Btu International, Inc.

Dana Corporation

Microtech Energy LLC

Satyendra Kumar

Devendra Kumar

Michael L Dougherty

Dominique Tasch

Ramesh D Peelamedu

David Brosky

Michael J Dougherty

Michael Gregersen

Raimund Stroebel

A method for recycling a scrap material includes providing a sample having one or more components having a respective melting temperature, and heating the sample to a first melting point corresponding to a first component to form a molten first component, and separating the molten first component from the sample. A system for recycling scrap materials includes a housing component for a sample containing one or more components to be heated, and subsequently melted and separated. The system may include a microwave plasma source, and at least one collection mechanism corresponding to each separated molten component.

Metal recycling system for in-space manufacturing

A microwave combustion system is presented that can replace the conventional spark plug in an internal combustion engine. One or more microwave pulses are provided to a microwave feed in a plug that sits in the cylinder. A microwave generated plasma generated by the plug in the vicinity of a fuel mixture can provide for highly efficient combustion of the fuel-air mixture.

Microwave combustion system for internal combustion engines

Methods and apparatus for plasma-assisted heat treatments are provided. The method can include initiating a heat treating plasma within a cavity () by subjecting a gas to electromagnetic radiation in the presence of a plasma catalyst (), heating the object by exposing the object to the plasma, and maintaining exposure of the object to the plasma for a sufficient period to alter at least one material property of the object.

Plasma-assisted heat treatment

Methods and apparatus are provided for igniting, modulating, and sustaining a plasma for various plasma processes and treatments. In one embodiment, a plasma is ignited by subjecting a gas in a multi-mode processing cavity to electromagnetic radiation having a frequency between about 1 MHz and about 333 GHz in the presence of a plasma catalyst, which may be passive or active. A passive plasma catalyst may include, for example, any object capable of inducing a plasma by deforming a local electric field. An active plasma catalyst can include any particle or high energy wave packet capable of transferring a sufficient amount of energy to a gaseous atom or molecule to remove at least one electron from the gaseous atom or molecule, in the presence of electromagnetic radiation.

Plasma catalyst

Plasma-assisted methods and apparatus that use multiple radiation sources are provided. In one embodiment, a plasma is ignited by subjecting a gas in a radiation cavity to electromagnetic radiation having a frequency less than about 333 GHz in the presence of a plasma catalyst, which may be passive or active. A controller can be used to delay activation of one radiation source with respect to another radiation source.

Plasma generation and processing with multiple radiation sources

Methods and apparatus are provided for plasma-assisted processing multiple work pieces in a manufacturing line. In one embodiment, the method can include placing the work pieces in movable carriers, moving the carriers on a conveyor into an irradiation zone, flowing a gas into the irradiation zone, igniting the gas in the irradiation zone to form a plasma (e.g., by subjecting the gas to electromagnetic radiation in the presence of a plasma catalyst), sustaining the plasma for a period of time sufficient to at least partially plasma process at least one of the work pieces in the irradiation zone, and advancing the conveyor to move the at least one plasma-processed work piece out of the irradiation zone. Various types of plasma catalysts are also provided.

Plasma-assisted processing in a manufacturing line

Methods and apparatus are provided for igniting, modulating, and sustaining a plasma () for coating objects (). In one embodiment, a method of coating a surface of an object () includes forming a plasma () in a cavity () by subjecting a gas to electromagnetic radiation in the presence of a plasma catalyst () and adding at least one coating material () to the plasma () by energizing the material () with, for example, a laser (). The material () is allowed to deposit on the surface of the object () to form a coating. Various types of plasma () catalysts are also provided.

Plasma-assisted enhanced coating

Methods and apparatus are provided for plasma-assisted gas production. In one embodiment, a gas, which includes at least one atomic or molecular species, can flow into a cavity (). The gas can be subjected to electromagnetic radiation having a frequency less than about 333 GHz (optionally in the presence of a plasma catalyst) such that a plasma () forms in the cavity (). A filter () capable of passing the atomic or molecular species, but preventing others from passing, can be in fluid communication with the cavity (). In this way, the selected species can be extracted and collected, for storage or immediate use.

Plasma-assisted gas production

Methods and apparatus are provided for igniting, modulating, and sustaining a plasma for various doping processes. In one embodiment, a substrate () can be doped by forming a plasma () in a cavity () by subjecting a gas to an amount of electromagnetic radiation in the presence of a plasma catalyst () and adding at least one dopant material to the plasma. The material is then allowed to penetrate into the substrate. Various active and passive catalysts are provided.

Plasma-assisted doping

Methods and systems () for plasma-assisted nitrogen surface-treatments are provided. The method can include subjecting a gas () to electromagnetic radiation () in the presence of a plasma catalyst () to initiate a plasma containing nitrogen. The surface region of an object can be exposed to the plasma for a period of time sufficient to transfer at least some of the nitrogen from the plasma to the object through the surface region.

Plasma-assisted nitrogen surface-treatment

Methods and apparatus are provided for igniting, modulating, and sustaining a plasma for synthesizing carbon structures. In one embodiment, a method is provided for synthesizing a carbon structure including forming a plasma by subjecting a gas to electromagnetic radiation in the presence of a plasma catalyst and adding at least one carbonaceous material to the plasma to grow the carbon structures on a substrate. Various types of plasma catalysts are also provided.

Plasma-assisted formation of carbon structures

Methods and apparatus are provided for igniting, modulating, and sustaining a plasma for various plasma processes and treatments. Such treatments include cleaning and sterilizing parts. In some embodiments, a plasma is ignited by subjecting a gas in a multi-mode processing cavity to electromagnetic radiation having a frequency between about 1 MHz and about 333 GHz in the presence of a plasma catalyst. A part can be cleaned by, for example, inserting hydrogen into the plasma and exposing the part to the hydrogen-enriched plasma. A part can be sterilized by heating the part with the plasma.

Surface cleaning and sterilization

Methods and apparatus for plasma-assisted joining of one or more parts together are provided. The joining process may include, for example, placing at least first and second joining areas in proximity to one another in a cavity, forming a plasma in the cavity by subjecting a gas to electromagnetic radiation in the presence of a plasma catalyst, and sustaining the plasma at least until the first and second joining areas are joined. Plasma catalysts, and methods and apparatus for igniting, modulating, and sustaining a joining plasma, are provided. Additional cavity shapes, and methods and apparatus for selective plasma-joining, are also provided.

Plasma-assisted joining

Plasma-assisted methods and apparatus that use multiple radiation sources are provided. In one embodiment, a plasma is ignited by subjecting a gas in a processing cavity to electromagnetic radiation having a frequency less than about 333 GHz in the presence of a plasma catalyst, which may be passive or active. A controller can be used to delay activation of one radiation source with respect to another.

Methods and apparatus are provided for igniting, modulating, and sustaining a plasma for at least partially decrystallizing a surface of an object. In one embodiment, a method is provided for decrystallizing a surface of an object by forming a plasma (such as by subjecting a gas to an amount of electromagnetic radiation, optionally in the presence of a plasma catalyst) and exposing the surface of the object to the plasma.

Growing community of inventors

Troy, MI, United States of America

Satyendra Kumar