PROCESS FOR GENERATING POWERFUL ACOUSTICAL PULSES BY INCORPORATING ALUMINUM ELECTRODES OR HIGH VOLTAGE/HIGH CURRENT CAPACITORS (OR SUPERCONDUCTING FIELD COILS) IN THE DISCHARGE CIRCUITS OF PLASMA SPARKING DEVICES

摘要

Process for generating powerful acoustical pulsesby incorporating aluminum electrodes or high voltage/high currentcapacitors (or superconducting field coils) in the dischargecircuits of plasma sparking devicesABSTRACTA plasma sparking device - "plasma gun," "plasma jet source"or "sparker" - is an electrically operated device that is used togenerate acoustical pulses in underwater seismic range-findingand imaging. However, if the discharge power of a submergedplasma sparking device can be suitably stepped up (high currentat high voltage), it can be made to produce acoustical pulsesthat are locally lethal, damaging or otherwise intolerable to awide variety of unwanted marine organisms, including zebramussels, thereby controlling their propagation in defined areas.Very powerful acoustical pulses from underwater or liquid-immersed plasma sparking devices have a number of other potentialapplications as well. The applicant has solved the problem ofproducing such high-powered acoustical pulses from liquid-immersed plasma sparking devices by the employment of highcurrent/high voltage liquid dielectric capacitors (hereaftercalled oil-filled capacitors) or cryogenically cooledsuperconducting field coils in a plasma sparking device's sparkdischarge circuit. The applicant also has found that feedingelectrodes made out of aluminum also significantly increase thepower of the plasma plume at discharge and the consequentacoustical pulse.