Gas-Deflector Plate Geometry for Differential Pumping Jet Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
In differential pumping systems used in particle accelerators and mass spectrometers, high-pressure gas from the target naturally flows towards lower pressure regions, forming coherent gas jets that can bypass pumping stages, leading to increased pressure upstream and reduced effectiveness of the accelerator.
Innovation Solution
A gas-deflector plate with a channel shaped and/or angled such that jetting gas enters the lower pressure region at an angle offset from the vertical axis, combined with a jet-deflector component to redirect the gas jet, effectively deflecting the gas jet off-axis and reducing its coherence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a narrow-diameter aperture is used to focus the beam into the target chamber, then beam transport effectiveness is improved, but gas jet coherence increases causing higher pressures to propagate further up the beamline
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces asymmetric elements (such as angled aperture edges or off-center aperture positioning) to break the symmetry of the gas jet flow. This asymmetry causes the gas to disperse more widely rather than forming a coherent jet, thereby reducing pressure propagation along the beamline while maintaining beam transport effectiveness through the aperture.
2Reliability
If differential pumping stages are used to maintain vacuum, then vacuum quality is improved, but gas jets can bypass pumping stages leading to increased pumping demands
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary gas dispersion measures (such as asymmetric aperture design) before the gas enters the differential pumping stages. By pre-dispersing the gas jet coherence, the system ensures that gas is more evenly distributed across pumping stages, preventing bypass effects and reducing the overall pumping capacity required to maintain vacuum quality.
3Device complexity
If coaxial pumping apertures are used in a linear beamline, then system simplicity is improved, but gas jet coherence causes higher pressures to propagate further interfering with beam transport
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the symmetric coaxial aperture arrangement by introducing asymmetric features (angled edges, offset positioning) that disrupt gas jet coherence. This allows the maintenance of a relatively simple linear beamline configuration while preventing the formation of coherent gas jets that would otherwise propagate pressure disturbances and interfere with beam transport.
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 significantly reduces the mass transport between differential pumping stages, thereby decreasing pumping demands and allowing for lower base pressures, enhancing the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the accelerator system.
Implementation Method 1
jetting gas moving through the channel from the higher pressure region to the lower pressure region
Implementation Method 2
the channel is shaped and/or angled such that jetting gas moving through the channel enters the lower pressure region at an angle offset from the vertical axis
Implementation Method 3
a jet-deflector component is employed such that the jetting gas strikes such jet-deflector component and is re-directed in another direction
Data Source
AI summary
Provided herein are articles of manufacture, systems, and methods employing a gas-deflector plate in low to ultra-high vacuum systems that use differential pumping (e.g., gas-target particle accelerators, mass spectrometers, and windowless delivery ports). In certain embodiments, the gas-deflector plate is configured to be positioned between higher and lower pressure regions in a pressurized system, wherein the gas-deflector plate has a channel therethrough shaped and/or angled such that jetting gas moving through the channel enters the lower pressure region at an angle offset from the vertical axis of the gas-deflector plate and/or the channel. In other embodiments, a jet-deflector component is employed such that the jetting gas strikes such jet-deflector component and is re-directed in another direction.