Structured plasma cell energy converter for a nuclear reactor
View Patent ↗A structured plasma cell includes a first electrode including a first plurality of micro-cavities and a first plasma disposed within one or more micro-cavities of the first plurality of micro-cavities. The structured plasma cell also includes a second electrode including a second plurality of micro-cavities and a second plasma disposed within one or more micro-cavities of the second plurality of micro-cavities. The structured plasma cell also includes an inter-electrode gap disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode.
1. A system to produce electricity comprising:
a first electrode including a first surface defining a first micro-cavity configured to receive an ionized gas;
a second electrode including a second surface defining a second micro-cavity configured to receive the ionized gas; and
an inter-electrode gap disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode.
2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a bulk plasma disposed within the inter-electrode gap.
3. The system of claim 2 , further comprising an insulator disposed within the inter-electrode gap.
4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a conductive path disposed within the inter-electrode gap and configured to electrically connect the first micro-cavity with the second micro-cavity.
5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the ionized gas is disposed within the conductive path.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first micro-cavity is directly exposed to the inter-electrode gap.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first micro-cavity and the second micro-cavity are directly exposed to the inter-electrode gap.
8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a heat source configured to heat the first electrode that emits electrons into the inter-electrode gap.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first surface includes a conductive material.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first electrode includes a dielectric material.
11. A method of operating a system to produce electricity, wherein the system comprises a first electrode including a first surface and an ionized gas, and a second electrode including a second surface and the ionized gas, the method comprising:
generating, by an electromagnetic (EM) source, an EM field;
propagating the EM field in a direction parallel to the second surface; and
increasing, by the EM field, a temperature of electrons disposed within the ionized gas.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein:
the first surface defines a first micro-cavity receiving the ionized gas; and
the second surface defines a second micro-cavity receiving the ionized gas.
13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising absorbing the EM field into the ionized gas proximate the second surface.
14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
ionizing the ionized gas using charged particles from a nuclear reaction;
emitting electrons from the first surface into the ionized gas;
conducting the emitted electrons from the ionized gas through an inter-electrode gap disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode; and
collecting the emitted electrons at the second surface.
15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising electrically isolating the first electrode from the second electrode with an insulator disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode.
16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the EM field comprises one of:
a radiofrequency wave; or
a microwave.
17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first electrode includes a dielectric material.
18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first electrode includes a first body that is concealed from the ionized gas.
19. The method of claim 11 , wherein the increased temperature of the electrons in the ionized gas increases an amount of electricity produced by the system.
20. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first electrode includes a plurality of first micro-cavities and the second electrode includes a plurality of second micro-cavities.