Rotatable Permanent Magnet Cyclotron for Variable Field Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cyclotrons face challenges in optimizing a variable magnetic field within a given cyclotron footprint and require lower energy consumption, while maintaining efficiency and flexibility for particle acceleration.
Innovation Solution
A cyclotron design featuring rotatable pieces made of permanent magnet material, with adjustable orientations and cross-sections, allowing for a variable magnetic field generation, and optionally supplemented by electrically powered coils, to optimize magnetic field strength and reduce energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If high electric power is used to excite magnets in conventional cyclotrons, then strong magnetic field is generated for particle confinement, but energy consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electromagnets (electrical system) with permanent magnets (mechanical/magnetic system) to generate the magnetic field. The permanent magnets are arranged in alternating polarity around the particle acceleration chamber, creating the necessary magnetic field for particle confinement without requiring continuous electrical power input for field generation. This substitution directly addresses the energy consumption problem while maintaining magnetic field strength.
2Device complexity
If fixed magnetic field configuration is used in cyclotron, then simple structure is maintained, but flexibility for different operating conditions and maintenance is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces rotatable permanent magnet assemblies that can be rotated to different angular positions around the particle acceleration chamber. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the magnetic field configuration to be optimized for different operating conditions and facilitates maintenance by enabling access to the chamber. The rotatable design maintains relative structural simplicity while providing operational flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The permanent magnet system is divided into multiple discrete rotatable assemblies rather than a single fixed structure. Each assembly can be independently positioned, allowing flexible configuration of the magnetic field. This segmentation enables both structural simplicity (modular design) and operational flexibility (independent adjustment of each segment).
3Strength
If larger cyclotron footprint is allowed, then magnetic field optimization is improved, but space requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the angular dimension by arranging permanent magnets in a circular configuration around the particle acceleration chamber. This circular arrangement allows the magnetic field to be optimized in three-dimensional space without increasing the linear footprint of the cyclotron. The rotatable assemblies further exploit the angular dimension to achieve field optimization within a compact footprint.
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 design achieves a compact cyclotron with optimized magnetic field strength, reduced energy consumption, and enhanced flexibility for maintenance and operation, enabling efficient particle acceleration with adjustable magnetic field configurations.
Implementation Method 1
at least part of the rotatable pieces each are at least partly made of a permanent magnet material, the magnetic field generated by the rotatable pieces in the chamber depending on the position of the rotatable pieces about their respective axis
Implementation Method 2
The cyclotron may further comprise one or more electrically powered coils, the electrically powered coils being configured to apply a magnetic field in the chamber by powering the coils
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a cyclotron (10) comprising: a particle acceleration chamber, rotatable pieces (12) for generating a magnetic field in the particle acceleration chamber, an upper part (101) above the particle acceleration chamber and a lower part (102) below the particle acceleration chamber, the upper part and the lower part being configured to be separable from one another, wherein at least part of the rotatable pieces (12) each are at least partly made of a permanent magnet material, each extend along a respective axis (18), the respective axes being oriented such that an extremity (121) of the rotatable pieces (12) is closer to a central axis (11) of the cyclotron than another extremity, each are rotatable about the respective axis (18) between several positions, the magnetic field generated by the rotatable pieces (12) in the chamber depending on the position of the rotatable pieces (12) about the respective axis (18), and each have cross-sections situated closer to the central axis (11) of the cyclotron which are smaller than other cross-sections which are situated farther from the central axis (11) of the cyclotron, the cross-sections of the rotatable pieces (12) being transverse to the respective axis (18).