System and methodology utilizing a getter based storage system
A technique may be employed to facilitate manufacturing/processing of generator tubes for use in a variety of logging applications. A getter-based gas storage chamber is provided with a getter able to adsorb a desired gas such as a deuterium and/or tritium gas. The getter-based gas storage chamber may be connected with a neutron tube via a gas flow network and a releasable coupling. The gas, e.g. deuterium and/or tritium gas, is released by heating the getter. The gas is allowed to flow through the gas flow network and into the neutron tube.
1. A system, comprising:
a getter-based storage chamber containing a getter, the getter-based storage chamber being configured to store and release at least one of deuterium and tritium;
a manifold coupled to a neutron tube;
a flow network coupled between the manifold and the getter-based storage chamber to enable flow of gas between the getter-based storage chamber and the manifold; and
a releasable coupling positioned between the manifold and the getter-based storage chamber to enable disconnection of the getter-based storage chamber and the neutron tube;
a neutron tool configured to incorporate the disconnected neutron tube.
2. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the flow network comprises a plurality of valves closable to block flow of gas along the flow network.
3. The system as recited in claim 2 , wherein the plurality of valves comprises at least one valve between the releasable coupling and the manifold and at least one valve between the releasable coupling and the getter-based storage chamber.
4. The system as recited in claim 3 , wherein the plurality of valves comprises three valves.
5. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the getter comprises a porous sintered material with dispersed particles having gas adsorbed on the dispersed particles.
6. The system as recited in claim 5 wherein the gas adsorbed on the dispersed particles comprises either deuterium or tritium.
7. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the neutron tube is part of a pulsed neutron generator.
8. The system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising an electrical heating element disposed in the getter-based storage chamber to enable selective heating of the getter.
9. The system as recited in claim 8 , further comprising an electrical feed through extending into an interior of the getter-based storage chamber to enable electrical power to be supplied to the electrical heating element.
10. A system for manufacturing/processing a neutron tube, comprising a modular getter-based gas storage system having:
a getter-based gas storage chamber;
a getter disposed in the getter-based gas storage chamber, the getter adsorbing at least one of deuterium and tritium gas;
an electrical heating element disposed in the getter-based gas storage chamber to enable selective heating of the getter;
a gas flow network coupled to the getter-based gas storage chamber; and
a neutron tube coupled to the modular getter-based gas storage system via a manifold.
11. The system as recited in claim 10 , further comprising a releasable coupling connected to the gas flow network to enable release and disposal of the getter-based gas storage chamber.
12. The system as recited in claim 10 , wherein the getter comprises a porous sintered material.
13. The system as recited in claim 10 , wherein the getter comprises dispersed particles having at least one of the deuterium and tritium gas adsorbed on the dispersed particles.
14. The system as recited in claim 10 , wherein the gas flow network comprises valves closable to block escape of gas from the gas flow network.
15. A method for manufacturing or processing a neutron tube, comprising:
providing a getter-based gas storage chamber with a getter;
connecting the getter-based gas storage chamber with the neutron tube via a gas flow network and a releasable coupling;
heating the getter to release a gas;
allowing the gas to flow through the gas flow network and into the neutron tube; and
assembling the neutron tube into a tool.
16. The method as recited in claim 15 , wherein heating the getter to release the gas comprises releasing at least one of deuterium and tritium.
17. The method as recited in claim 15 , further comprising providing the getter with dispersed particles having the gas adsorbed on the dispersed particles.
18. The method as recited in claim 15 , wherein heating comprises heating an electrical heating element with electricity provided via an electrical feed through extending into the getter-based gas storage chamber.
19. The method as recited in claim 15 , further comprising using the releasable coupling to release the getter-based gas storage chamber for disposal.