David I Chang

US Patent:

39429750, Mar 9, 1976

Filed:

Jul 7, 1972

Appl. No.:

5/269634

Inventors:

James E. Drummond - Bellevue WA
David B. Chang - Seattle WA
Derek W. Mahaffey - Bellevue WA

Assignee:

The Boeing Company - Seattle WA

International Classification:

C22d 700
B03c 110
B01k 100

US Classification:

75 10R

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for reducing matter, particularly chemical compounds, to constituent elements in a high temperature environment (a plasma) and separating one of the elements from the other elements. Reduction is effected by raising the input compound to a high temperature -- thermally disassociating it. Separation is effected by partly ionizing one of the species (elements) to be separated and moving the resultant mixture of gas and plasma at a velocity (v) through a magnetic field (B) having a vector component (B. sub. vertline. ) perpendicular to the plasma velocity vector. The interaction of the perpendicular and parallel components of the magnetic field with the ions and electrons in the plasma produces a separating force perpendicular to the direction of plasma flow. The separating force acts on the entire specie which is significantly ionized even though it is only partially ionized. Axial symmetry is maintained so that a space charge does not build up and destroy the flow of electric current in a direction transverse to the plasma flow.