High Power ION Beam Generator Systems and Methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023380048-A1
Application number	US-202318204659-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 1, 2023
Priority date	Jan 18, 2017
Publication date	Nov 23, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

Provided herein are high energy ion beam generator systems and methods that provide low cost, high performance, robust, consistent, uniform, low gas consumption and high current/high-moderate voltage generation of neutrons and protons. Such systems and methods find use for the commercial-scale generation of neutrons and protons for a wide variety of research, medical, security, and industrial processes.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method comprising:
producing an ion beam using a high energy ion beam generator device; detecting, using a plurality of sensors positioned on the high energy ion beam generator device, a measurement indicative of an interaction between a region of the high energy ion beam generator device and the ion beam; and generating, using control software communicatively coupled to the plurality of sensors, an alert or alarm in response to the measurement.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising adjusting the high energy ion beam generator device in response to the alert or alarm.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein adjusting the high energy ion beam generator device comprises shutting down the high energy ion beam generator device.

4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein adjusting the high energy ion beam generator device comprises adjusting a trajectory of the ion beam.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the interaction between the region of the high energy ion beam generator device and the ion beam creates a potential damage event to the high energy high beam generator device.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the measurement comprises a temperature measurement of the region of the high energy ion beam generator device.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the measurement comprises a coolant flow rate measurement.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sensors are in a continuous sensing mode.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the alert or alarm comprises a user warning.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the alert or alarm comprises a latching alarm that requires a user to reset the high energy ion beam generator device prior to further operation.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of sensors has associated therewith a threshold value and generating the alert or alarm occurs, in response to the measurement, when the measurement exceeds the threshold value.

12 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising, filtering, using the control software, electromagnetic interference, wherein the filtered electromagnetic interference is under a predefined threshold duration or frequency.

13 . A method comprising:
producing an ion beam using a high energy ion beam generator device; detecting, using a plurality of sensors positioned on the high energy ion beam generator device, a measurement indicative of an arc down event; and generating, using control software communicatively coupled to the plurality of sensors, an alert or alarm in response to the measurement.

14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising adjusting the high energy ion beam generator device in response to the alert or alarm.

15 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising triggering an automated recovery sequence in response to the alert or alarm, wherein the automated recovery sequence returns the high energy ion beam generator device to normal operation without user intervention.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the high energy ion beam generator device comprises an extraction power supply and a high voltage power supply and the automated recovery sequence comprises:
disabling a closed loop feedback control operation of the high energy ion beam generator device; disabling the extraction power supply; clearing a fault condition generated in response to the measurement; resetting the high voltage power supply; enabling the extraction power supply; enabling the closed loop feedback control operation.

17 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising, subsequent to triggering the automated recovery sequence a threshold number of times within a threshold time period, triggering an automated shutdown sequence in response to a next alert or alarm.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the threshold number of times is three or more and the threshold time period is 10 seconds.

19 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising, triggering an automated shutdown sequence in response to the alert or alarm.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the high energy ion beam generator device comprises an extraction power supply, a magnetron, a magnetron power supply, a high voltage power supply, and at least one gas flow controller, and the automated shutdown sequence comprises:
disabling a closed loop feedback control operation of the high energy ion beam generator device; disabling the magnetron power supply; disabling the at least one gas flow controller; disabling the extraction power supply; and disabling the high voltage power supply.

Assignees

• Shine Technologies Llc

Inventors

• Kobernik Arne
• Sherven Carl
• Lamers Casey
• Seyfert Chris
• Sengbusch Evan
• Becerra Gabriel
• Lee Jin
• Campbell Logan
• Thomas Mark
• Taylor Michael
• Barrows Preston
• Radel Ross
• Gribb Tye

Classifications

• H05H2007/081

  Sources · CPC title

• Y02E30/10

  Nuclear fusion reactors · CPC title

• H05H2277/13

  Nuclear physics, e.g. spallation sources, accelerator driven systems, search or generation of exotic elements · CPC title

• H01P5/02

  with invariable factor of coupling (H01P5/12 takes precedence {choke joints H01P1/04, H01P1/06}) · CPC title

• H01P3/123 Primary

  with a complex or stepped cross-section, e.g. ridged or grooved waveguides (H01P3/14 takes precedence) · CPC title