System for converting electric energy into thermal energy

摘要

A system for transferring electrical energy to thermal energy which comprises two electrodes separated by a distance along the axis joining them and able to create field lines defining a zone of influence when subjected to a potential difference, an electrical power supply device for these electrodes, which is able to provide the potential difference, and a device for triggering an electric arc between these two electrodes. The triggering device comprises a device for emitting a laser pulse, a device for focusing the pulse at N focusing points situated in the zone of influence of the two electrodes, with a peak power density of the pulse per focusing point of greater than 1 GW/cm2, N being determined as a function of the peak power of the pulse and of the distance d which is fixed, so as to form an electrically conducting zone between the two electrodes.

主权项

1. A system for converting electrical energy to thermal energy, comprising:
two electrodes separated by a distance d along an axis joining the two electrodes, said two electrodes configured to create field lines defining a zone of influence when the two electrodes are subjected to a potential difference (pd), an electrical power supply device for said two electrodes configured to provide the potential difference (pd), and a triggering device configured to trigger an electric arc between the two electrodes, the triggering device including:
a device for emitting a laser pulse,a device for focusing the laser pulse at N focusing points situated in the zone of influence of the two electrodes, with a peak power density of the laser pulse per focusing point being greater than 1 GW/cm2, N being determined as a function of a peak power of the laser pulse and of the distance d, said distance d being fixed to form an electrically conducting zone between the two electrodes.