Patents Assigned to Advanced Fusion Systems, LLC
  • Patent number: 11883814
    Abstract: A universal chemical processor (UCP) including a reactor vessel having a central longitudinal axis and main chamber comprises a first inlet port for a main feedstock, a second inlet port for a fluidizing medium and a third inlet port for one or more reactants. The UCP also includes a reactive radioactive chemical processor (R2CP) that contains a radioactive element positioned extending along the longitudinal axis in the main chamber. In operation, a fluidized bed can be supported in the main chamber when a fluidizing medium and feedstock are supplied to the main chamber through the first and second inlet ports and the radioactive element of the R2CP emits ionizing radiation that is capable of ionizing feedstock and reactants, inducing chemical reactions, and sterilizing and decomposing any organic materials within a radiation zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: ADVANCED FUSION SYSTEMS LLC
    Inventors: Curtis Birnbach, William Joyce
  • Patent number: 11652281
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a fractal antenna comprising a plurality of antenna elements having a two-dimensional fractal shape and an electrical circuit coupled to the plurality of antenna elements operative to provide electrical power to and maintain phase relationships between the plurality of antenna elements. The electrical circuit provides a signal to the plurality of antenna elements that cause the antenna elements to radiate in the high-frequency (HF) and/or low-frequency (LF) bands. Also described is an antenna comprising a three-dimensional fractal, near-fractal, or super-fractal antenna having a fractal, near-fractal or super-fractal shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: ADVANCED FUSION SYSTEMS LLC
    Inventor: Curtis Birnbach
  • Patent number: 11623196
    Abstract: A universal chemical processor (UCP) including a reactor vessel having a central longitudinal axis and main chamber comprises a first inlet port for a main feedstock, a second inlet port for a fluidizing medium and a third inlet port for one or more reactants. The UCP also includes a reactive radioactive chemical processor (R2CP) that contains a radioactive element positioned extending along the longitudinal axis in the main chamber. In operation, a fluidized bed can be supported in the main chamber when a fluidizing medium and feedstock are supplied to the main chamber through the first and second inlet ports and the radioactive element of the R2CP emits ionizing radiation that is capable of ionizing feedstock and reactants, inducing chemical reactions, and sterilizing and decomposing any organic materials within a radiation zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: ADVANCED FUSION SYSTEMS LLC
    Inventors: Curtis Birnbach, William Joyce
  • Patent number: 11471848
    Abstract: A universal chemical processor (UCP) including a reactor vessel with a main chamber, comprises inlets for feedstock, a fluidizing medium and reactants. The UCP further includes a reactive X-ray chemical processor (RXCP) having a large area hollow cylindrical cold cathode in the main chamber, a grid positioned concentrically with respect to the cathode, and an anode positioned concentrically with respect to the cathode and grid. In operation, when activated, the cathode of the RXCP emits electrodes onto the anode, which then emits X-rays into a radiation zone within the main chamber capable of ionizing feedstock and reactants, inducing chemical reactions, and sterilizing and decomposing organic materials within the radiation zone, and wherein, a fluidized bed is supported in the main chamber when the fluidizing medium and feedstock are supplied. The RXCP and the fluidized bed portions can be operated separately or in conjunction to achieve unanticipated results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: ADVANCED FUSION SYSTEMS LLC
    Inventors: Curtis Birnbach, William Joyce
  • Patent number: 11402131
    Abstract: A hardened solar thermal energy collector (STEC) system that is adapted to withstand a nuclear detonation or other powerful explosion in the vicinity. The STEC system comprises a plurality of collector tubes arranged side by side in an array that carry and circulate a working fluid, each of the plurality of collecting tubes having an upper radiation collection surface having a diffractive optical structure and a bottom surface, a supporting tray upon which each of the collector tubes is securely mounted, an insulated housing set beneath a ground surface level enclosing the plurality of collector rubes and supporting trays, and a secured underground geothermal storage unit fluidly coupled to the array of collector tubes. The housing, the plurality of collector tubes, and the tray are positioned such that topmost portions thereof are at the ground surface level or below.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignees: RENEWABLE ENERGY AGGREGATORS INC., ADVANCED FUSION SYSTEMS LLC
    Inventors: David Winks, Curtis Birnbach, Gediminas Campe
  • Patent number: 11329480
    Abstract: A method for protecting an electrical transmission system having an electrical transmission line coupled to electrical equipment from hazardous EMI comprises receiving at least one pulse of hazardous EMI on the transmission line, and shunting current induced on the electrical transmission line by the at least one pulse of hazardous EMI to ground through at least one static series spark gap apparatus in such manner as to bypass high speed transient voltages from the electrical equipment to ground via a low impedance means and prevent damage thereto, wherein the static series spark gap apparatus has a rise time that is typically 2 nanoseconds or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Advanced Fusion Systems LLC
    Inventors: John Cappelletti, Gediminas Campe, Curtis Birnbach
  • Patent number: 11322814
    Abstract: A device for preventing a signal induced by hazardous EMI on a power line in a group of multiple adjacent, parallel power lines of the same phase in an electrical power system from reaching an electrical component connected to one of the multiple power lines, the device comprising at least one conductive impedance transition element having a disk-shaped structure with multiple holes for receiving the multiple adjacent power lines of the same phase, the disk-shaped structures each having an outer diameter that is greater than diameter of all of the multiple parallel power lines to deliberately create an impedance mismatch between the conductive impedance transition elements and adjacent portions of the multiple power lines. The impedance mismatch causes the conductive impedance transition elements to reflect high-frequency components of a signal induced on the multiple power lines by hazardous EMI and the high-frequency components are reflected and dissipated as heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Advanced Fusion Systems LLC
    Inventors: Curtis A. Birnbach, John Anthony Cappelletti
  • Patent number: 11114856
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of protecting a component using a deliberately created impedance mismatch between conductive impedance transition elements and an electric power line. The method comprises coupling a plurality of conductive impedance transition elements having a greater diameter than the power line at a position between an extended length of the power line and the component. The difference between the diameters of the conductive transition elements and the power line causes an intentional impedance mismatch between the two or more impedance transition elements with adjacent portions of the power line, and the mismatch causes high-frequency components of the transient electromagnetic signals induced on the power line by the transient electrical disturbance to be reflected by at least one of two or more impedance transition elements away from the protected component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: ADVANCED FUSION SYSTEMS LLC
    Inventors: Curtis A. Birnbach, John Anthony Cappelletti
  • Patent number: 10791656
    Abstract: A method of protecting an RF system from destructive effects of hazardous electromagnetic interference (EMI) comprises separating incoming electromagnetic radiation including hazardous electromagnetic interference according to frequency into low frequency spectral components below a selectable cutoff frequency and high frequency spectral components above the selectable cutoff frequency, and routing the low frequency portion of spectral components which include a vast majority of energy contained in the hazardous electromagnetic interference to ground via a low impedance conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: ADVANCED FUSION SYSTEMS LLC
    Inventor: Curtis A. Birnbach
  • Patent number: 10181376
    Abstract: An Electron-coupled transformer for generating a high voltage output pulse as an amplified version of an input pulse includes a cylindrical triode electron tube with a central anode along main axis and a grid and cathode radially spaced from the anode. The anode has a first end directly grounded and a second end insulated from a direction connection to ground. The cathode and the grid form a traveling wave electron gun that produces, when the grid is grounded through a phase matching network, a radially symmetrical collapsing traveling wave of ground potential in the Transverse Electromagnetic mode. The foregoing wave of ground potential causes a beam of electrons to flow from the cathode to the anode and causes a voltage output pulse to be produced on the second end of the anode, whose magnitude is an amplified version of the input pulse that is injected into the cathode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Advanced Fusion Systems LLC
    Inventor: Curtis A. Birnbach
  • Patent number: 9728967
    Abstract: A combination includes an AC power system and a system for improving power factor in the AC power system by continuously variable, analog control of level of reactive current introduced into a power conveying line of the AC power system. A power factor-improving circuit includes at least one channel that comprises a channel-level AC electron tube circuit and at least one associated reactive impedance element interconnected in series manner. Each of the channel-level AC electron tube circuit is responsive to a control system for continuously variable, analog control of the level of reactive current in the at least one associated reactive impedance element so that the foregoing level of reactive current changes, as necessary, in a continuously variable, analog manner to improve power factor in the power conveying line. Each of the channel-level AC electron tube circuit comprises at least one cold-cathode field-emission electron tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Advanced Fusion Systems LLC
    Inventor: Curtis A Birnbach
  • Patent number: 9711287
    Abstract: A high voltage, high current vacuum integrated circuit includes a common vacuum enclosure that includes at least two cold-cathode field emission electron tubes, and contains at least one internal vacuum pumping means, at least one exhaust tubulation, vacuum-sealed electrically-insulated feedthroughs, and internal electrical insulation. The cold-cathode field emission electron tubes are configured to operate at high voltage and high current and interconnected with each other to implement a circuit function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Advanced Fusion Systems LLC
    Inventor: Curtis A Birnbach
  • Patent number: 9406478
    Abstract: A method for inducing chemical reactions using X-ray radiation comprises generating an irradiation volume within the interior of a reaction vessel by introducing X-ray radiation into the volume, in which two or more reactants are introduced. With respect to the two or more reactants and any subsequently created intermediate reactant or reactants, the aggregate extent to which the foregoing reactants are to be ionized to any degree is selectively controlled, and the average degree of ionization in the irradiation volume, from partial to total, of that portion of the foregoing reactants which is to be ionized is selectively controlled, through control of the fluence and energy of the X-ray radiation, to thereby induce selective reactions of reactants to occur in the irradiation volume. One or more reactants may be delivered through a double-walled pipe containing X-ray shielding to prevent their premature irradiation before being injected into the irradiation volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Advanced Fusion Systems LLC
    Inventors: Curtis A. Birnbach, William H. Joyce, Mark L. Manewitz
  • Publication number: 20150270772
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system for improving power factor in an AC power system. The power system has an AC power source and an electrical load that are interconnected by at least one power conveying line. The system also comprises a power factor-improving circuit including at least one channel that comprises a channel-level bidirectional electron tube circuit and at least one associated reactive impedance element connected between a power conveying line of the AC power system and ground. Each channel-level bidirectional electron tube circuit is responsive to a control system for connecting or disconnecting at least one associated reactive impedance element when needed for improving power factor. Each channel-level bidirectional electron tube circuit also comprises one bidirectional cold-cathode field-emission electron tube rated at medium to high voltage or two unidirectional cold-cathode field-emission electron tubes rated at medium to high voltage and connected in an anti-parallel manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Applicant: ADVANCED FUSION SYSTEMS LLC
    Inventor: Curtis A Birnbach
  • Publication number: 20150255210
    Abstract: An Electron-coupled transformer for generating a high voltage output pulse as an amplified version of an input pulse comprises a cylindrical triode electron tube with a central anode along main axis and a grid and cathode radially spaced from the anode. The anode has a first end connected to ground and a second end insulated with respect to said ground. The cathode and the grid form a traveling wave electron gun that produces a wave of ground potential in the Transverse Electric Mode, which causes electrons stored in the cathode-grid gap to be extracted from said gap. The extracted electrons form a radially symmetric collapsing traveling wave that sweeps as a wave along the anode at the speed of light, causing a voltage output pulse on the second end of the anode whose magnitude is an amplified version of an input pulse applied to the cathode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Applicant: ADVANCED FUSION SYSTEMS LLC
    Inventor: Curtis A. Birnbach
  • Publication number: 20150187531
    Abstract: A high voltage, high current vacuum integrated circuit includes a common vacuum enclosure that includes at least two cold-cathode field emission electron tubes, and contains at least one internal vacuum pumping means, at least one exhaust tubulation, vacuum-sealed electrically-insulated feedthroughs, and internal electrical insulation. The cold-cathode field emission electron tubes are configured to operate at high voltage and high current and interconnected with each other to implement a circuit function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Applicant: Advanced Fusion Systems LLC
    Inventor: Curtis A. Birnbach
  • Publication number: 20150187501
    Abstract: A capacitor includes a ferrite sleeve, which is placed on a first conductor and fitted into a surrounding tubular second conductor, which is being electrically grounded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Applicant: ADVANCED FUSION SYSTEMS LLC
    Inventor: Curtis A. Birnbach
  • Patent number: 9058904
    Abstract: Systems for enhancing preignition conditions of a fusion reaction are disclosed. A first system includes a target chamber for receiving a fusion fuel, and energy driving means oriented to direct plasma confinement structure onto to the fusion fuel to facilitate ignition of a controlled fusion reaction of said fusion fuel. A plurality of electron sources provides electron beams of a predetermined energy and one of fluence and quantity, directed onto and illuminating, a fusion fuel-derived plasma for controlling the ratio of ion temperature and electron temperature of the plasma. A second system comprises a central target chamber for receiving a spherical pellet of fusion target material and at least first and second pluralities of energy drivers oriented to supply temporally-staged X-ray pulses to the fusion target material in a 3-dimensionally symmetric manner about said pellet. A third system combines aspects of the first and second systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: Advanced Fusion Systems LLC
    Inventor: Curtis A Birnbach
  • Patent number: 9036765
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system for extracting energy from inertial confinement fusion reactions, which includes a central target chamber for receiving fusion target material. A plurality of energy drivers are arranged around the target chamber so as to supply energy to fusion target material in the chamber to initiate an inertial confinement fusion reaction of the material, releasing energy in the forms of fusion plasma and heat. A plurality of structures for extracting energy from the fusion reaction are provided, and comprise devices to extract high voltage DC energy from the fusion plasma, and means to extract thermal energy from the central target chamber. Power to the energy drivers may be supplied from high voltage DC energy extracted from the fusion reactions. The energy drivers may use an apodizing filter to impart a desired shape to the wavefront of the driving energy for causing the fusion reactions, to avoid hydrodynamic instabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Advanced Fusion Systems LLC
    Inventor: Curtis Birnbach
  • Patent number: 9025353
    Abstract: High voltage high current regulator circuit for regulating current is interposed between first and second terminals connected to an external circuit and comprises at least one main-current carrying cold-cathode field emission electron tube conducting current between the first and second terminals. First and second grid-control cold-cathode field emission electron tubes provide control signals for first and second grids of the at least one main-current carrying cold-cathode field emission electron tube for positive and negative excursions of voltage on the first and second terminals, respectively. The current regulator circuit may be accompanied by a voltage-clamping circuit that includes at least one cold-cathode field emission electron tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Advanced Fusion Systems LLC
    Inventor: Curtis A. Birnbach