embodiment enables an ion beam to be accelerated to high energies and high beam currents, with good accelerator stability.