System for generating a plasma jet of metal ions
US10863612B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 30, 2018 |
| Grant date | Dec 8, 2020 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 30, 2038 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH05H2007/022
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A system for generating a plasma jet of metal ions is provided. This system includes a tube made of electrically insulating material containing a metal that is in the solid phase at room temperature and an anode making contact with this metal, a generator connected to this anode that is capable of producing a positive electrical potential at this anode, a heating element that is capable of heating a portion of the metal to a heating temperature Tc that is high enough to vaporize this portion of the metal, an electron source located on the outside of the tube and out of the longitudinal axis of the tube, and being capable of generating an electron stream that is able to ionize the vapor of the metal so as to form metal ions, such that the metal ions thus produced are capable of being accelerated by this potential and ejected out of the tube via the downstream end of the tube, and a portion of which are neutralized by electrons so as to form a plasma stream, the system operating without magnets and without an acceleration grid.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.