Patents by Inventor David R. Hatch

David R. Hatch has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20250226119
    Abstract: Disclosed are techniques for initiating and sustaining a transport barrier within a magnetically confined plasma in a plasma fusion device. For a toroidal magnetic configuration, a characteristic region of the magnetic field can be established by generating a current within the plasma or by other means. The location of the characteristic region can be controlled to be suitably close to the interior walls of the plasma fusion device to allow a quantity of particles to be injected into the plasma at or inside the characteristic region. The quantity of particles can augment the density of the plasma and create a density gradient within the characteristic region, resulting in the formation of a transport barrier at or inside the characteristic region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2023
    Publication date: July 10, 2025
    Applicant: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Michael Thomas Kotschenreuther, Swadesh Mahajan, David R. Hatch, Xing Liu, Gabriele Merlo
  • Publication number: 20240130029
    Abstract: A toroidally confined plasma vessel defines a magnetically confined (MC) plasma region that is substantially symmetric by rotation around a central axis and where particles traveling along magnetic fields substantially never strike a wall. A plurality of magnetic field coils provides at least one X-point and guides plasma particles from the magnetically confined plasma region to the divertor target. A total magnetic field strength (comprising all components of the magnetic field) at the divertor target differs substantially from a total magnetic field strength (comprising all components of the magnetic field) at a position of the X-point on a last closed flux surface nearest to it; and a current drive means is operative in the MC plasma, including in the region near the Last Closed Flux Surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2023
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Applicant: Fusion Energy Associates LLC
    Inventors: Michael T. Kotschenruether, Swadesh M. Mahajan, David R. Hatch