Patents by Inventor Michl W. Binderbauer
Michl W. Binderbauer 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).
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Publication number: 20200045803Abstract: A high performance field reversed configuration (FRC) system includes a central confinement vessel, two diametrically opposed reversed-field-theta-pinch formation sections coupled to the vessel, and two divertor chambers coupled to the formation sections. A magnetic system includes quasi-dc coils axially positioned along the FRC system components, quasi-dc mirror coils between the confinement chamber and the formation sections, and mirror plugs between the formation sections and the divertors. The formation sections include modular pulsed power formation systems enabling static and dynamic formation and acceleration of the FRCs. The FRC system further includes neutral atom beam injectors, pellet or CT injectors, gettering systems, axial plasma guns and flux surface biasing electrodes. The beam injectors are preferably angled toward the midplane of the chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2019Publication date: February 6, 2020Inventors: Michl W. Binderbauer, Eusebio Garate, Sergei Putvinski, Hiroshi Gota
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Publication number: 20190387606Abstract: A negative ion-based beam injector comprising a negative ion source and an accelerator. The ions produced by the ion source are pre-accelerated before injection into a high energy accelerator by an electrostatic multi-aperture grid pre-accelerator, which is used to extract ion beams from the plasma and accelerate to some fraction of the required beam energy. The beam from the ion source passes through a pair of deflecting magnets, which enable the beam to shift off axis before entering the high energy accelerator. The negative ion-based beam injector can be combined with a neutralizer to produce about a 5 MW neutral beam with energy of about 0.50 to 1.0 MeV. After acceleration to full energy, the beam enters the neutralizer where it is partially converted into a neutral beam. The remaining ion species are separated by a magnet and directed into electrostatic energy converters. The neutral beam passes through a gate valve and enters a plasma chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2019Publication date: December 19, 2019Inventors: Yuri I. Belchenko, Alexander V. Burdakov, Vladimir I. Davydenko, Gennady I. Dimov, Alexandr A. Ivanov, Valeery V. Kobets, Artem N. Smirnov, Michl W. Binderbauer, Donald L. Sevier, Terence E. Richardson
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Publication number: 20190318834Abstract: Systems and methods utilizing successive, axially symmetric acceleration and adiabatic compression stages to heat and accelerate two compact tori towards each other and ultimately collide and compress the compact tori within a central chamber. Alternatively, systems and methods utilizing successive, axially asymmetric acceleration and adiabatic compression stages to heat and accelerate a first compact toroid towards and position within a central chamber and to heat and accelerate a second compact toroid towards the central chamber and ultimately collide and merge the first and second compact toroids and compress the compact merge tori within the central chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 15, 2019Publication date: October 17, 2019Inventors: Michl W. Binderbauer, Vitaly Bystritskii, Toshiki Tajima
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Publication number: 20190318831Abstract: Systems and methods that facilitate forming and maintaining FRCs with superior stability as well as particle, energy and flux confinement and, more particularly, systems and methods that facilitate forming and maintaining FRCs with elevated system energies and improved sustainment utilizing neutral beam injectors with tunable beam energy capabilities.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2019Publication date: October 17, 2019Inventors: Alexander Dunaevsky, Sergei Putvinski, Artem N. Smirnov, Michl W. Binderbauer
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Patent number: 10438702Abstract: A high performance field reversed configuration (FRC) system includes a central confinement vessel, two diametrically opposed reversed-field-theta-pinch formation sections coupled to the vessel, and two divertor chambers coupled to the formation sections. A magnetic system includes quasi-dc coils axially positioned along the FRC system components, quasi-dc mirror coils between the confinement chamber and the formation sections, and mirror plugs between the formation sections and the divertors. The formation sections include modular pulsed power formation systems enabling static and dynamic formation and acceleration of the FRCs. The FRC system further includes neutral atom beam injectors, pellet injectors, gettering systems, axial plasma guns and flux surface biasing electrodes. The beam injectors are preferably angled toward the midplane of the chamber.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2018Date of Patent: October 8, 2019Assignee: TAE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Michel Tuszewski, Michl W. Binderbauer, Sergei Putvinski, Artem N. Smirnov
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Patent number: 10440806Abstract: A high performance field reversed configuration (FRC) system includes a central confinement vessel, two diametrically opposed reversed-field-theta-pinch formation sections coupled to the vessel, and two divertor chambers coupled to the formation sections. A magnetic system includes quasi-dc coils axially positioned along the FRC system components, quasi-dc mirror coils between the confinement chamber and the formation sections, and mirror plugs between the formation sections and the divertors. The formation sections include modular pulsed power formation systems enabling static and dynamic formation and acceleration of the FRCs. The FRC system further includes neutral atom beam injectors, pellet or CT injectors, gettering systems, axial plasma guns and flux surface biasing electrodes. The beam injectors are preferably angled toward the midplane of the chamber.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2017Date of Patent: October 8, 2019Assignee: TAE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Michl W. Binderbauer, Eusebio Garate, Sergei Putvinski, Hiroshi Gota
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Patent number: 10398016Abstract: A negative ion-based beam injector comprising a negative ion source and an accelerator. The ions produced by the ion source are pre-accelerated before injection into a high energy accelerator by an electrostatic multi-aperture grid pre-accelerator, which is used to extract ion beams from the plasma and accelerate to some fraction of the required beam energy. The beam from the ion source passes through a pair of deflecting magnets, which enable the beam to shift off axis before entering the high energy accelerator. The negative ion-based beam injector can be combined with a neutralizer to produce about a 5 MW neutral beam with energy of about 0.50 to 1.0 MeV. After acceleration to full energy, the beam enters the neutralizer where it is partially converted into a neutral beam. The remaining ion species are separated by a magnet and directed into electrostatic energy converters. The neutral beam passes through a gate valve and enters a plasma chamber.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2018Date of Patent: August 27, 2019Assignee: TAE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Yuri I. Belchenko, Alexander V. Burdakov, Vladimir I. Davydenko, Gennady I. Dimov, Alexandr A. Ivanov, Valeery V. Kobets, Artem N. Smirnov, Michl W. Binderbauer, Donald L. Sevier, Terence E. Richardson
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Patent number: 10361005Abstract: A system and method for containing plasma and forming a Field Reversed Configuration (FRC) magnetic topology are described in which plasma ions are contained magnetically in stable, non-adiabatic orbits in the FRC. Further, the electrons are contained electrostatically in a deep energy well, created by tuning an externally applied magnetic field. The simultaneous electrostatic confinement of electrons and magnetic confinement of ions avoids anomalous transport and facilitates classical containment of both electrons and ions. In this configuration, ions and electrons may have adequate density and temperature so that upon collisions ions are fused together by nuclear force, thus releasing fusion energy. Moreover, the fusion fuel plasmas that can be used with the present confinement system and method are not limited to neutronic fuels only, but also advantageously include advanced fuels.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2017Date of Patent: July 23, 2019Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIAInventors: Norman Rostoker, Michl W. Binderbauer
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Patent number: 10217531Abstract: A method of containing plasma and forming a Field Reversed Configuration (FRC) magnetic topology. A magnetic guide field is created within a cylindrical chamber. The guide field has field lines axially extending within the chamber parallel to the longitudinal axis. A plasma of charged electron and ion particles is injected into the chamber. The plasma is caused to rotate, which forms a magnetic poloidal self-field surrounding the rotating plasma due to the current carried by the rotating plasma. The rotational energy of the plasma is increased to increase the magnitude of the self-field to a level that overcomes the magnetic guide field axially extending within the chamber, which causes the formation of a magnetic field within the chamber with FRC topology.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2016Date of Patent: February 26, 2019Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIAInventors: Norman Rostoker, Michl W. Binderbauer, Eusebio Garate, Vitaly Bystritskii
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Patent number: 10217532Abstract: Systems and methods utilizing successive, axially symmetric acceleration and adiabatic compression stages to heat and accelerate two compact tori towards each other and ultimately collide and compress the compact tori within a central chamber. Alternatively, systems and methods utilizing successive, axially asymmetric acceleration and adiabatic compression stages to heat and accelerate a first compact toroid towards and position within a central chamber and to heat and accelerate a second compact toroid towards the central chamber and ultimately collide and merge the first and second compact toroids and compress the compact merge tori within the central chamber.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2017Date of Patent: February 26, 2019Assignee: TAE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Michl W. Binderbauer, Vitaly Bystritskii, Toshiki Tajima
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Publication number: 20190035509Abstract: A high performance field reversed configuration (FRC) system includes a central confinement vessel, two diametrically opposed reversed-field-theta-pinch formation sections coupled to the vessel, and two divertor chambers coupled to the formation sections. A magnetic system includes quasi-dc coils axially positioned along the FRC system components, quasi-dc mirror coils between the confinement chamber and the formation sections, and mirror plugs between the formation sections and the divertors. The formation sections include modular pulsed power formation systems enabling static and dynamic formation and acceleration of the FRCs. The FRC system further includes neutral atom beam injectors, pellet injectors, gettering systems, axial plasma guns and flux surface biasing electrodes. The beam injectors are preferably angled toward the midplane of the chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2018Publication date: January 31, 2019Inventors: Michel Tuszewski, Michl W. Binderbauer, Sergei Putvinski, Artem N. Smirnov
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Publication number: 20180235068Abstract: A negative ion-based beam injector comprising a negative ion source and an accelerator. The ions produced by the ion source are pre-accelerated before injection into a high energy accelerator by an electrostatic multi-aperture grid pre-accelerator, which is used to extract ion beams from the plasma and accelerate to some fraction of the required beam energy. The beam from the ion source passes through a pair of deflecting magnets, which enable the beam to shift off axis before entering the high energy accelerator. The negative ion-based beam injector can be combined with a neutralizer to produce about a 5 MW neutral beam with energy of about 0.50 to 1.0 MeV. After acceleration to full energy, the beam enters the neutralizer where it is partially converted into a neutral beam. The remaining ion species are separated by a magnet and directed into electrostatic energy converters. The neutral beam passes through a gate valve and enters a plasma chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2018Publication date: August 16, 2018Inventors: Yuri I. Belchenko, Alexander V. Burdakov, Vladimir I. Davydenko, Gennady I. Dimov, Alexandr A. Ivanov, Valeery V. Kobets, Artem N. Smirnov, Michl W. Binderbauer, Donald L. Sevier, Terence E. Richardson
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Patent number: 10049774Abstract: A high performance field reversed configuration (FRC) system includes a central confinement vessel, two diametrically opposed reversed-field-theta-pinch formation sections coupled to the vessel, and two divertor chambers coupled to the formation sections. A magnetic system includes quasi-dc coils axially positioned along the FRC system components, quasi-dc mirror coils between the confinement chamber and the formation sections, and mirror plugs between the formation sections and the divertors. The formation sections include modular pulsed power formation systems enabling static and dynamic formation and acceleration of the FRCs. The FRC system further includes neutral atom beam injectors, pellet injectors, gettering systems, axial plasma guns and flux surface biasing electrodes. The beam injectors are preferably angled toward the midplane of the chamber.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2016Date of Patent: August 14, 2018Assignee: TAE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Michel Tuszewski, Michl W. Binderbauer, Sergei Putvinski, Artem N. Smirnov
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Patent number: 9924587Abstract: A negative ion-based neutral beam injector comprising a negative ion source, accelerator and neutralizer to produce about a 5 MW neutral beam with energy of about 0.50 to 1.0 MeV. The ions produced by the ion source are pre-accelerated before injection into a high energy accelerator by an electrostatic multi-aperture grid pre-accelerator, which is used to extract ion beams from the plasma and accelerate to some fraction of the required beam energy. The beam from the ion source passes through a pair of deflecting magnets, which enable the beam to shift off axis before entering the high energy accelerator. After acceleration to full energy, the beam enters the neutralizer where it is partially converted into a neutral beam. The remaining ion species are separated by a magnet and directed into electrostatic energy converters. The neutral beam passes through a gate valve and enters a plasma chamber.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2017Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: TAE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Yuri I. Belchenko, Alexander V. Burdakov, Vladimir I. Davydenko, Gennady I. Dimov, Alexandr A. Ivanov, Valeery V. Kobets, Artem N. Smirnov, Michl W. Binderbauer, Donald L. Sevier, Terence E. Richardson
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Patent number: 9893226Abstract: Systems and methods for the conversion of energy of high-energy photons into electricity which utilize a series of materials with differing atomic charges to take advantage of the emission of a large multiplicity of electrons by a single high-energy photon via a cascade of Auger electron emissions. In one embodiment, a high-energy photon converter preferably includes a linearly layered nanometric-scaled wafer made up of layers of a first material sandwiched between layers of a second material having an atomic charge number differing from the atomic charge number of the first material. In other embodiments, the nanometric-scaled layers are configured in a tubular or shell-like configuration and/or include layers of a third insulator material.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2016Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: TAE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Michl W. Binderbauer, Toshiki Tajima
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Publication number: 20170359886Abstract: A high performance field reversed configuration (FRC) system includes a central confinement vessel, two diametrically opposed reversed-field-theta-pinch formation sections coupled to the vessel, and two divertor chambers coupled to the formation sections. A magnetic system includes quasi-dc coils axially positioned along the FRC system components, quasi-dc mirror coils between the confinement chamber and the formation sections, and mirror plugs between the formation sections and the divertors. The formation sections include modular pulsed power formation systems enabling static and dynamic formation and acceleration of the FRCs. The FRC system further includes neutral atom beam injectors, pellet or CT injectors, gettering systems, axial plasma guns and flux surface biasing electrodes. The beam injectors are preferably angled toward the midplane of the chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2017Publication date: December 14, 2017Inventors: Michl W. Binderbauer, Eusebio Garate, Sergei Putvinski, Hiroshi Gota
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Publication number: 20170337990Abstract: A system and method for containing plasma and forming a Field Reversed Configuration (FRC) magnetic topology are described in which plasma ions are contained magnetically in stable, non-adiabatic orbits in the FRC. Further, the electrons are contained electrostatically in a deep energy well, created by tuning an externally applied magnetic field. The simultaneous electrostatic confinement of electrons and magnetic confinement of ions avoids anomalous transport and facilitates classical containment of both electrons and ions. In this configuration, ions and electrons may have adequate density and temperature so that upon collisions ions are fused together by nuclear force, thus releasing fusion energy. Moreover, the fusion fuel plasmas that can be used with the present confinement system and method are not limited to neutronic fuels only, but also advantageously include advanced fuels.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 3, 2017Publication date: November 23, 2017Inventors: Norman Rostoker, Michl W. Binderbauer
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Publication number: 20170337991Abstract: Systems and methods utilizing successive, axially symmetric acceleration and adiabatic compression stages to heat and accelerate two compact tori towards each other and ultimately collide and compress the compact tori within a central chamber. Alternatively, systems and methods utilizing successive, axially asymmetric acceleration and adiabatic compression stages to heat and accelerate a first compact toroid towards and position within a central chamber and to heat and accelerate a second compact toroid towards the central chamber and ultimately collide and merge the first and second compact toroids and compress the compact merge tori within the central chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2017Publication date: November 23, 2017Inventors: Michl W. Binderbauer, Vitaly Bystritskii, Toshiki Tajima
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Publication number: 20170236967Abstract: Systems and methods for the conversion of energy of high-energy photons into electricity which utilize a series of materials with differing atomic charges to take advantage of the emission of a large multiplicity of electrons by a single high-energy photon via a cascade of Auger electron emissions. In one embodiment, a high-energy photon converter preferably includes a linearly layered nanometric-scaled wafer made up of layers of a first material sandwiched between layers of a second material having an atomic charge number differing from the atomic charge number of the first material. In other embodiments, the nanometric-scaled layers are configured in a tubular or shell-like configuration and/or include layers of a third insulator material.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2016Publication date: August 17, 2017Inventors: Michl W. Binderbauer, Toshiki Tajima
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Patent number: 9672943Abstract: A system and method for containing plasma and forming a Field Reversed Configuration (FRC) magnetic topology are described in which plasma ions are contained magnetically in stable, non-adiabatic orbits in the FRC. Further, the electrons are contained electrostatically in a deep energy well, created by tuning an externally applied magnetic field. The simultaneous electrostatic confinement of electrons and magnetic confinement of ions avoids anomalous transport and facilitates classical containment of both electrons and ions. In this configuration, ions and electrons may have adequate density and temperature so that upon collisions ions are fused together by nuclear force, thus releasing fusion energy. Moreover, the fusion fuel plasmas that can be used with the present confinement system and method are not limited to neutronic fuels only, but also advantageously include advanced fuels.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2016Date of Patent: June 6, 2017Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIAInventors: Norman Rostoker, Michl W. Binderbauer