Patent SG-11201907225R-A (SG)
Title: Plasma confinement system and methods for use
Inventor: SHUMLAK URI
IPC: H05H5/02
Filed: 2018-02-23
Abstract: INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATENT COOPERATION TREATY (PCT) (19) World Intellectual Property Organization International Bureau (43) International Publication Date 30 August 2018 (30.08.2018) WIP0 I PCT onion °nolo HE 11E111E11o° lio Elio oimIE (10) International Publication Number WO 2018/156860 Al (51) International Patent Classification: HO5H 1/06 (2006.01) G21B 1/05 (2006.01) HO5H 5/02 (2006.01) (21) International Application Number: PCT/US2018/019364 (22) International Filing Date: 23 February 2018 (23.02.2018) (25) Filing Language: English EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HR, HU, IE, IS, IT, LT, LU, LV, MC, MK, MT, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SI, SK, SM, TR), OAPI (BF, BJ, CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, GQ, GW, KM, ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG). Published: with international search report (Art. 21(3)) before the expiration of the time limit for amending the claims and to be republished in the event of receipt of amendments (Rule 48.2(h)) (26) Publication Language: English (30) Priority Data: 62/462,779 23 February 2017 (23.02.2017) US (71) Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON [US/US]; 4545 Roosevelt Way NE, Suite 400, Seattle, WA 98105-4721 (US). (72) Inventors: SHUMLAK, Uri; c/o University of Washing- ton, 4545 Roosevelt Way NE, Suite 400, Seattle, WA 98105-4721 (US). NELSON, Brian, A.; c/o University of Washington, 4545 Roosevelt Way NE, Suite 400, Seattle, WA 98105-4721 (US). GOLINGO, Raymond; c/o Univer- sity of Washington, 4545 Roosevelt Way NE, Suite 400, Seattle, WA 98105-4721 (US). = (74) Agent: KAMLER, Chad, A.; McDonnell Boehnen Hul- bert & Berghoff LLP, 300 South Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60606 (US). (81) Designated States (unless otherwise indicated, for every kind of national protection available): AE, AG, AL, AM, AO, AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BH, BN, BR, BW, BY, BZ, CA, CH, CL, CN, CO, CR, CU, CZ, DE, DJ, DK, DM, DO, DZ, EC, EE, EG, ES, FI, GB, GD, GE, GH, GM, GT, HN, HR, HU, ID, IL, IN, IR, IS, JO, JP, KE, KG, KH, KN, KP, KR, KW, KZ, LA, LC, LK, LR, LS, LU, LY, MA, MD, ME, MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, MY, MZ, NA, NG, NI, NO, NZ, OM, PA, PE, PG, PH, PL, PT, QA, RO, RS, RU, RW, SA, SC, SD, SE, SG, SK, SL, SM, ST, SV, SY, TH, TJ, TM, TN, TR, TT, TZ, UA, UG, US, UZ, VC, VN, ZA, ZM, ZW. (84) Designated States (unless otherwise indicated, for every kind of regional protection available): ARIPO (BW, GH, GM, KE, LR, LS, MW, MZ, NA, RW, SD, SL, ST, SZ, TZ, UG, ZM, ZW), Eurasian (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, RU, TJ, TM), European (AL, AT, BE, BG, CH, CY, CZ, DE, DK, O 00 00 O C (54) Title: PLASMA CONFINEMENT SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR USE (57) : An example method includes directing gas, via one or more first valves, from within an inner electrode to an acceleration region between the inner electrode and an outer electrode that substantially surrounds the inner electrode, directing gas, via two or more second valves, from outside the outer electrode to the acceleration region, and applying, via a power supply, a voltage between the inner electrode and the outer electrode, thereby converting at least a portion of the directed gas into a plasma saving a substantially annular cross section, the plasma flowing axially within the acceleration region toward a first end of the inner electrode and a first end of the outer electrode and, thereafter, establishing a Z-pinch plasma that flows between the first end of the outer electrode and the first end of the inner electrode. Related plasma confinement systems and methods are also disclosed herein.