Explosively driven power generation, method and device

• US 7,276,819 B1
• Filed: 09/19/2005
• Issued: 10/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The United States of America As Represented By The Secretary of Agriculture
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Pangilinan, Gerardo I., Whitley, Von H., Russell, Thomas P.
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLINS, BURTON S
• Application Number:
  US11/239,446
• Time in Patent Office: 743 Days
• Field of Search: 310/10, 102/207, 102/209
• US Class Current: 310/10
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 3/00 Generators in which thermal or kinetic energy is converted into electrical energy by ionisation of a fluid and removal of the charge therefrom discharge tubes functioning as thermionic generators H01J45/00

Abstract

A method for generating power including an energetic charge is activated to produce a shockwave, which is imparted at an effective velocity and temperature on a gas to ionize the gas for creating plasma and to drive the plasma. The plasma is impacted on an electrically conducting cable for conducting an electrical charge therethrough.

Claims

1. A method for generating power, comprising:

situating an energetic charge substantially adjacent to an initiator prior to an activation;

activating the energetic charge for producing a shockwave;

imparting the shockwave at an effective velocity and a temperature on a gas to ionize the gas for creating plasma and driving the plasma; and

,

impacting the plasma on an electrical conductor for imparting an electrical current and voltage therethrough effective for generating power.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the energetic charge comprises at least about 94 weight percent of a nitrate-containing compound.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the nitrate-containing compound comprises a nitramine.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the nitrate-containing compound comprises a nitramine, the nitramine is selected from at least one of HMX, RDX, and CL-20.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the gas comprises air.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the energetic charge includes a detonation velocity of at least about 7 mm/μ

sec.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the effective velocity is at least about 6 mm/μ

sec.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the temperature is greater than about 10,000°

C.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the temperature is greater than about 50,000°

C.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said impacting comprises focusing the plasma on the electrical conductor by an energy-focusing guide.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the energy-focusing guide is a cylindrical shaped energy-focusing guide.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the energy focusing guide is a tapered shape energy focusing guide.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the energy-focusing guide comprises a distal end contacting the electrical conductor.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical conductor is a center conductor of an electrically conducting cable.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the energetic charge includes a detonation velocity, said detonation velocity is greater than said effective velocity.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the energetic charge includes a detonation velocity, said detonation velocity is equal to said effective velocity.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein said plasma generates a magnetic field.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising decomposing the gas into ionized atoms.

19. A method for generating power, comprising:

situating an energetic charge substantially adjacent to an initiator prior to an activation;

activating an energetic charge, said energetic charge including a detonation velocity of at least about 7 mm/μ

sec for producing a shockwave;

imparting the shockwave on a gas at an effective velocity of at least about 6 mm/μ

sec and a temperature of at least 10,000°

C.; and

,

impacting the gas to an electrically conducting cable for imparting an electrical current and voltage therethrough effective for generating power.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the energetic charge comprises at least about 94 weight percent of a nitrate-containing compound.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the nitrate-containing compound is selected from at least one of HMX, RDX, and CL-20.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein said impacting comprises focusing the gas on a conductor by a focusing guide.

23. A device for generating power, comprising:

an energetic charge, said energetic charge includes a detonation velocity of at least about 7 mm/μ

sec;

an initiator for activating the energetic charge;

an energy-focusing guide operatively associated with the energetic charge for receiving a shockwave generated upon activation of the energetic charge, the energy-focusing guide comprising an inner portion where a gas is located in said inner portion; and

,

an electrically conducting cable attached to the energy focusing guide for being impacted by the shockwave propagating through the energy-focusing guide,

wherein the initiator is situated substantially adjacent to the energetic charge prior to an activation.

24. The device of claim 23, further comprising a housing including

the energetic charge,

wherein said housing and said energetic charge are operatively joined to the energy focusing guide.

25. The device of claim 23, wherein the shockwave is propagated at an effective velocity, and

wherein said detonation velocity is greater than said effective velocity.