GB900342A - Method of performing metallurgical chemical and other technical processes under the action of gas ions - Google Patents

Abstract

900,342. Discharge apparatus; thermonuclear apparatus. ELEKTROPHYSIKALISCHE ANSTALT B. BERGHAUS. Sept. 25, 1958 [Oct. 2, 1957], No. 30640/58. Classes 39 (1) and 39 (4). In a method of performing metallurgical, chemical and other technical processes under the action of gas ions in a reaction chamber with a continuous gas throughput, the kinetic energy of the flowing gas is derived essentially from a pressure drop prevailing along the path of the stream, and in order to permit an effect to be exerted by external electric or magnetic fields an ionized gas flow is used in which gas ions of one polarity are concentrated. The gas jet emerges from one or several nozzletype members, and the concentration of charge carriers may take place inside or outside or both inside and outside the said members. In one arrangement (Fig. 1, not shown) the concentration takes place inside a cooled ionization chamber in the form of a metal cylinder which is preferably operated as a cathode and is closed at one end by an apertured metal disc, preferably operated as an anode, and at the. other end by a disc having a nozzletype opening. A gas such as hydrogen or argon is supplied to the chamber at a higher pressure than the pressure in the chamber, which is maintained at between 1 and 1000 mm. of mercury by a pump, and is ionized by a glow discharge. Provided that the electric field in the chamber is maintained above a certain minimum value positive ions are concentrated in the gas current so that the emerging jet consists mainly of positive ions. A ring-shaped auxiliary anode may be provided near the nozzle opening to facilitate starting. The gas may be admitted to the chamber laterally and tangentially, and the voltage supply may be D.C., A.C., or pulsed. For carrying out chemical processes, the substances participating in the chemical reaction may be supplied to the chamber as gases or as finely dispersed vaporous and/or liquid and/or solid particles in a gaseous reagent or in a carrier gas not participating in the reaction. Fig. 2 shows a similar arrangement in which the ionization chamber is formed by a cylinder 35a of non-magnetic metal or insulating material closed at one end by an apertured plate 13 and at the other end by a nozzle plate 17 consisting of a non-magnetic metal such as molybdenum or an insulating material such as boric nitride. A coil 37 is mounted on the cylinder 35a between iron plates 36a and 36b, and a coolant is supplied to passages 38 and 39. Gas entering through the opening 14 is ionized by a glow discharge between the plate 13 operating as the anode and the nozzle plate 17 operating as the cathode, and the coil 37 acts as a magnetic lens to deflect negative charge carriers externally so that they are unable to pass through the nozzle opening, while positive ions are concentrated and may be brought to a focus either inside or outside the nozzle, so that the jet is kept away from the wall of the cylinder 35a. A similar effect may be achieved with a transverse magnetic field (Fig. 4, not shown). Permanent magnets may be used in either case. The concentration may also be effected by superimposing high energy impulses on the glow discharge to produce a pinch effect. Fig. 5a shows an arrangement in which the concentration is effected by a hollow cathode effect which produces a preponderance of positive ions. The gas current to be ionized is passed through a tubular metal nozzle 52 surrounded by a cooling jacket 54 into a receptacle 53 containing a counterelectrode 59 and maintained at a pressure P1. The pressure distribution along the gas jet is shown in Fig. 5b. A glow discharge between the nozzle 52 as cathode and the electrode 59, or alternatively the wall 57, as anode penetrates into the nozzle 52 and by suitable selection of the pressure P and the nozzle diameter D a hollow cathode type of discharge can be obtained in a zone H along the nozzle corresponding to a pressure range of approximately P3=40 mm. to P4=70 mm. of mercury. In alternative hollow cathode arrangements (Figs. 7 to 11, not shown), (a) the receptacle 53 is dispensed with, and an insulated counterelectrode is provided inside the nozzle either to the left or to the right of the zone H, (b) the nozzle is flared to form a horn containing a streamlined counterelectrode, (c) an axial cathode electrode is provided in a cylindrical nozzle, (d) the gas to be ionized is introduced in a nozzle-type inlet into a reaction chamber to which a further gas current is introduced through a separate nozzle, and (e) the cathode and anode are formed by two metal tubes connected by an insulating tube. A desired type of charge carrier may be concentrated in a gas jet as it emerges from a nozzle or usbsequently. Specification 804,916 describes such an arrangement in which a gas jet having a higher pressure enters a region at a lower pressure and forms therein a zone of higher pressure which is entirely or partly subjected to an electric field to produce a discharge which ionizes the gas, a preponderance of positive ions being formed. Fig. 12 shows an arrangement in which a gas jet 81 emerging from a nozzle 80 is ionized at a position 82 by means described in the above Specification and is then passed through a magnetic lens 85 which focuses the ions at a point 88 while non-ionized particles follow in undeflected paths as indicated by the lines 89. The magnetic lens may be replaced by a transverse magnetic field, and the nozzle may be made of non-magnetic material and brought within the range of the field. A starting process utilizing a low energy discharge and low gas pressures is necessary to establish suitable conditions for maintaining a powerful discharge at high gas pressures. The method may also be used in thermonuclear processes. Fig. 15 shows a cooled spherical container 100 connected via an outlet channel 101 to a heat exchanger (not shown) and a pump unit (not shown). A gas jet from a nozzle 105 forms a high pressure zone 116 which is subjected to a discharge established between two electrodes 108 and 109 by closing a switch 112 to discharge a condenser 113 previously charged from a source 115 through a resistor 114. Alternatively, the discharge may be established between the nozzle 105 and an auxiliary ring electrode or between two ring electrodes surrounding the jet. A cold additional gas may be blown into the outlet channel through a supply member 121. The apparatus may be used for the thermonuclear transformation of hydrogen or deuterium or a mixture thereof into helium. Specifications 854,990 and 865,455 also are referred to.