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Title: Electrode configuration for extended plasma confinement

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for plasma confinement utilizing various electrode and valve configurations. In one example, a device includes a first electrode positioned to define an outer boundary of an acceleration volume, a second electrode arranged coaxially with respect to the first electrode and positioned to define an inner boundary of the acceleration volume, at least one power supply to drive an electric current along a Z-pinch plasma column between the first second electrodes, and a set of valves to provide gas to the acceleration volume to fuel the Z-pinch plasma column, wherein an electron flow of the electric current is in a first direction from the second electrode to the first electrode. In additional or alternative examples, a shaping part is conductively connected to the second electrode to, in a presence of the gas, cause a gas breakdown of the gas to generate a sheared flow velocity profile.

Inventors:
; ;
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Zap Energy Inc., Seattle, WA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E)
OSTI Identifier:
2222259
Patent Number(s):
11744001
Application Number:
17/841,593
Assignee:
Zap Energy, Inc. (Seattle, WA)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
G - PHYSICS G21 - NUCLEAR PHYSICS G21B - FUSION REACTORS
H - ELECTRICITY H05 - ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR H05H - PLASMA TECHNIQUE
DOE Contract Number:  
AR0001010; AR0001260
Resource Type:
Patent
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: 06/15/2022
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

Citation Formats

Meier, Eric T., Nelson, Brian A., and Shumlak, Uri. Electrode configuration for extended plasma confinement. United States: N. p., 2023. Web.
Meier, Eric T., Nelson, Brian A., & Shumlak, Uri. Electrode configuration for extended plasma confinement. United States.
Meier, Eric T., Nelson, Brian A., and Shumlak, Uri. Tue . "Electrode configuration for extended plasma confinement". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/2222259.
@article{osti_2222259,
title = {Electrode configuration for extended plasma confinement},
author = {Meier, Eric T. and Nelson, Brian A. and Shumlak, Uri},
abstractNote = {Methods and systems are provided for plasma confinement utilizing various electrode and valve configurations. In one example, a device includes a first electrode positioned to define an outer boundary of an acceleration volume, a second electrode arranged coaxially with respect to the first electrode and positioned to define an inner boundary of the acceleration volume, at least one power supply to drive an electric current along a Z-pinch plasma column between the first second electrodes, and a set of valves to provide gas to the acceleration volume to fuel the Z-pinch plasma column, wherein an electron flow of the electric current is in a first direction from the second electrode to the first electrode. In additional or alternative examples, a shaping part is conductively connected to the second electrode to, in a presence of the gas, cause a gas breakdown of the gas to generate a sheared flow velocity profile.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Aug 29 00:00:00 EDT 2023},
month = {Tue Aug 29 00:00:00 EDT 2023}
}

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