USOO911 8265B2

(12) United States Patent (10) Patent No.: US 9,118,265 B2

(54) PULSED PLASMA ENGINE AND METHOD (58) Field of Classification Search
None
(71) Applicant: Heinrich Franz Klostermann, Palo See application file for complete search history.
Alto, CA (US)
(56) References Cited
(72) Inventor: Heinrich Franz Klostermann, Palo
Alto, CA (US) U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
(*) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this 3,670,494 A 6/1972 Papp
patent is extended or adjusted under 35 4,428, 193 A * 1/1984 Papp ............................... 60,509
U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days. 7,076,950 B2 7/2006 Klostermann
(21) Appl. No.: 14/508,410
y x- - - 9
FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
(22) Filed
1C Oct.
C. 7,
f. 2014 WO 2014031190 A2 2, 2014
* cited by examiner
(65) Prior Publication Data
US 2015/OO2O519 A1 Jan. 22, 2015 Primary Examiner — Christopher Jetton
(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm — Edward S. Wright
Related U.S. Application Data
- - - (57) ABSTRACT
(62) Division of application No. 13/727,348, filed on Dec.
26, 2012, now Pat. No. 8,850,809. Pulsed plasma engine and method in which a noncombustible
gas is introduced into an explosion chamber, the gas is ionized
(51) Int. Cl. to form a plasma within the chamber, an electrical pulse is
HO2N II/00 (2006.01) applied to the plasma to heat the plasma, the pulse is turned
HO2N 0/0 (2006.01) off to produce an explosive pressure pulse in the plasma, and
FIB 29/00 (2006.01) the plasma is confined in the chamber by a magnetic field that
(52) U.S. Cl. directs the pressure pulse toward an output member which is
CPC .............. H02N 11/006 (2013.01); F0IB 29/00 driven by the pressure pulse.
(2013.01); H02N 10/00 (2013.01); H02N
1 1/008 (2013.01); YIOS 74/09 (2013.01) 16 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets
U.S. Patent Aug. 25, 2015 Sheet 1 of 4 US 9,118,265 B2

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U.S. Patent Aug. 25, 2015 Sheet 4 of 4 US 9,118,265 B2
 US 9,118,265 B2
1. 2
PULSED PLASMA ENGINE AND METHOD FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of another embodiment
of a turbine engine incorporating the invention.
RELATED APPLICATIONS FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view of one embodiment of a
reciprocating piston engine incorporating the invention.
Division of Ser. No. 13/727,348, filed Dec. 26, 2012, U.S. 5
Pat. No. 8,850,809, the priority of which is claimed. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the power core has an
explosion chamber 11, a pair of electrodes 12, 13, a valve 14
1. Field of Invention 10 through which a noncombustible gas such as air is introduced
This invention pertains generally to engines and, more into the chamber, means 16 for ionizing the gas to form a
particularly, to a pulsed plasma engine and method of oper plasma within the chamber, a circuit 17 for applying electrical
ating the same. pulses to the electrodes to heat the plasma and produce explo
2. Related Art sive pressure pulses, and magnets 18, 19 for creating a mag
A pulsed plasma engine is a type of internal explosion 15 netic field within the chamber to confine the plasma and direct
engine that is generally similar in principle to an internal the pressure pulses toward output members such as turbine
wheels or reciprocating pistons (not shown) at the ends of the
combustion engine except that it uses non-combustible gases chamber.
Such as air, oxygen, nitrogen or inert gas(es) instead of the The power core is constructed in the form of a generally
combustible gases which are used in internal combustion cubical or rectangular module 21 having a central body sec
engines. tion 22 with end pieces 23, 24 on opposite sides of the central
U.S. Pat. No. 7,076.950 discloses an internal explosion section. Axially aligned bores 26-28 extend through the three
engine and generator which has a cylinder, a piston which sections to form the explosion chamber which opens through
divides the cylinder into a pair of chambers that vary in the end pieces. The bores are generally circular and of equal
Volume in an opposite manner as the piston travels back and 25 diameter, and the side wall of the chamber is generally cylin
forth within the cylinder, a charge of non-combustible gas drical. Central body section 22 is fabricated of an insulative
sealed within each of the chambers, means for alternately ceramic material Such as a silicon oxide ceramic, and end
igniting the non-combustible gas in the two chambers in an pieces 23, 24 are fabricated of an electrically nonconductive
explosive manner to drive the piston back and forth, and ceramic material of low thermal conductivity. The three sec
means coupled to the piston for providing electrical energy in 30 tions are held together by bolts (not shown) which pass
response to movement of the piston. through mounting holes 29, 30 in the central section and end
Other examples of internal explosion engines are found in pieces.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,670,494 and 4,428,193. Electrodes 12, 13 are mounted in vertically aligned bores
31, 32 in central body section 22, with the tips of the elec
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE 35 trodes extending into the explosion chamber and O-rings 33,
INVENTION 34 providing seals between the electrodes and the walls of the
bores. The electrodes are fabricated of a high temperature,
It is, in general, an object of the invention to provide a new electrically conductive material Such as tungsten or thoriated
and improved pulsed plasma engine and method of operating tungsten.
the same. 40 Valve 14 is a one-way check valve mounted in a horizon
Another object of the invention is to provide a pulsed tally extending cross bore 36 that intersects and communi
plasma engine and method of the above character which cates with the bore for the explosion chamber. The valve has
overcome limitations and disadvantages of engines hereto an inlet opening 37 surrounded by a valve seat 38, with a
fore provided. pivotally mounted valve member 39 that is urged into sealing
These and other objects are achieved in accordance with 45 engagement with the valve seat by a spring or other Suitable
the invention by providing a pulsed plasma engine and means (not shown). The valve also has an outlet port 41 that
method in which a noncombustible gas is introduced into an communicates directly with the explosion chamber, with an
explosion chamber, the gas is ionized to form a plasma within O-ring 42 providing a seal between the valve body and the
the chamber, an electrical pulse is applied to the plasma to wall of the bore. This valve permits air and other gases to enter
heat the plasma, the pulse is turned off to produce an explo 50 the chamber through the inlet port and prevents them from
sive pressure pulse in the plasma, and the plasma is confined escaping from the chamber.
in the chamber by a magnetic field that directs the pressure In the embodiment illustrated, the means 16 for ionizing
pulse toward an output member which is driven by the pres the gas to form a plasma comprises a radiation ionizer having
Sure pulse. a source 43 of radioactive material Such as Americium,
55 rubidium, or thorium in a cartridge 44 mounted in a second
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS horizontally extending cross bore 46 in central body section
22. This cross bore is aligned with the first, and it also inter
FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of one embodiment of a sects the bore for the chamber. The cartridge is oriented with
power core module for a pulsed plasma engine incorporating the radioactive material facing the chamber and an O-ring 47
the invention. 60 providing a seal between the cartridge and the wall of the
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. bore. Alternatively, if desired, the ionization can be done by
1 in combination with a schematic diagram of an electrical other suitable means such as a high breakdown Voltage or
circuit for pulsing the plasma in the embodiment of FIG. 1. high frequency radiation.
FIG. 3 is a schematic, fragmentary, vertical sectional view Ignition circuit 17 includes a source of high energy pulses
illustrating operation of the embodiment of FIG. 1. 65 comprising a transformer 49 having a primary winding 49a
FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of one embodiment of a connected electrically in series with a battery 51 and elec
turbine engine incorporating the invention. trodes 12, 13. The winding serves as an ignition coil, and a
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3 4
capacitor 52 is connected across the battery to stiffen the very quickly. The temperature remains Substantially constant
current applied to the coil. One end of the primary winding or throughout the arc, with a high arc temperature of short dura
coil is connected directly to electrode 12, and the other end is tion producing Substantially the same pressure in the chamber
connected to the positive terminal of the battery. The negative as one of longer duration.
terminal is connected to the emitter of an insulated-gate bipo The electrical pulses preferably have a width or duration of
lar transistor (IGBT) 53 through an ON/OFF switch 54 and a less than a millisecond and occurata rate on the order of 500
fuse 56. The collector of the IGBT is connected to the second to 1,000 per second, and, depending on the level of the power
electrode 13, and a pulse generator 57 is connected to the gate. or energy applied, the plasma can reach temperatures on the
Abridge rectifier 59 is included in the circuit for recharging order of 1,000 to 100,000° C. in nanoseconds. The arc is
battery 51. In the embodiment illustrated, transformer 49 is an 10 likewise turned offin nanoseconds or microseconds when the
adjustable transformer, with one input of the rectifier being pulses are turned off. With a 100 kilowatt power supply and a
connected to one end of secondary winding 49b and the other pulse width of one millisecond, for example, the energy
being connected to a variable tap 61 on the secondary wind applied to the electrodes is on the order of 100 joules per
ing. One output of the rectifier is connected to the positive millisecond, or 0.1 joules per microsecond.
terminal of the battery, and the other is connected to the 15 The heat of the plasma is contained in the arc while the arc
negative terminal. is turned on. When the arc is turned off, the heat is explosively
Magnets 18, 19 are rare earth, radially polarized, perma released from the arc gap, producing a shock pulse of very
nent ring magnets which are disposed coaxially of the explo short duration, e.g., microseconds.
sion chamber in counterbores 63, 64 toward opposite ends of The current flowing through the primary winding of trans
the chamber. End pieces 23, 24 have axially extending cylin former 49 to produce the arc induces a corresponding current
drical flanges 23a, 24a which extend into the counterbores in secondary winding 49b which is rectified by rectifier 59
and are encircled by the magnets. The end pieces provide heat and applied to battery 51 to recharge the battery.
shielding for the magnets and also serve as adapters for FIG. 4 illustrates an engine in which power core 21 drives
mounting the module to the rest of the engine, including a pair of turbine wheels 68, 69. This engine is shown as being
mounting on the block of a conventional internal combustion 25 constructed on a platform or base 71, with the power core
engine in place of the cylinder heads. The end pieces can be mounted on a pair of support blocks 72 affixed to the base.
configured as desired to match different engines. In the Turbine wheels 68, 69 are affixed to output shafts 73, 74
embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, they have conically tapered which are rotatively mounted on support blocks 76, 77 affixed
output ports 23b, 24b which communicate with the explosion to the base at opposite ends of the power core. The turbine
chamber and open through the outer faces or mounting Sur 30 wheels are radially driven, and the output shafts are aligned
faces 23c, 24c of the end pieces, and the power core module with the axis of expansion chamber 11, but perpendicular to
is affixed to the rest of the engine by bolts (not shown) passing it, with edge portions of the wheels being received in cylin
through mounting holes 29, 30. drical recesses 78, 79 in the outer faces of end pieces 23, 24.
Operation and use of the power core and therein the method In operation, the axially directed pressure pulses produced
of the invention areas follows. Airflows into explosion cham 35 by the power core impinge radially upon the turbine blades,
ber 11 through check valve 14, and ON/OFF switch 54 is causing the turbine wheels and output shafts to rotate, with
closed to turn on the ignition circuit, with charge from battery the pulses being delivered at a rate on the order of 500-1,000
51 building up on capacitor 52. The air in the chamber is pulses per second.
ionized by radiation from source 43 to create an electrically FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment in which a single axial
conductive plasma between electrodes 12, 13. Pulses applied 40 flow turbine wheel 81 is driven by the power core. This engine
to the gate of IGBT53 by pulse generator 57 cause the IGBT is also shown as being constructed on a platform or base 82.
to turn on and complete the circuit between transformer wind with the power core mounted on support blocks 83 affixed to
ing 49, the battery, and the electrodes. This causes a sudden the base. Turbine wheel 81 is affixed to the input shaft 84a of
increase in current through the winding and produces high a generator 84 which is mounted on a support block 86 affixed
energy pulses which are applied to the electrodes. The elec 45 to the base at one of the power core, with shaft 84a in axial
trical current flowing through the electrically conductive alignment with the explosion chamber 11.
plasma between the electrodes heats the plasma to a very high In this embodiment, power core 21 differs from the other
temperature, and as long as each pulse remains on, the heated embodiments in that air flows into the explosion chamber
plasma remains in the gap between the electrodes. When the through an air gap 88 and the plasma is confined by a perma
pulse turns off the heat is released from the gap in an explo 50 nent magnet 89 at the end of the chamber opposite the turbine
sive manner, producing a high pressure shock pulse that can wheel. The magnetis mounted on a support bracket 91 affixed
be utilized in driving an output member Such as a turbine or a to base 82 and is spaced away from the outerface of end piece
piston. 23 to form the air gap. Spacers 92 extend between the end
As illustrated in FIG. 3, magnet 18 is polarized with its piece and magnet and help to support the magnet against the
north pole on the inner side of the ring and the South pole on 55 force of the pressure pulses directed toward it when the
the outer side, and magnet 19 is polarized in the opposite engine fires. The magnet is polarized from front to back and is
direction with its north pole on the outer side and the south oriented with its north pole facing out and its South pole
pole on the inner side of the ring. The magnetic field created facing in so it can cooperate with ring magnet 18 to form the
by the magnets confines the plasma 66 within the chamber magnetic field that confines the plasma to the chamber. The
and directs the pressure shock pulses in an axial direction 60 side wall of the inlet port 23a in end piece 23 is outwardly
toward the ends of the chamber, as illustrated by flux lines 67. inclined and rounded to facilitate the flow of air between the
The electrical pulses are rectangular pulses of short dura air gap and chamber.
tion and fast rise time, and the conductivity of the plasma In operation, air flows freely into the chamber through the
between the electrodes is very high, typically greater than that air gap, but once the air gets ionized in the chamber, the
of Solid conductors such as gold, silver, or copper. Conse 65 magnetic field produced by magnet 89 and ring magnet 18
quently, when the pulses are applied to the electrodes, an arc confines the plasma and prevents it from escaping from the
forms immediately, and the temperature of the plasma rises chamberthrough the air gap. As in the other embodiments, the
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magnetic field produced by ring magnets 18, 19 also confines the art, certain changes and modifications can be made with
the plasma and directs the pressure pulses in an axial direction out departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the
to drive turbine wheel 81 and generator 84. following claims.
In the embodiment of FIG. 6, the power core is utilized in The invention claimed is:
a reciprocating piston engine in which one end of explosion 1. A method of operating an engine to drive an output
chamber 11 is closed by a plug 93 and a cylinder block 94 is member, comprising the steps of introducing a noncombus
attached to end piece 24 at the other end of the chamber. The tible gas into an explosion chamber which communicates
power core module and cylinder block are held together by with the output member, ionizing the gas to form a plasma
bolts (not shown) that pass through aligned openings 96.97 in within the chamber, applying an electrical pulse to the plasma
mounting tabs or lugs 93.a. 94a that extend laterally from end 10 to heat the plasma, turning off the pulse to produce an explo
plug 93 and cylinder block 94. sive pressure pulse in the plasma, and magnetically confining
A cylinder 98 within the block is aligned axially with the plasma in the chamber and directing the pressure pulse
explosion chamber 11 and in direct communication with the toward the output member.
explosion chamber through outlet port 24a in end piece 24. A 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the noncombustible gas
piston 99 is connected to a crankshaft (not shown) by a 15 1S a1.
connecting rod 101 and wrist pin 102 for reciprocating 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the electrical pulse has a
motion between top and bottom dead center positions, with width of one millisecond or less and is applied approximately
rings 103, 104 providing a pressure-tight seal between the 500-1,000 times per second.
piston and the side wall of the cylinder. 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the electrical pulse is
Means is provided for monitoring the position of the piston applied to the plasma from a power Supply through an isola
within the cylinder and controlling the electric pulses so that tion transformer and a switch controlled by pulses from a
the engine fires only when the piston is at or near its top dead pulse generator.
center position or on a downstroke. This means includes a 5. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of
small magnet 106 which is mounted in the sidewall or skirt of charging a battery in the power Supply with energy from the
the piston and a Hall effect sensor 107 which is mounted on 25 transformer.
the side wall of the cylinder block toward the top of the 6. A method of operating an engine having an axially
cylinder. The sensor is connected to ignition circuit 17 to extending explosion chamber with open ends and a generally
control the application of pulses to the electrodes. cylindrical side wall, the steps of introducing a noncombus
When the piston is on a downstroke, air is drawn into tible gas into the chamber, ionizing the gas to form a plasma
explosion chamber 11 through a one-way valve 14, as in the 30 within the chamber, applying an electrical pulse to electrodes
embodiments of FIGS. 1, 2, and 4. When the piston reaches its within the chamber to heat the plasma, turning off the pulse to
top dead center position and the air between the electrodes is produce an explosive pressure pulse in the plasma, and cre
fully ionized, the Hall effect sensor connects the ignition ating an axially extending magnetic field within the chamber
circuit to the electrodes to create the arc and produce the with magnets disposed coaxially of the chamber on opposite
pressure pulses in the plasma. With one end of the explosion 35 sides of the electrodes to confine the plasma and direct the
chamber closed by the plug, the pressure pulses produced by pressure pulse toward the open ends of the chamber.
the exploding plasma are all directed toward the piston to 7. The method of claim 6 wherein the gas is introduced into
drive it toward bottom dead center. Before the piston reaches the chamber through a one-way valve.
bottom dead center, the Hall switch disconnects the ignition 8. The method of claim 6 including the steps of introducing
circuit from the electrodes and keeps it disconnected until the 40 air into the chamber through an air gap, and magnetically
piston reaches its top dead center position again. confining the plasma to prevent it from leaking out of the
The invention has a number of important features and chamber through the air gap.
advantages. It provides a highly efficient engine and method 9. The method of claim 6 wherein the noncombustible gas
utilizing non-combustible gases such as air, oxygen, nitrogen, is introduced through an inlet port that opens through the side
or inert gases. The plasma produced by ionizing the gas is 45 wall on one side of the chamber and ionized by energy from
highly conductive and is heated to extremely high tempera ionizer mounted in a compartment that opens through the side
tures by the intense arcing between the electrodes that occurs wall on another side of the chamber.
when electrical pulses of short duration are applied. With 10. The method of claim 6 wherein a turbine wheel at one
pulses having a duration or width of less than a millisecond end of the chamber is driven by the pressure pulse.
and a rate on the order of 500 to 1,000 per second, the plasma 50 11. The method of claim 6 wherein a piston at one end of
can reach temperatures as high as 1,000 to 100,000° C. in the chamber is driven by the pressure pulse.
nanoseconds. As long as the arcing continues, the heat of the 12. A method of operating an engine to drive turbine
plasma is contained in the arc, and when the arc is turned off. wheels at opposite ends of an axially extending explosion
the heat is explosively released, producing powerful shock chamber with a generally cylindrical side wall, the steps of:
pulses which are captured and utilized in driving one or more 55 introducing a noncombustible gas into the chamber, ionizing
output members such as turbines or pistons. the gas to form a plasma within the chamber, applying an
The efficiency of the engine is enhanced significantly by electrical pulse to electrodes within the chamber to heat the
use of magnetic confinement to control the plasma and direct plasma, turning off the pulse to produce an explosive pressure
the shock pulses toward the output member(s). pulse in the plasma, and creating an axially extending mag
Being constructed in modular form, the power core can be 60 netic field within the chamber with magnets disposed coaxi
utilized in a wide variety of engines, including conventional ally of the chamber on opposite sides of the electrodes to
internal combustion engines where it can be mounted on the confine the plasma and direct the pressure pulse toward the
engine block in place of the cylinder heads and fuel system. turbine wheels.
It is apparent from the foregoing that a new and improved 13. The method of claim 12 wherein the noncombustible
pulsed plasma engine and method have been provided. While 65 gas is air.
only certain presently preferred embodiments have been 14. The method of claim 12 wherein the turbine wheels
described in detail, as will be apparent to those familiar with rotate about axes perpendicular to the chamber axis.
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7
15. The method of claim 12 wherein the electrical pulse has
a width of one millisecond or less, and Such pulses are applied
to the electrodes at a rate of approximately 500-1,000 pulses
per second.
16. The method of claim 12 wherein pressure pulses are 5
delivered to the turbine wheels at a rate on the order of
500-1,000 pulses per second.
k k k k k