SINGLE DRIVE BETATRON |
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申请号 | EP08863289.8 | 申请日 | 2008-09-25 | 公开(公告)号 | EP2140740B1 | 公开(公告)日 | 2013-04-10 |
申请人 | Services Pétroliers Schlumberger; Schlumberger Holdings Limited; Schlumberger Technology B.V.; Prad Research And Development Limited; | 发明人 | CHEN, Felix; | ||||
摘要 | |||||||
权利要求 | |||||||
说明书全文 | This patent application is related to commonly owned United States Patent Application This invention generally relates to a compact betatron electron accelerator. More particularly, a single coil drives both a core section and a guide field eliminating a need for, and space occupied by, separate drive coils separated by an air gap. Oil well bore hole logging is a process by which properties of earth strata as a function of depth in the bore hole are measured. A geologist reviewing the logging data can determine the depths at which oil containing formations are most likely located. One important piece of the logging data is the density of the earth formation. Most present day well logging relies on gamma-rays obtained from chemical radiation sources to determine the bulk density of the formation surrounding a borehole. These sources pose a radiation hazard and require strict controls to prevent accidental exposure or intentional misuse. In addition, most sources have a long half life and disposal is a significant issue. For some logging applications, in particular determination of formation density, a 137Cs source or a 60 Co source is used to irradiate the formation. The intensity and penetrating nature of the radiation allow a rapid, accurate, measurement of the formation density. In view of the problems with chemical radiation sources, it is important that chemical radiation sources be replaced by electronic radiation sources. The main advantage of the latter is that they can be switched off, when no measurement is made and that they have a minimal potential for intentional misuse. One proposed replacement for chemical gamma-ray sources is a betatron accelerator. In this device, electrons are accelerated on a circular path by a varying magnetic field until being directed onto a target. The interaction of the electrons with the target leads to the emission of Bremsstrahlung and characteristic x-rays of the target material. Before electrons can be accelerated, they are injected into a magnetic field between two circular pole faces at the right time, with correct energy and correct angle. Control over timing, energy and injection angle enables maximizing the number of electrons accepted into a main electron orbit and accelerated. A typical betatron, as disclosed in In operation, a typical betatron satisfies the betatron condition and accelerates electrons to relativistic velocity. The betatron condition is satisfied when: where:
ΔBy0 is the change in guide field at r0. The betatron condition may be met by adjusting the core coil to guide field coil turn ratio as disclosed in Large betatrons are suitable for applications where size constraints are not critical, such as to generate x-rays for medical radiation purposes. However, in applications such as oil well bore holes where there are severe size constraints, it is desired to use smaller betatrons, typically with a magnetic field diameter of 7,6 cm (three inches) or less. The conventional design for large betatrons is not readily applied to smaller betatrons for a number of reasons: (1) If the electron injector is located in the gap between pole faces, the gap height must be larger than the dimension of the injector perpendicular to the pole faces. In order to maintain a reasonable beam aperture, the width of the pole faces can not be reduced too much either. Thus, the burden of the size reduction falls mostly on the core, resulting in a significantly lower beam energy. (2) If the electron injector is located in the gap between the pole faces, one must, within a time period comparable to the orbit period of electrons, alter the injected electrons trajectories such that they do not hit the injector. Those electrons whose trajectories do not intercept either the injector structure and the vacuum chamber walls are said to be trapped. Only trapped electrons may be accelerated to full energy and caused to impinge on the target and produce radiation. Due to the nature of the charge trapping mechanism, the probability of trapping any charge in a 7,6 cm (3 inch) machine is almost nil unless the modulation frequency of the main drive is increased to about 24kHz (triple that of a 11,4 cm (4.5 inch) machine) and the injection energy is reduced to about 2.5kV (1/2 that of the 11,4 cm (4.5 inch) machine). Even then, the prospect of trapping a charge comparable to that trapped in a 11,4 (4.5 inch) machine is poor. (3) A higher flux density is required to confine the same energy electrons to a smaller radius. A higher flux density and modulation frequency results in a higher power loss in a three inch betatron, even though it has a smaller volume than a 11,4 cm (4.5 inch) betatron. As a result of (1) - (3), it is estimated that the useable radiation output of 7,6 cm (three inch) betatron with the conventional design would be three orders of magnitude lower than the 11,4 cm (4.5 inch) betatron. There exists a need for a small diameter betatron having a radiation output comparable to the 11,4 cm (4.5 inch) betatron. According to an embodiment of the invention, the invention includes a betatron magnet having a circular, donut shaped guide magnet, and a core disposed in the center, and abutting the guide magnet and one or more peripheral return yokes. A guide magnet gap separates the guide magnet into an upper portion and a lower portion with opposing pole faces. A drive coil is wound around the guide magnet pole faces. An orbit control coil has a contraction coil portion wound around the core and a bias control portion wound around the pole faces of the guide magnet. The contraction coil portion and the bias control portion are connected in series but in opposite polarities. Further, a circuit provides voltage pulses to the drive coil and to the orbit control coil. Magnetic fluxes in the core and in the guide magnet return through two peripheral portions, or return yokes, of the betatron magnet. An evacuated electron acceleration passageway disposed in the guide magnet gap contains electrons which are accelerated to a relativistic velocity and then caused to impact a target thereby generating x-rays. Operation of this betatron includes forming a first magnetic flux of a first polarity that passes through the guide magnet, the electron acceleration passageway and the core and then returns through the return yokes, and a second magnetic flux of either the first polarity or of an opposing second polarity that passes through the core and returns through the guide magnet gap and the electron acceleration passageway. At the beginning of each cycle, a high voltage pulse (typically a few kV) is applied to the injector and causes electrons to be injected into the electron acceleration passageway. To achieve fast contraction without compromising the maximum energy the core is a hybrid core having a perimeter portion made of fast ferrite surrounding a slower, but high saturation flux density material. During the first time period most of the flux needed to reduce the radius of electron orbits flows through the fast ferrite. After this first time duration, the fast ferrite perimeter of the core magnetically saturates and the second magnetic flux then flows through the internal portion of the core and in combination with the first magnetic flux accelerates the electrons. The polarity of the second magnetic flux is reversed when the electrons approach a maximum velocity thereby expanding the electron orbit and causing the electrons to impact a target generating x-rays. According to an aspect of the invention, the invention can include the core as being a hybrid having a high saturation flux density central portion and a perimeter formed from a fast response highly permeable magnetic material. Further, the central portion can be an amorphous metal and the perimeter can be a ferrite with a magnetic permeability in excess of 100. Further still, the invention can include a cumulative width of the at least one core gap that is effective to satisfy a betatron condition. It is possible the invention can include the cumulative width of the at least one core gap to be approximately between 2 millimeters and 2.5 millimeters. Further, the invention can include the at least one core gap to be formed of multiple gaps. Further still, the invention can include diameters of both the first pole face and the second pole face that are approximately between 7 cm (2.75 inch) and 9,5 cm (3.75 inch). It is also possible the invention can include a ratio of the contraction coil portion windings to the bias control portion windings to be 2:1. Further, the invention can include a ratio of the drive coil windings to the bias coil windings to be at least 10:1 and the number of drive coil windings to be at least 10. Further still, the invention can include a circuit providing a nominal peak current of 170A and a nominal peak voltage of 900V. It is also possible the invention can include affixed to a sonde effective for insertion into an oil well bore hole. According to an embodiment of the invention, the invention can include a method to generate x-ray according to claim 12. The disclosed betatron is compact and is suitable for attachment to a sonde for lowering into an oil well bore hole. The products of interaction of the generated x-rays with ground formations are useful for a geologist to determine characteristics of earth formations, such as density as well as likely locations of subterranean oil deposit. Further features and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The present invention is further described in the detailed description which follows, in reference to the noted plurality of drawings by way of nonlimiting examples of exemplary embodiments of the present invention, in which like reference numerals represent similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings, and wherein: The particulars shown herein are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the embodiments of the present invention only and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the present invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the present invention in more detail than is necessary for the fundamental understanding of the present invention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the present invention may be embodied in practice. Further, like reference numbers and designations in the various drawings indicated like elements. According to an embodiment of the invention, the invention includes a betatron magnet which includes a circular, donut shaped guide magnet and a core disposed in the center and abutting the guide magnet, and one or more peripheral return yokes. A guide magnet gap separates the guide magnet into upper and lower portions with opposing pole faces. A drive coil is wound around the guide magnet pole faces. An orbit control coil has a contraction coil portion wound around the core and a bias control portion wound around the pole faces of the guide magnet. The contraction coil portion and the bias control portion are connected in series but in opposite polarities. Further, a circuit provides voltage pulses to the drive coil and to the orbit control coil. Magnetic fluxes in the core and guide magnets return through peripheral portions of the betatron magnet, which are called return yokes. An evacuated tube encompasses an electron acceleration passageway and is disposed in a space between the guide magnet pole faces. Electrons are accelerated to a relativistic velocity in this passageway and then caused to impact a target. As electrons decelerate rapidly and ionized target atoms recover from the impact and returns to a lower energy state, x-rays are emitted. Operation of the betatron includes forming a first magnetic flux of a first polarity that passes through the guide magnet pole faces, the electron acceleration passageway and the core and then returns through the return yokes, and forming a second magnetic flux of either the first polarity or of an opposing second polarity that passes through the core and returns through the guide magnet pole faces and the electron acceleration passageway. At the beginning of each cycle, a high voltage pulse (typically a few kV) is applied to an injector and causes electrons to be injected into the electron acceleration passageway. It is preferable, but not necessary, to design the shape of the injector voltage pulse such that the energy of the injected electrons increases at an appropriate rate in relationship to the rising guide magnetic field in the acceleration passageway over a period of 100 nanoseconds or more. The period during which the match condition between the injector voltage pulse and the first magnetic flux in the passageway exists is referred to as the injection window. Electrons injected within the injection window have the highest probability of being trapped. The matched condition is best described by the concept of instantaneous equilibrium orbit of radius, ri. At the instantaneous equilibrium orbit the magnetic bending force is equals to the centrifugal force. At r>ri, the magnetic bending force is greater whereas the opposite is true for r<ri. Thus, electrons associated with a given ri are bound to ri much like a ball attached to a point through a spring. The injection window is the time period during which ri is located inside the passageway. Unlike r0 which is determined by the design of the magnet and prescribes how the main drive flux (first magnetic flux) is partitioned between different parts of the magnet, ri is a function of the electron energy and magnetic field at ri. If an electron is injected at r=ri and tangent to the circle, its trajectory will follow the circle and intercept the injector in its first revolution. It is therefore preferable to inject electrons such that ri is either smaller (if the injector is located near the outside edge of the passageway) or larger (if the injector is located near the inside edge of the passageway) than the radius of injection. The trajectories of electrons injected at r ≠ ri and/or at an angle to the tangent of the injection circle, r, will oscillate with respect to ri (betatron oscillation). As the first magnetic flux increases, the amplitude of the oscillation reduces and ri moves closer to r0 (betatron damping). The oscillatory trajectories may cause electrons to miss the injector in the first few revolutions but electrons will eventually hit the injector unless the betatron damping is sufficiently fast or a second magnetic flux is introduced to alter ri in such a way that certain electron trajectories do not intercept the injector. To illustrate the sequence of operation, consider an example in which the injection takes place near the outside edge of the passageway and ri lies just inside the injector structure. At the beginning of the injection window, a second magnetic flux is formed for a first time duration that passes mainly through a perimeter of the core at an opposing second polarity and returns through the electron passageway at the first polarity. The reducing flux within the core induces a deceleration electric field in the passageway, and at the same time the returning second magnetic flux through the passageway causes an increase of the magnetic field in the vicinity of electron trajectories. The combined effect leads to a rapid contraction of ri and electron trajectories move away from the injector. For the contraction during this first time duration to be effective (i.e. contract ri by about 2mm per revolution), the second magnetic flux in the core must build up at a very fast rate. Generally, a fast response magnetic material has a low saturation flux density insufficient to support the flux needed to accelerate electrons to the desired energy. To achieve fast contraction without compromising the maximum energy, the core is a hybrid construction with a fast ferrite perimeter surrounding a slower, but high saturation flux density interior. During the first time period most of the flux needed to reduce ri flows through the fast ferrite perimeter. After this first time duration, the perimeter magnetically saturates and the second magnetic flux then flows through the interior of the core and in combination with the first magnetic flux accelerates the electrons. The polarity of the second magnetic flux is reversed when the electrons approach a maximum velocity thereby expanding the electron orbit and causing the electrons to impact a target generating x-rays. Among the features of a small diameter betatron described herein are: (i) the magnet consists of a single piece rather than two separated pieces and the 0.5 cm gap between magnet pieces is eliminated; (ii) a single drive coil drives both the core section and the guide magnet. The betatron condition is met by including a small gap within the center core, and (iii) an orbit control coil comprised of a small, for example two turn, winding around the core provides the flux for orbit contraction. Another one turn coil around the pole faces and connected in series with, but in opposite polarity to, the core winding. This de-couples the main drive contraction coil flux from the contraction coil portion flux, and vice versa. These features lead to several advantages over the two piece design, especially in small 7,6 cm (3 inch) betatrons: (i) due to the larger core area, the energy is significantly higher; (ii) the gap in the core significantly reduces the non-linearity of a closed loop core and should therefore have a reduced sensitivity to temperature. Operation in an oil field bore hole exposes the betatron magnet to operating temperatures of up to 200°C at the center and 150°C ambient, so the magnet and the core are manufactured from materials having curie temperatures above these expected maximums.; and (iii) since charge trapping is accomplished with a mechanism which does not depend on a fast rise of the guide field to move electrons away from the injector, the main drive coil can have a high inductance. This translates into a low drive current and modulation frequency resulting in lower power consumption and better match to the injector voltage pulse profile. Still referring to To satisfy the betatron condition and accelerate electrons to relativistic velocity, the following condition must be satisfied. where:
Δϕ0 is the change of flux enclosed within r0; and Δportion is the change in guide field at r0. The betatron condition between Δϕ0 and ΔBy0 is met by properly choosing the cumulative width of the one or more core gaps 26. The core gaps 26 may be air gaps or filled with non-metallic, non-magnetic material having a melting temperature in excess of the operating temperature that for borehole operations is about 150°C. Suitable materials for the gap are polytetrafluroethylene and similar polymers. The cumulative width of the one or more gaps sets the magnetic reluctance for the core 12 and determines the relative amount of flux that passes through the core 12 and the passageway 20. The larger the cumulative width of the gap, the more flux that passes through the passageway. For a 7,6 cm (three inch) pole face diameter and an average magnet gap height of about 1 cm in the passageway, the core gap 26 has a cumulative width of about 2.5mm. Referring to Still referring to Also referring to where Nb is the number of turns of the bias coil, b is a design parameter that depends only on the geometry, and ib =-ic is the current flowing through the bias coil portion 40 which is the same as the contraction coil portion 38 current (they are connected in series but in opposite polarity). The bias condition (perfect cancellation of flux in the return yokes) is met when or Since the right hand side must be positive, it follows that Nc > Nb Due to limited space available around the core, it is desirable to have Nc as small as possible. A small Nc also leads to a low inductance which is essential for achieving a fast contraction speed. Since Nb must be at least one turn, the minimum number of turns for Nc is 2. This happens if the magnet is designed so that a= b. This condition is referred to as equal flux partition since the flux due to the bias coil portion 40 is equally partitioned between core section 12a and guide magnet section 16a. The same holds true for the flux from the main drive coil 14. The magnet is designed so that flux equal partition is consistent with the betatron condition. Still referring to Also referring to and Since the main drive coil 14 encloses both regions, the net flux linkage between the main drive coil and the orbit control coil is zero, and there is no interference from one coil to the other. Referring to Still Referring to A hybrid core 12' as shown in top planar view in Still referring to Still referring to After each discharge-recovery cycle, the energy in low voltage capacitor C1 is replenished through the charging choke L1 by closing switch S1. As the voltage of C2 builds up, the energy discharged in each pulse increases and so does the total circuit loss. After a few pulses, the energy discharged from C1 becomes equal to the total loss in the circuit and no more energy is transferred. Henceforth, the voltage of C2 remains unchanged before and after each discharge-recovery cycle and the modulator has reached its normal operating state. Also referring to For a 1.5 MeV beam, a modulator circuit efficiency of 90% and 400W average power, the discharged energy per pulse is about 2 joule, V1 is about 40V, V2 is about 900V and the pulse frequency is about 2kHz. Referring to Further, Referring to One or more embodiments of the present invention have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, placing the injector on the inside of the passageway. It is noted that the foregoing examples have been provided merely for the purpose of explanation and are in no way to be construed as limiting of the present invention. While the present invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it is understood that the words, which have been used herein, are words of description and illustration, rather than words of limitation. Changes may be made, within the purview of the appended claims, without departing from the scope of the present invention in its aspects. Although the present invention has been described herein with reference to particular means, materials and embodiments, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed herein; rather, the present invention extends to all functionally equivalent structures and methods in the scope of the appended claims. |