Evolution of nonthermal particle distributions in radio frequency heating of fusion plasmas

Time dependent evolution of RF-generated non-thermal particle distributions in fusion plasmas

We describe fully self-consistent time-dependent simulations of radio frequency (RF) generated ion distributions in the ion cyclotron range of frequencies and RF-generated electron distributions in the lower hybrid range of frequencies using combined Fokker–Planck and full wave electromagnetic field solvers. In each regime, the non-thermal particle distributions have been used in synthetic diag...

Nongyrotropic particle distributions in space plasmas

In nonstationary, strong inhomogeneous or open plasmas particle orbits are rather complicated. If the nonstationary time scale is smaller than the gyration period, if the inhomogeneity scale is smaller than the gyration radius, i.e. at magnetic plasma boundaries, or if the plasma has sources and sinks in phase space, then nongyrotropic distribution functions occur. The stability of such plasma ...

Microwave and Radio Frequency Heating

Sterilization of Foodstuffs Using Radio Frequency Heating

A study was conducted with a pilot-scale sterilization system based on 27-MHz radio frequency (RF) energy to investigate the effectiveness in shortening process time and in improving quality for foods sealed in 6pound military-ration polymeric trays. Chemical marker M-1 was used to evaluate heating uniformity in 20% whey protein gels as a model food, and macaroni and cheese was processed to ass...

The Viability of Oil Extraction from Trinidad Tar Sands by Radio Frequency Heating: A Simulation Approach

Trinidad has tar sand resources of about 2 billion barrels of oil on land in the Parrylands/Guapo and Brighton areas. With an oil price of over USD 25 per barrel, the commercial extraction of oil from Trinidad tar sands is viable, but it requires a careful study. The relatively small extent of this tar sand (about 10,000 acres and with depths varying from surface to less than 500 feet) and with...