公开(公告)号：US06398920B1

公开(公告)日：2002-06-04

申请号：US09790357

申请日：2001-02-21

Applicant: Tihiro Ohkawa ,  Robert L. Miller ,  Sergei Putvinski ,  Richard L. Freeman

Inventor： Tihiro Ohkawa ,  Robert L. Miller ,  Sergei Putvinski ,  Richard L. Freeman

IPC: B01J1908

CPC classification number: H01J49/328

Abstract: A filter and a method for separating ions in a partially ionized plasma according to their mass includes a chamber with crossed electric and magnetic fields established therein. A feed, including metal atoms having ionization potentials in a low range, and gas atoms having an ionization potential in a high range, is introduced into the chamber. An electron temperature below the low range is generated to partially ionize the feed by dissociating the metal atoms from the gas atoms, and by ionizing the metal atoms into light and heavy ions according to their mass to charge ratio. The light and heavy ions are then influenced by the crossed electric and magnetic fields to separate the light ions from the heavy ions.

Abstract translation: 根据其质量的用于分离部分电离等离子体中的离子的过滤器和方法包括在其中建立了交叉的电场和磁场的腔室。 将包含电离电位低范围的金属原子和高电离电位的气体原料引入室内。 产生低于低范围的电子温度，通过使金属原子与气体原子分离，并通过根据其质荷比将金属原子离子化成轻质和重离子来使进料部分离子化。 轻离子和重离子然后被交叉的电场和磁场影响，以将轻离子与重离子分离。

公开(公告)号：US06251282B1

公开(公告)日：2001-06-26

申请号：US09456795

申请日：1999-12-08

Applicant: Sergei Putvinski ,  Tihiro Ohkawa ,  Richard L. Freeman

Inventor： Sergei Putvinski ,  Tihiro Ohkawa ,  Richard L. Freeman

IPC: B03C100

CPC classification number: B03C1/023 ,  B03C1/288 ,  H01J49/328

Abstract: A plasma mass filter using a helical magnetic field for separating low-mass particles from high-mass particles in a multi-species plasma includes a cylindrical outer wall located at a distance “a” from a longitudinal axis. Also included is a coaxial cylindrical inner wall positioned to establish a plasma chamber between the inner and outer walls. The magnetic field is generated in this chamber with an axial component (Bz) and an azimuthal component (B&thgr;), which interact together with an electric field to create crossed magnetic and electric fields. The electric field has a positive potential, Vctr, on the inner wall and a zero potential on the outer wall. With these crossed magnetic and electric fields, a multi-species plasma is moved through the chamber with a velocity, vz, high-mass particles in the plasma (M2) are ejected into the outer wall and low-mass particles (M1) are confined in the chamber during transit of the chamber to separate the low-mass particles from the high-mass particles, where M1

Abstract translation: 使用螺旋磁场的等离子体质量过滤器用于从多质量等离子体中的高质量粒子分离低质量粒子包括位于距纵向轴线“a”的圆柱形外壁。 还包括定位成在内壁和外壁之间建立等离子体室的同轴圆柱形内壁。 在该腔室中产生具有轴向分量（Bz）和方位角分量（Btheta）的磁场，其与电场相互作用以产生交叉的磁场和电场。 电场在内壁上具有正电位Vctr，在外壁上具有零电位。 通过这些交叉的磁场和电场，多品种等离子体以等离子体（M2）中的速度，vz，高质量粒子的速度被移动通过室，并且低质量粒子（M1）被限制 在室内运送期间，将低质量颗粒与高质量颗粒分离，其中M1

公开(公告)号：US06410880B1

公开(公告)日：2002-06-25

申请号：US09480097

申请日：2000-01-10

Applicant: Sergei Putvinski ,  Stephen F. Agnew ,  Tihiro Ohkawa ,  Leigh Sevier

Inventor： Sergei Putvinski ,  Stephen F. Agnew ,  Tihiro Ohkawa ,  Leigh Sevier

IPC: B23K1000

CPC classification number: H05H1/30 ,  H05H1/42

Abstract: A plasma torch for vaporizing a molten salt containing a volatile component and a refractory component injects the molten salt into a device that includes a cylindrical shaped outer member and a cylindrical shaped inner member coaxially positioned inside the outer member to surround a chamber. An induction coil positioned between the inner and outer members generates r.f. power which is initially used to vaporize the volatile component of the molten salt to create a carrier gas having an elevated temperature. The carrier gas then heats the refractory component, under an increased vapor pressure from the carrier gas. This action, in turn, breaks down the refractory component of the molten salt into fine droplets. These fine droplets are maintained in the chamber until they also vaporize. In one embodiment, the plasma torch includes a nozzle for spraying droplets of the molten salt into said chamber. In another embodiment, a jet is positioned at the entrance of the chamber to direct the molten salt tangentially onto the inner wall. This creates a film of the molten salt which partially evaporates in the chamber. For this embodiment a diverter is positioned at the exit of the chamber to redirect unevaporated molten salt back to the jet for recycling.

Abstract translation: 用于蒸发含有挥发性组分和耐火成分的熔融盐的等离子体焰炬将熔融盐注入包括圆筒形外部构件和同轴位于外部构件内部以围绕室的圆柱形内部构件的装置中。 定位在内部和外部构件之间的感应线圈产生r.f. 其最初用于蒸发熔融盐的挥发性组分以产生具有升高的温度的载气。 然后，载体气体在来自载气的增加的蒸气压下加热耐火构件。 这一动作又将熔融盐的难熔组分分解成细小的液滴。 这些细小的液滴保持在室中，直到它们也蒸发。 在一个实施例中，等离子体焰炬包括用于将熔融盐的液滴喷射到所述室中的喷嘴。 在另一个实施例中，射流位于腔室的入口处，以将熔融盐切向地引导到内壁上。 这产生了在室中部分蒸发的熔盐的膜。 对于该实施例，转向器位于腔室的出口处，以将未蒸发的熔融盐重新定向到喷射器以进行再循环。

公开(公告)号：US06787044B1

公开(公告)日：2004-09-07

申请号：US10385073

申请日：2003-03-10

Applicant: Richard L. Freeman ,  Robert L. Miller ,  John Gilleland ,  Tihiro Ohkawa

Inventor： Richard L. Freeman ,  Robert L. Miller ,  John Gilleland ,  Tihiro Ohkawa

IPC: B03C100

CPC classification number: H01J49/328

Abstract: A material separator includes a chamber and electrode(s) to create a radially oriented electric field in the chamber. Coils are provided to generate a magnetic field in the chamber. The separator further includes a launcher to propagate a high-frequency electromagnetic wave into the chamber to convert the material into a multi-species plasma. With the crossed electric and magnetic fields, low mass ions in the multi-species plasma are placed on small orbit trajectories and exit through the end of the chamber while high mass ions are placed on large orbit trajectories for capture at the wall of the chamber.

Abstract translation: 材料分离器包括腔室和电极，以在腔室中产生径向取向的电场。 提供线圈以在腔室中产生磁场。 分离器还包括发射器，用于将高频电磁波传播到腔室中以将材料转换成多种类的等离子体。 在交叉的电场和磁场中，多种类等离子体中的低质量离子被放置在小轨道轨迹上，并通过腔室的端部离开，同时将高质量离子放置在大轨道轨迹上以在腔室的壁处捕获。

公开(公告)号：US06293406B1

公开(公告)日：2001-09-25

申请号：US09643204

申请日：2000-08-21

Applicant: Robert L. Miller ,  Tihiro Ohkawa ,  Richard L. Freeman

Inventor： Robert L. Miller ,  Tihiro Ohkawa ,  Richard L. Freeman

IPC: B03C130

CPC classification number: H01J49/28

Abstract: A multi-mass filter for separating particles according to their mass-charge ratio includes a chamber for receiving a multi-species plasma that includes particles therein having different mass-charge ratios (with M1 Mc3) and only the intermediate particles M2 are ejected into the second region (M2>Mc2). In another embodiment, the radial electrical field is increased outwardly from the axis to a radial distance a2 (r2) at a first rate. The electrical field is then increased radially outward between a2 (r2) and a radial distance a3 (r3) at a lower rate. This electric field configuration defines the first region between the axis and a2 (r2), and the second region between a2 (r2) and a3 (r3). The third region is located radially beyond the second region. Accordingly, with Mc2=er22B2/(8*(Vctr−V2)) and Mc3=e(r32−r22)B2/(8*V2), particles M1 are confined in the first region, while both particles M3 and M2 are ejected from the first region into the second region. The particles M2 are, however, confined in the second region and only the particles M3 are ejected from the second region into the third region.

Abstract translation: 用于根据其质荷比分离颗粒的多质量过滤器包括用于接收多种等离子体的室，其包括具有不同质荷电荷的颗粒（M1 Mc3）中，并且仅中间颗粒M2被喷射到第二区域（M2> Mc2）中。 在另一个实施例中，径向电场以第一速率从轴向外增加到径向距离a2（r2）。 然后电场以较低的速率在a2（r2）和径向距离a3（r3）之间径向向外增加。 该电场配置定义了轴和a2（r2）之间的第一区域，a2（r2）和a3（r3）之间的第二区域。 第三区域径向地位于第二区域之外。 因此，在Mc2 = er22B2 /（8 *（Vctr-V2））和Mc3 = e（r32-r22）B2 /（8 * V2）的情况下，粒子M1被限制在第一区域，同时弹出两个粒子M3和M2 从第一个地区进入第二个地区。 然而，颗粒M2被限制在第二区域中，并且仅颗粒M3从第二区域喷射到第三区域中。

公开(公告)号：US06386374B1

公开(公告)日：2002-05-14

申请号：US09860161

申请日：2001-05-17

Applicant: Robert L. Miller ,  Tihiro Ohkawa ,  Richard L. Freeman

Inventor： Robert L. Miller ,  Tihiro Ohkawa ,  Richard L. Freeman

IPC: B03C130

CPC classification number: H01J49/28

Abstract: A multi-mass filter for separating particles of a multi-species plasma includes a chamber, which defines an axis. A radial electric field is crossed with a magnetic field (E×B) to move the particles of different mass (M1, M2 and M3) on respective trajectories into respective first, second and third regions. Specifically, particles M1 are confined in the first region, while both particles M3 and M2 are ejected from the first region into the second region and only the particles M3 are ejected from the second region into the third region.

公开(公告)号：US20070095726A1

公开(公告)日：2007-05-03

申请号：US11261113

申请日：2005-10-28

Applicant: Tihiro Ohkawa

Inventor： Tihiro Ohkawa

IPC: B07C5/00

CPC classification number: B01D43/00

Abstract: A device for separating high mass particles (MH) and low mass particles (ML) from each other includes a laser source for vaporizing a solid target material that contains MH and ML. The resultant vapor jet is directed along an axis and an injector directs a gas flow along a path through the vapor jet perpendicular to the axis of the vapor jet. This entrains ML in the gas flow to thereby separate ML from MH. Collectors are respectively positioned on the axis for collecting MH from the vapor jet, and on the path for collecting ML from the gas flow.

Abstract translation: 用于分离高质量颗粒（M H H H）和低质量颗粒（M SUB）的装置彼此包括用于蒸发含有M 2的固体目标材料的激光源， H＆gt;和M＆lt; L＆gt;。 所得到的蒸汽射流沿轴线引导，并且喷射器沿着垂直于蒸气射流轴线的蒸气射流的路径引导气流。 这引起气流中的M L L，从而将M L从M H H分离。 收集器分别位于轴线上，用于从蒸汽射流收集M H H，并且在用于从气流收集M L的路径上。

公开(公告)号：US06726844B2

公开(公告)日：2004-04-27

申请号：US10171480

申请日：2002-06-12

Applicant: Tihiro Ohkawa ,  Robert L. Miller

Inventor： Tihiro Ohkawa ,  Robert L. Miller

IPC: B03C102

CPC classification number: B01D59/48 ,  C02F2101/006

Abstract: An isotope separator includes a cylindrical chamber having first and second ends, and a length “L.” Inside the chamber, an E×B field is applied to produce plasma rotation. The energy in the plasma rotation is chosen to be much higher than the electron temperature which is clamped by radiation. As the plasma then transits the chamber through the length “L”, the electrons cool the thermal temperature of the isotope ions while maintaining the rotation. Under these conditions, the minority and majority isotopes become substantially separated from each other before they exit the chamber. To achieve this result, E×B is determined using mathematically derived expressions and, in compliance with these parameters, the length “L” of the chamber is determined so that the plasma residence time in the chamber, &tgr;1, will be greater than the cooling time, &tgr;2 (&tgr;1>&tgr;2) necessary to affect isotope separation.

Abstract translation: 同位素分离器包括具有第一端和第二端以及长度“L”的圆柱形室。 在室内，应用ExB场产生等离子体旋转。 选择等离子体旋转中的能量远高于被辐射钳住的电子温度。 当等离子体然后通过长度“L”转移室时，电子冷却同位素离子的热温度同时保持旋转。 在这些条件下，少数和多数同位素在离开室之前彼此基本分离。 为了获得这个结果，使用数学派生表达式确定ExB，并且根据这些参数确定室的长度“L”，使得室中的等离子体停留时间τ1将大于冷却时间， tau2（tau1> tau2）是影响同位素分离所必需的。

公开(公告)号：US06375860B1

公开(公告)日：2002-04-23

申请号：US08401869

申请日：1995-03-10

Applicant: Tihiro Ohkawa ,  Stanley I. Tsunoda

Inventor： Tihiro Ohkawa ,  Stanley I. Tsunoda

IPC: C23F100

CPC classification number: H01J37/32623 ,  C23C16/4401 ,  H01J37/32697

Abstract: The occurrence of internally-formed contaminants or negatively-charged particulates within a plasma is minimized by preventing such from becoming trapped in the plasma. The plasma is formed in a plasma chamber having control electrodes and reference electrodes. The control electrodes are biased with a negative potential. The plasma assumes a potential more positive than the control electrodes. The reference electrodes are then biased to be more positive than the plasma. Hence, negative ions or negatively-charged particulates in the plasma are attracted to the more positive reference electrodes, and thus escape the plasma without being trapped therein, and are not available to serve as nucleation or agglomeration points for contaminants. A pair of Helmholtz coils produce a magnetic field having magnetic field lines that run longitudinally between the control electrodes. The magnitude of the magnetic field is sufficiently strong to confine electron current only along the magnetic field lines, yet sufficiently weak to allow negative ion current and negatively-charged particulates to cross the magnetic field lines. Because the plasma current density is dominated by electron current as opposed to ion current (due to the higher thermal velocity of electrons compared to ions), and because electron current is controlled only through the control electrodes, the plasma is effectively controlled by the potential applied to the control electrodes.

Abstract translation: 通过防止等离子体中的内部形成的污染物或负电荷的微粒的发生被最小化。 等离子体形成在具有控制电极和参考电极的等离子体室中。 控制电极被偏置为负电位。 等离子体具有比控制电极更正的电位。 然后将参考电极偏置成比等离子体更正。 因此，等离子体中的负离子或带负电荷的微粒被吸引到更正的参考电极，并且因此逃离等离子体而不被捕获在其中，并且不能用作污染物的成核或聚集点。 一对亥姆霍兹线圈产生具有在控制电极之间纵向延伸的磁场线的磁场。 磁场的强度足够强以限制电子流仅沿着磁场线，但足够弱以允许负离子电流和带负电荷的微粒穿过磁场线。 因为等离子体电流密度与电子电流相反，与离子电流相反（由于电子与离子相比较高的热速度），并且由于仅通过控制电极控制电子电流，所以等离子体被施加的电位有效地控制 到控制电极。

公开(公告)号：US06322706B1

公开(公告)日：2001-11-27

申请号：US09353689

申请日：1999-07-14

Applicant: Tihiro Ohkawa

Inventor： Tihiro Ohkawa

IPC: B03C100

CPC classification number: H01J49/328 ,  B03C1/32 ,  G21F9/02 ,  G21F9/30

Abstract: A plasma filter for separating particles includes a hollow semi-cylindrical chamber that is enclosed by a wall. At least one plasma source is mounted in the chamber between the longitudinal axis of the chamber and the wall for generating a multi-species plasma containing light mass particles (M1) and heavy mass particles (M2). A magnetic coil is used to generate a magnetic field, Bz, in the chamber that is aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis, and electrodes at each end of the chamber generate an electric field, Er, in the chamber that is oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. These crossed electric and magnetic fields rotate the multi-species plasma on a curved path around the longitudinal axis, and in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, to separate M1 from M2. Thus, the wall of the chamber acts as a circumferential collector for collecting the heavy mass particles (M2), and a radial collector which is located at an azimuthal angle &bgr; from the plasma source, and which extends radially between the circumferential collector and the longitudinal axis, is used for collecting the light mass particles (M1).

Abstract translation: 用于分离颗粒的等离子体过滤器包括由壁包围的中空半圆柱形室。 至少一个等离子体源安装在腔室的纵向轴线和壁之间，用于产生含有轻质粒子（M1）和重质粒子（M2）的多种等离子体。 电磁线圈用于在腔室中平行于纵向轴线产生磁场Bz，腔室两端的电极在腔室中产生电场，该电场垂直于纵向 轴。 这些交叉的电场和磁场在围绕纵向轴线的弯曲路径上旋转多种类等离子体，并且在基本上垂直于纵向轴线的平面中，使M1与M2分离。 因此，室的壁用作用于收集重质粒子（M2）的圆周收集器，以及位于等离子体源的方位角β处的径向收集器，并且在圆周收集器和纵向 轴用于收集轻质粒子（M1）。