Plasma Accelerator Nonlinear Taper Reduces Outlet Current
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing plasma acceleration systems face challenges in efficiently compressing and accelerating plasma toruses due to high pushing currents at the outlet, which can lead to reduced plasma torus lifetime and influx of cold plasma particles, making it difficult to remove magnetic pushing flux and resulting in diminished net flux.
Innovation Solution
A plasma acceleration system with a tubular outer and inner electrode configuration forming an annular plasma propagation channel, featuring a high compression funnel section and a mild compression elongated section with a non-linearly decreasing annular gap, where the power source generates an electrical acceleration pulse that reduces the pushing current at the outlet end, ensuring efficient acceleration and compression with minimal residual current.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a conventional plasma accelerator with linear taper geometry is used, then the plasma torus can be accelerated, but high pushing currents at the outlet reduce plasma torus lifetime and cause influx of cold plasma particles
Solution Approach 1:
The accelerator is divided into two distinct sections: a initial section with linear taper geometry for plasma formation and initial acceleration, and a second section with non-linear taper geometry (where the gap decreases more slowly) for reduced compression. This segmentation allows the plasma to be accelerated effectively while minimizing excessive compression and pushing currents at the outlet, thereby extending plasma torus lifetime.
Solution Approach 2:
The taper geometry is changed from a static linear profile to a dynamic non-linear profile where the annular gap decrease rate varies along the accelerator length. The gap decreases rapidly in the initial section and then more slowly in the second section, allowing adaptive control of compression forces to maintain plasma integrity during acceleration.
2Productivity
If high compression is applied to accelerate plasma torus, then acceleration efficiency improves, but magnetic pushing flux cannot be removed resulting in diminished net flux
Solution Approach 1:
The accelerator is segmented into two sections with different compression characteristics. The first section provides strong compression for efficient acceleration, while the second section with non-linear taper (slower gap decrease) reduces compression intensity, allowing magnetic pushing flux to be removed more effectively and preventing flux diminishment.
Solution Approach 2:
The taper angle parameter is changed along the accelerator length. The initial section has a larger taper angle for strong compression and efficient acceleration, while the second section has a smaller taper angle to reduce compression intensity and enable effective removal of magnetic pushing flux, maintaining net flux levels.
3Ease of manufacture
If linear taper geometry is used in plasma propagation channel, then manufacturing is simpler, but plasma compression and acceleration efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The plasma propagation channel is segmented into two sections: the first section maintains linear taper geometry for ease of manufacture, while the second section uses non-linear taper geometry to optimize plasma compression and acceleration efficiency. This segmentation balances manufacturing simplicity with improved plasma performance.
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 system achieves efficient plasma torus acceleration and compression with a reduced pushing current at the outlet, maintaining high plasma energy and minimizing the influx of cold plasma particles, thereby extending plasma torus lifetime and optimizing magnetic flux management.
Implementation Method 1
providing an electrical acceleration pulse to the accelerator that produces a current that flows in the accelerator and generates a magnetic pushing flux behind the plasma torus
Implementation Method 2
the plasma torus is accelerated and compressed throughout the elongated section by an expansion of the magnetic pushing flux
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
Examples of a plasma acceleration and compression device are described. The device includes a plasma accelerator with a high compression funnel section extending from an inlet of the accelerator and an elongated section connected to the high compression funnel section that can extend from the end of the funnel section to an accelerator's outlet. The funnel section can be a cone with a steep tapering while the elongated section can have a mild, gentle, tapering along its length toward the outlet. The device further includes a power source for providing a current pulse to the accelerator to generate a pushing flux to accelerate and compress a plasma torus throughout the accelerator. The current pulse can be so shaped so that the current pulse behind the plasma torus at the outlet of the elongated section is significantly smaller than the current pulse at the first end of the elongated section while the pressure of the plasma torus at the outlet of the elongated section is greater than the pressure of the plasma torus at the beginning of the elongated section.