A flexible plasma generator

Abstract

This utility model relates to a flexible plasma generator, characterized by its flexibility, fixability, and high-temperature resistance. The generator employs a three-section composite structure, including a rigid tube section, a flexible tube section, and a flexible conduit. The rigid tube section is made of rigid metal and houses coaxial cathodes and anodes. The electrode spacing is precisely fixed by insulating positioning rings, and it is equipped with a water-cooling jacket and a carrier gas channel for electrode cooling and gas delivery. The flexible tube section can be made of heat-resistant rubber tubing or corrugated metal tubing, with a temperature resistance of at least 150°C. It can be bent from 0-90° and maintain its shape through a locking device, supporting customized lengths. The flexible conduit runs through the flexible tube section, employing a modular design that integrates water-cooled cables, water-cooled piping, and gas supply piping. These components are staggered to prevent tangling, and the flexible conduit also has a temperature resistance of at least 150°C. This generator is suitable for harsh environments such as complex space pulverized coal ignition, possessing advantages such as strong adaptability, high stability, good high-temperature resistance, and easy installation and maintenance. It can be widely applied in fields requiring plasma generators.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model belongs to the field of plasma generation technology, specifically relating to a flexible plasma generator, which aims to overcome the limitations of traditional plasma generators in terms of installation and application. Background Technology

[0002] Plasma generation technology plays a vital role in many fields, including industrial production and scientific research. However, traditional plasma generators generally employ a rigid structural design, with their electrodes and casings typically made of metal. This rigid structure makes it difficult to flexibly install traditional plasma generators in curved or confined spaces (such as inside pipes or reactors).

[0003] Taking pulverized coal ignition as an example, the pipeline layout in this scenario is complex, and the working environment is characterized by high temperature and high dust. Traditional rigid plasma generators exhibit numerous problems in such confined environments. Due to their inability to adapt to special shapes such as curved pipes or narrow spaces, the installation process is fraught with difficulties, and subsequent maintenance work also faces significant challenges, increasing the difficulty and cost of equipment maintenance.

[0004] Therefore, developing a flexible plasma generator with adjustable characteristics and the ability to adapt to confined environments has become a key issue that urgently needs to be addressed in the field of plasma generation technology. Utility Model Content

[0005] This invention aims to provide a flexible plasma generator that combines flexibility, fixability, and high-temperature resistance. This generator effectively solves the installation challenges in confined spaces and is particularly suitable for harsh working environments such as pulverized coal ignition in complex spaces, providing a more flexible and reliable solution for related technological applications.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, this utility model adopts an innovative three-section composite structure design, comprising, from front to back, a rigid pipe section, a flexible pipe section, and an internal flexible pipe. The rigid pipe section bears the main working load, the flexible pipe section provides deformation buffering, and the flexible pipe ensures the consistency of functional pipeline deformation. The components cooperate and work together, with the following specific functions:

[0007] The rigid tube section is made of a rigid metal tube and houses the cathode and anode, which are arranged coaxially. To ensure the stability of the arc initiation process, the electrode spacing is precisely fixed by a built-in insulating positioning ring.

[0008] Furthermore, a water-cooling jacket and a carrier gas channel are located around the electrode. Through a reasonable flow channel design, the circulating cooling water can efficiently cool the electrode, thereby ensuring that the electrode can work stably.

[0009] Furthermore, the carrier gas channel is divided into two paths: one path delivers the gas to the cathode tail, and the other path delivers it to the region between the cathode and anode. The carrier gas can be air, argon, nitrogen, or other gases, selected according to the actual application scenario and plasma generation requirements. By adjusting the gas flow control device, the gas flow rate can be precisely controlled to adjust the plasma operation stability and facilitate adjustment of the plasma generator's operating power.

[0010] The flexible hose section connects to the rear of the rigid hose section, and its body structure can be made of heat-resistant rubber tubing or metal corrugated tubing. To meet the requirements of high-temperature working environments, the temperature resistance of the flexible hose section is not lower than 150℃. This hose section has an active bending function and can be bent from 0-90°. To ensure its adaptability and reliability in complex spaces, extensive experimental testing has been conducted. Even with a bending radius greater than 10D (D is the diameter of the hose section), after multiple bends and fixations, all performance indicators still meet normal use requirements, and no significant performance degradation or damage has been observed.

[0011] Furthermore, the hose section has a locking device at its end to fix its shape after bending, ensuring the generator's stability during operation. Simultaneously, the hose section supports customized length designs, allowing for flexible adjustment to meet different installation depth requirements, greatly improving the generator's applicability.

[0012] Furthermore, the fixing and locking device adopts a flange or threaded fastening structure, which has the characteristics of simple structure, convenient operation and good sealing performance, and can ensure the stable operation of the generator under complex working conditions such as high temperature and high dust.

[0013] The flexible conduit runs through the interior of the flexible hose section, employing a modular integrated design concept. This conduit integrates multiple functional pipelines, including water-cooled cables, water-cooled piping, and gas supply piping. All pipelines are made of heat-resistant materials with a temperature resistance of at least 150℃. To prevent entanglement during bending, these pipelines are arranged in a staggered manner, ensuring the stability and reliability of the flexible conduit under bending conditions. Each pipeline is independent and does not interfere with others, possessing excellent sealing performance to prevent gas leakage and cooling water seepage, ensuring the safe operation of the entire generator.

[0014] Furthermore, the rigid pipe section and the flexible pipe section are connected by threads or fixing screws, facilitating disassembly and maintenance of the internal flexible pipe. This connection method is simple, reliable, and easy to operate, enabling rapid disassembly and installation of the rigid pipe section and the flexible pipe section while ensuring the overall sealing performance of the generator, greatly reducing the maintenance difficulty and cost of the generator.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows:

[0016] Highly adaptable: The flexible hose section can be actively bent and supports customized lengths, which can flexibly adapt to various complex spaces and effectively solve the installation problems of traditional generators in restricted environments such as curved pipes and narrow spaces. It is especially suitable for complex industrial scenarios such as pulverized coal burners and industrial furnaces.

[0017] High stability: After the flexible tube section is bent, its shape can be fixed by a locking device to prevent displacement during operation and ensure the stability of the plasma generator during operation. At the same time, the functional pipelines are arranged in a staggered manner to avoid mutual entanglement or compression during bending, further improving the reliability of the generator under complex operating conditions.

[0018] Excellent high temperature resistance: The rigid pipe section, flexible pipe section and flexible pipe are all made of materials with a temperature resistance of not less than 150℃, and are equipped with an efficient water cooling system, which can effectively dissipate the heat generated by the electrodes during operation, ensure the generator operates stably in high temperature environment and extend the service life of the equipment.

[0019] Easy installation and maintenance: The generator's overall design is simple and reasonable, and the installation process is quick and easy, reducing installation costs. The modular integrated flexible piping design allows for direct replacement of individual pipelines in case of failure, without the need to disassemble and replace the entire generator, significantly reducing maintenance difficulty and costs. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the longitudinal section structure of the flexible plasma generator of this utility model;

[0021] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the cross-section of the flexible pipe section of this utility model;

[0022] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the installation of the flexible plasma generator of this utility model;

[0023] In the diagram: 1. Rigid pipe section; 11. Anode; 12. Insulating positioning ring; 13. Cathode; 131. Cathode front end; 132. Anode-cathode gap; 2. Flexible pipe section; 21. Flexible pipe section fixing interface; 22. Fixing and locking device; 3. Built-in flexible pipeline; 31. Anode water-cooled cable; 32. Air 1 inlet pipe; 33. Air 2 inlet pipe; 34. Cathode return water pipe; 35. Anode water inlet pipe; 36. Cathode water-cooled cable Detailed Implementation

[0024] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments. In the description of the present invention, the terms "horizontal", "longitudinal", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the present invention.

[0025] This invention provides a flexible plasma generator that combines flexibility, fixability, and high-temperature resistance, suitable for high-temperature plasma applications in complex and confined spaces (such as pulverized coal burners and industrial furnaces). This design optimizes the installation limitations and operational stability of traditional plasma generators through a unique three-section composite structure. Its specific structure, function, and operation are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0026] like Figure 1 As shown, the flexible plasma generator consists of a rigid tube section (1), a flexible tube section (2), and an internal flexible pipe (3). The rigid tube section (1) integrates an electrode system and a cooling device, serving as the core unit for plasma generation. The flexible tube section (2) is connected to the rear of the rigid tube section (1) and uses a rubber tube or metal corrugated tube with a temperature resistance of ≥150℃. It supports multiple active bending from 0 to 90° and achieves shape locking after bending through a fixing and locking device (22) at the tail end. The internal flexible pipe (3) runs through the interior of the flexible tube section (2) and integrates water-cooled cables, gas supply lines, and cooling lines in a modular design. All lines are made of high-temperature resistant materials and are staggered to ensure stability and reliability during bending.

[0027] The cathode (13) and anode (11) are coaxially arranged inside the rigid tube section (1), and the distance between them is precisely fixed by an insulating positioning ring (12) to ensure arc initiation stability. A water-cooling jacket is provided around the electrode, and the electrode is continuously cooled by circulating cooling water (connected by the anode inlet pipe 35 and the cathode return pipe 34) to avoid high-temperature ablation. The carrier gas channel is divided into two paths: gas 1 inlet pipe (32) delivers gas to the cathode tail (131), while gas 2 inlet pipe (33) directly supplies gas to the anode-cathode gap (132). The plasma generation efficiency is optimized by the dual-path gas distribution. The rigid tube section and the flexible tube section are connected by threads or fixing screws for easy disassembly and maintenance.

[0028] The size of the anode-cathode gap (132) is related to the success rate of arc initiation of the plasma generator and the flow rate of gas supplied from the gas 2 inlet pipe (33) to the anode-cathode gap (132). The gap can be controlled between 1.0-1.5mm by the insulating positioning ring (12) to ensure the success rate of arc initiation.

[0029] The flexible hose section (2) is made of high-temperature resistant material, combining flexibility and structural strength. It can be bent manually to the required angle b, where b represents the bending angle of the hose section, which is controlled within the range of 0-90°. The generator is fixed by a flange or threaded locking device (22) to prevent vibration displacement during equipment operation. The length of the hose section supports customized design and can be flexibly adjusted according to the depth requirements of the installation space, making it particularly suitable for industrial piping environments with limited space or installation constraints. In addition, the connection interface (21) between the hose section and the rigid pipe section adopts a detachable structure, which facilitates the maintenance of the built-in flexible pipe (3).

[0030] like Figure 2 As shown, the built-in flexible pipe (3) runs through the inside of the flexible hose section, and uses a high-temperature resistant insulating rubber hose to make the pipe resistant to temperatures ≥150℃. Its modular integrated design includes: the anode water-cooled cable (31) and the cathode water-cooled cable (36) are used to transmit electrical energy and allow cooling water to enter and exit; the gas 1 inlet pipe (32) and the gas 2 inlet pipe (33) provide dual gas supply. All pipelines are arranged in a staggered manner, with a stagger angle α ranging from 50-60°, to avoid them from getting tangled or squeezed when bending, thereby ensuring the reliability of long-term use.

[0031] Furthermore, the four pipes, namely the anode water-cooled cable (31), the cathode water-cooled cable (36), the anode inlet pipe (35), and the cathode return pipe (34), constitute a circulating cooling system. The cooling water passes through the cathode water-cooled cable (36), the cathode return pipe (34), the anode inlet pipe (35), and the anode water-cooled cable (31) in sequence to form a complete series circuit. The anode inlet pipe (35) and the cathode return pipe (34) can be connected inside the flexible hose section (2) to reduce the number of pipes at the outlet of the flexible hose section (2).

[0032] like Figure 3 As shown, during installation, the rigid pipe section (1) and the flexible pipe section (2) are first inserted into the installation position (such as inside the burner). The flexible pipe section (2) is then bent to the fixed position and secured by the locking device (22), and then tightened by a flange or threaded structure. During operation, circulating cooling water continuously cools the electrodes through the water-cooled pipes. Dual gas lines are delivered to the cathode tail and electrode gap respectively to maintain stable discharge, while the water-cooled cable provides high-voltage power to the electrodes. The modular design allows for direct replacement in case of a single pipe failure, significantly reducing maintenance costs.

[0033] In summary, the flexible plasma generator provided by this utility model, through its innovative three-section composite structure design and optimized configuration of each component, successfully solves the problems of traditional plasma generators, such as difficult installation in complex spaces, poor stability, insufficient high-temperature resistance, and inconvenient maintenance. It has significant technical advantages and broad application prospects.

[0034] The above are only some embodiments of the present utility model and are not intended to limit the present utility model. For those skilled in the art, the present utility model can have various combinations and modifications of the aforementioned technical features. Any improvements, modifications, equivalent substitutions, or applications of the structure or method of the present utility model to other fields to achieve the same effect without departing from the spirit and scope of the present utility model shall fall within the protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A flexible plasma generator, characterized by, It includes a rigid pipe section, a flexible pipe section, and a flexible conduit connected in sequence, wherein: The rigid tube section is made of rigid metal tube and has a coaxially arranged cathode and anode installed inside. The electrode spacing is precisely fixed by a built-in insulating positioning ring. The rigid tube section is provided with a circulating cooling water channel that connects to the water cooling jacket and a carrier gas channel with two separate paths. The hose section is made of heat-resistant rubber tubing or metal corrugated tubing, with a temperature resistance of not less than 150°C, and has an active bending function of 0-90°. The tail end is equipped with a locking and fixing device after bending. The flexible pipe runs through the inside of the flexible hose section and adopts a modular integrated design, integrating multiple functional pipelines such as water-cooled cable, water-cooled pipeline, and gas supply pipeline. All pipelines are made of heat-resistant materials with a temperature resistance of not less than 150℃. All pipelines are arranged in a staggered manner to avoid entanglement during bending.

2. The flexible plasma generator of claim 1, wherein, The carrier gas channel is divided into two paths: one path leads to the tail of the cathode, and the other path leads to the area between the cathode and the anode.

3. The flexible plasma generator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The length of the hose section can be customized to adapt to different installation depth requirements.

4. The flexible plasma generator of claim 1, wherein, The water-cooled jacket cools the electrodes using circulating cooling water, and the water-cooling pipeline is connected to the electrode cooling system.

5. The flexible plasma generator of claim 4, wherein, The water cooling system includes independently circulating anode cooling circuits and cathode cooling circuits.

6. The flexible plasma generator of claim 1, wherein, The locking device for the hose section is a flange or threaded fastening structure.

7. The flexible plasma torch of claim 1, wherein, The rigid pipe section and the flexible pipe section are connected by threads or fixing screws.

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