Fluid Treatment Device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a fluid treatment device capable of treating a flowing fluid by generating plasma in the fluid. The fluid treatment device according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a hollow outer body; a guide assembly housed in the outer body to provide a first flow path having a shape in which the diameter of at least a portion thereof decreases along the direction of the fluid flow and a second flow path having a shape in which the diameter of at least a portion thereof increases to collapse bubbles contained in the fluid that flows through the first flow path; and a screw housed in the outer body to be located upstream of the guide assembly in the direction of the fluid flow to generate a vortex flow in the fluid, the inner surface of the outer body being provided with an enlarged portion whose diameter gradually increases in a direction away from the end of the guide assembly.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a fluid treatment device, and more particularly to a fluid treatment device capable of treating a flowing fluid by generating a plasma in the fluid. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art A variety of technologies have been developed to convert fluids such as water into fluids with specific functions through electrolysis, magnetic treatment, ultrasonic treatment, plasma treatment, and the like. For example, a fluid treatment technology is known in which plasma is generated in air or water, and then activated species such as oxygen and nitrogen are dissolved in the water to produce plasma activated water (PAW).

[0003] Plasma activated water is highly acidic and can act as a disinfectant or insecticide, and because it contains a large amount of nitrogen oxides, it can also be used as liquid fertilizer. Plasma activated water can also be used in hospitals to disinfect medical tools and treat skin conditions, and at home as an environmentally friendly cleaner for washing vegetables and fruits.

[0004] To produce plasma activated water, a technology is required to generate plasma to ionize the water. Conventionally, a method has been mainly used in which electrodes placed in water are discharged to instantaneously generate plasma, and water is ionized through the plasma to produce plasma-activated water.

[0005] However, this method requires high voltage, and it is very difficult to stably maintain the gas required to generate plasma in water, resulting in low production efficiency.In addition, there are problems with the high cost of installing production equipment.

[0006] Another known method is to generate plasma on the surface of water rather than in the water, so that the water and the plasma react with each other to produce plasma-activated water. However, in this method, since the current flows along the surface of the water when the plasma is generated, the amount of ionized activated water produced is very small compared to the time it takes to generate the plasma. Also, in order to produce a large amount of ionized activated water, the plasma must be generated for a long time, which results in high maintenance costs. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] The present invention has been devised in view of the above-mentioned points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a fluid treatment device that can frictionally charge a flowing fluid without an external power source or electrodes to generate plasma in the fluid, and ionize and treat the fluid through this.

[0008] The objects of the present invention are not limited to those mentioned above, and other objects not mentioned above will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] To solve the above-mentioned problems, one embodiment of the present invention provides a fluid treatment device comprising: a hollow outer body; a guide assembly accommodated in the outer body to provide a first flow path having a shape in which the diameter of at least a portion thereof decreases along the direction of fluid flow; and a second flow path having a shape in which the diameter of at least a portion thereof increases to collapse bubbles contained in the fluid that has flowed through the first flow path; and a screw accommodated in the outer body to be located upstream of the guide assembly in the direction of fluid flow to generate a vortex in the fluid, the inner surface of the outer body being provided with an enlarged portion whose diameter gradually increases in a direction away from the end of the guide assembly.

[0010] The enlarged portion may be curved. The enlarged portion may have curved first and second enlarged portion connecting portions at both ends thereof.

[0011] A curved rounded portion may be provided around the distal edge of the guide assembly adjacent the enlarged portion. The rounded portion may be configured to have a curved surface with a curvature radius of 0.5 to 5 mm.

[0012] The guide assembly may include a sloped portion whose outer diameter gradually decreases along the fluid flow direction, and the outer body may include a contact portion that protrudes from an inner surface of the outer body and contacts the sloped portion to restrain movement of the guide assembly so that the guide assembly cannot move in the fluid flow direction.

[0013] The contact portion may be shaped such that an inner diameter thereof gradually decreases along the direction of flow of the fluid so as to contact the inclined portion. One side end of the inclined portion may be provided with a first inclined portion connecting portion having a convex curved surface with a first radius of curvature, and the other side end of the inclined portion may be provided with a second inclined portion connecting portion having a concave curved surface with a second radius of curvature.One side end of the contact portion may be provided with a first contact portion connecting portion having a concave curved surface with the first radius of curvature to contact the first inclined portion connecting portion, and the other side end of the contact portion may be provided with a second contact portion connecting portion having a convex curved surface with the second radius of curvature.

[0014] The first radius of curvature is preferably 1 to 20 mm. The first flow path may include a focusing flow path into which the fluid that has passed through the screw flows and whose diameter gradually decreases along the flow direction of the fluid; and an inlet flow path connected to an end of the focusing flow path so that the fluid flows in from the focusing flow path and having the same diameter as the end of the focusing flow path.

[0015] The second flow path may include an expansion flow path connected to the inlet flow path to allow the fluid to flow in from the inlet flow path and having a diameter larger than that of the inlet flow path; and a contraction flow path connected to the expansion flow path to allow the fluid to flow in from the expansion flow path and having a diameter smaller than that of the expansion flow path.

[0016] The guide assembly may include a connecting passage connected to the first passage so that the fluid that has passed through the first passage flows in, the connecting passage having a diameter that gradually increases in a direction of the fluid flow. An exhaust passage connected to the connecting passage so that the fluid that has passed through the connecting passage flows in may be provided inside the outer body, the exhaust passage having a diameter larger than that of the expansion passage and the connecting passage.

[0017] The angle of inclination of the connecting flow path is preferably greater than 0 degrees and less than 80 degrees. The guide assembly may be made of a material that triboelectrically charges the fluid to a positive charge. The fluid treatment device according to an embodiment of the present invention may include an accelerator housed in the outer body to promote the collapse of bubbles contained in the fluid.

[0018] The accelerator may be in the form of a metal ring. Meanwhile, a fluid treatment device according to another embodiment of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems includes: a hollow outer body; a first body accommodated in the outer body, the first body including a screw and a first fluid passage that guides the flow of fluid passing through the screw and has a shape in which the diameter decreases at least in part in the direction of the fluid flow; a second body connected to the first body and including a second fluid passage having a diameter relatively larger than one end of the first fluid passage to provide a pressure change to the fluid passing through the first fluid passage; and a third body connected to the second body, the third body being made of a material with higher electrical conductivity than the second body and including a third fluid passage having a diameter relatively smaller than the second fluid passage to provide a pressure change to the fluid passing through the second fluid passage, and the inner surface of the outer body is provided with an enlarged portion that is located downstream of the third body in the direction of the fluid flow and has a shape in which the diameter gradually increases.

[0019] A fluid treatment device according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a fourth body connected to the third body and having a fourth fluid flow path into which fluid that has passed through the third fluid flow path flows, and a curved round portion may be provided around an end edge of the fourth body adjacent to the enlarged portion.

[0020] The rounded portion may be configured to have a curved surface with a curvature radius of 0.5 to 5 mm. A fluid treatment device according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a fourth body connected to the third body and having a fourth fluid flow path into which fluid that has passed through the third fluid flow path flows, wherein at least a portion of the fourth fluid flow path has a gradually enlarged diameter along a flow direction of the fluid, and an inclination angle of the enlarged portion of the fourth fluid flow path may be greater than 0 degrees and less than 80 degrees. [Effects of the Invention]

[0021] The fluid treatment device of the present invention generates a large amount of fine bubbles with a high negative charge density at the interface through the cavitation phenomenon of the flowing fluid and frictional charging, and causes the bubbles to collapse in the fluid, generating plasma, thereby ionizing or decomposing the fluid.

[0022] Furthermore, the fluid processing device according to the present invention can ionize or decompose a fluid without an external power source or electrodes, and can efficiently process the fluid with little energy. Furthermore, the fluid treatment device according to the present invention can mass-produce functional water or activated water with low input costs.

[0023] The various beneficial advantages and effects of the present invention are not limited to those described above, and many more are included within this specification. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0024] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic illustration of a fluid treatment system including a fluid treatment arrangement according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a fluid processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] This is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. [Figure 4] 1 is a cross-sectional view of an outer body of a fluid treatment device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] 1 illustrates an isolated portion of a fluid treatment device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 1 shows a second guide of a fluid treatment device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] 10 shows a second guide according to another embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a fluid processing device according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] 9 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 8. [Figure 10] 9 shows an isolated portion of the fluid processing device shown in FIG. 8. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] A fluid processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a fluid processing system including a fluid processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the fluid processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] The fluid treatment device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention receives a fluid from a fluid supply device 10, and generates plasma in the fluid by frictionally charging the flowing fluid without an external power source or electrodes, thereby ionizing and treating the fluid. The fluid treated by the fluid treatment device 100 can be stored in a fluid storage device 20.

[0027] The fluid treatment device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention can treat various fluids. For example, the fluid treatment device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention can treat water with plasma to generate hydronium ions (HO). + ) can be produced. The fluid supply device 10 supplies the fluid treatment device 100 with water required to produce the plasma activated water, and the fluid storage device 20 can store the plasma activated water produced by the fluid treatment device 100. The water supplied to the fluid treatment device 100 may be pre-treated water that has been freed of foreign matter and has low electrical conductivity and high electrical resistance.

[0028] As shown in the drawings, a fluid treatment device 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention includes an outer body 110 , a screw 130 housed within the outer body 110 , and a guide assembly 140 .

[0029] The outer body 110 is hollow and can accommodate the screw 130 and the guide assembly 140. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, a through-hole 111 is formed inside the outer body 110, passing through the outer body 110 in the longitudinal direction. The through-hole 111 can form a fluid flow path through which a fluid can flow. The screw 130 and the guide assembly 140 are accommodated in the through-hole 111. In addition, at least a portion of a connecting tube 160 for guiding a fluid to the screw 130 can be accommodated in the through-hole 111.

[0030] The portion of the through hole 111 between the guide assembly 140 and the connecting tube 160 forms an inlet channel 115 that connects the guide assembly 140 and the connecting tube 160 to allow fluid to flow, and a screw 130 is disposed in the inlet channel 115. The other portion of the through hole 111 forms a discharge channel 113 through which fluid that has passed through the guide assembly 140 can flow. The discharge channel 113 is wider than the channel provided in the guide assembly 140.

[0031] A ledge 118 is provided on the inside of the outer body 110 to restrict movement of the guide assembly 140. The ledge 118 protrudes from the inner surface of the outer body 110. The ledge 118 can contact the end of the guide assembly 140 to restrict movement of the guide assembly 140 so that the guide assembly 140 cannot move in the fluid flow direction A. The ledge 118 can be ring-shaped or have various other patterns that can contact the end of the guide assembly 140.

[0032] The ledge 118 includes an enlarged portion 120 and a contact portion 122. The contact portion 122 is positioned upstream of the enlarged portion 120 relative to the fluid flow direction A so as to be in contact with the guide assembly 140.

[0033] The enlarged portion 120 has a curved surface whose diameter gradually increases in a direction away from the end of the guide assembly 140. A first enlarged portion connecting portion 120a and a second enlarged portion connecting portion 120b are provided at both ends of the enlarged portion 120. The first enlarged portion connecting portion 120a is disposed upstream of the second enlarged portion connecting portion 120b in the fluid flow direction A. The first enlarged portion connecting portion 120a may have a convex curved surface with a constant radius of curvature. The second enlarged portion connecting portion 120b may have a concave curved surface with a constant radius of curvature. The radii of curvature of the first enlarged portion connecting portion 120a and the second enlarged portion connecting portion 120b may be the same or different. The second enlarged portion connecting portion 120b may be connected to the inner surface of the outer body 110, which defines the discharge flow path 113, at a gentle slope.

[0034] The enlarged portion 120 may form a flow path that expands at a gentle angle between the guide assembly 140 and the discharge flow path 113. If there is a corner on the inner surface of the outer body 110 that comes into contact with the fluid, a problem of charge concentration at the corner may occur. By providing the enlarged portion 120 between the guide assembly 140 and the discharge flow path 113, the fluid processing device 100 according to the present invention may reduce the problem of charge concentration between the guide assembly 140 and the discharge flow path 113 or damage or breakage of the outer body 110 or the guide assembly 140 due to the charge concentration.

[0035] The contact portion 122 has an inner diameter that gradually decreases along the fluid flow direction to ensure stable contact with the guide assembly 140. A first contact portion connecting portion 122a and a second contact portion connecting portion 122b are provided at both ends of the contact portion 122. The first contact portion connecting portion 122a is located upstream of the second contact portion connecting portion 122b in the fluid flow direction A. The first contact portion connecting portion 122a may be a concave curved surface having a constant radius of curvature. The second contact portion connecting portion 122b may be a convex curved surface having a constant radius of curvature. For example, the first contact portion connecting portion 122a may be a curved surface having a first radius of curvature, and the second contact portion connecting portion 122b may be a curved surface having a second radius of curvature. The first and second radii of curvature may be the same or different.

[0036] The first curvature radius may range from 1 to 20 mm. If the first curvature radius is less than 1 mm, the contact portion 122 may protrude from the inner surface of the outer body 110 at a steep angle. In this case, the size or length (length extending in the direction of fluid flow) of the contact portion 122 becomes relatively small. Therefore, the pressure applied to the contact portion 122 from the guide assembly 140 due to the fluid pressure is concentrated in a relatively small area, increasing the risk of damage to the contact portion 122. Furthermore, the contact area between the contact portion 122 and the guide assembly 140 becomes small, which may cause the contact portion 122 to be unable to stably support the guide assembly 140.

[0037] On the other hand, if the first curvature radius exceeds 20 mm, the length (length extending in the fluid flow direction) of the contact portion 122 becomes excessively long, which may weaken the support force of the contact portion 122. In this case, a problem may occur in which the guide assembly 140 is pushed closer to the discharge passage 113 than the designed dimension due to the pressure of the fluid applied to the guide assembly 140.

[0038] The radius of curvature of the first contact portion connecting portion 122a is not limited to the above dimensions, but may be variously changed depending on the outer diameter of the guide assembly 140, the inner diameter of the outer body 110, and the like.

[0039] The outer body 110 is made of an insulating material, such as a synthetic resin material such as acrylic or engineering plastic, or various dielectric materials. 2, 3, and 5, the screw 130 is disposed upstream of the guide assembly 140 in the fluid flow direction A and can rotate the fluid to flow into the guide assembly 140. The screw 130 is preferably made of a material that is easily triboelectrically charged to a negative charge, i.e., a material that can triboelectrically charge the fluid to a positive charge. For example, the screw 130 can be made of a synthetic resin material such as acrylic or engineering plastic, or various dielectric materials.

[0040] The screw 130 has blades 131 for generating vortex flow in the fluid. The blades 131 may be shaped to rotate the fluid and generate vortex flow. Therefore, the fluid passing through the blades 131 can flow in a swirling manner. When the fluid passes through the screw 130 at high speed, a cavitation phenomenon occurs due to a sudden change in fluid pressure, which causes the generation of fine bubbles B (e.g., with a diameter of 50 μm or less) in the fluid. In addition, when the fluid passes through the screw 130 at high speed, it may become positively charged by friction. The screw 130 may be called a vortex guide.

[0041] The screw 130 may be fixed to the inlet passage 115 between the guide assembly 140 and the connecting tube 160 in various ways, such as by being press-fitted into the outer body 110 or by being sandwiched and fixed between the guide assembly 140 and the connecting tube 160. Therefore, the screw 130 can rotate the fluid without rotating. If the screw 130 were to rotate due to the flowing fluid, the frictional charging efficiency between the fluid and the screw 130 may be reduced. In contrast, the fluid treatment device 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention can improve the frictional charging efficiency of the fluid by guiding the fluid with the screw 130 fixed.

[0042] Although the drawings show the screw 130 having a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the entry channel 115 , the screw 130 may have a diameter smaller than the diameter of the entry channel 115 . The guide assembly 140 is located downstream of the screw 130 in the fluid flow direction A. The guide assembly 140 may provide a first flow path 156 and a second flow path 158 through which the fluid passes. In this specification, the first flow path 156 may be referred to as a bubble-forming flow path 156, and the second flow path 158 may be referred to as a reaction flow path 158. The bubble-forming flow path 156 is configured to form bubbles B in the fluid flowing along it. The reaction flow path 158 is configured to collapse bubbles B contained in the fluid flowing along it. The first flow path 156 is located upstream of the second flow path 158 in the fluid flow direction A.

[0043] The guide assembly 140 includes a first guide 141 and a second guide 145. The first guide 141 and the second guide 145 are arranged in order along the fluid flow direction A. The first guide 141 and the second guide 145 are preferably made of a material that is easily triboelectrically charged to a negative charge, i.e., a material that can triboelectrically charge the fluid to a positive charge. For example, the first guide 141 and the second guide 145 may be made of a synthetic resin material such as acrylic or engineering plastic, or various dielectric materials.

[0044] The first guide 141 may be disposed in contact with or adjacent to the screw 130 so that the fluid passing through the screw 130 can flow in. The first guide 141 includes a focusing channel 142 and an inlet channel 143. The focusing channel 142 has a shape in which the diameter gradually decreases along the fluid flow direction A. The focusing channel 142 can guide the fluid passing through the screw 130 to the inlet channel 143. That is, the fluid flows along the focusing channel 142 and can be concentrated in the inlet channel 143. The inlet channel 143 is connected to the focusing channel 142 so that the fluid can flow in from the focusing channel 142. The inlet channel 143 is narrower than the focusing channel 142, thereby increasing the fluid flow rate and enhancing the frictional charging effect. The diameters of the focusing channel 142 and the inlet channel 143 are the same at the connection point between the focusing channel 142 and the inlet channel 143.

[0045] The first guide 141 may provide a first flow path 156. That is, the focusing flow path 142 and the inlet flow path 143 of the first guide 141, together with the inlet flow path 115 accommodating the screw 130, form the first flow path 156. The fluid may flow through the first flow path 156 while generating a vortex, and may be positively charged due to friction between the screw 130 and the first guide 141. At this time, the screw 130 and the first guide 141 may be negatively charged. Furthermore, when the fluid passes through the first flow path 156, minute bubbles B are generated in the fluid due to a cavitation phenomenon. When the fluid is positively charged, negative charges are concentrated at the interfaces of the bubbles B in the fluid.

[0046] When the fluid passes through the first flow path 156, a large amount of bubbles B are generated in the fluid, but the area in the fluid where bubbles B are generated is not limited to the first flow path 156. In other words, bubbles B can also be generated in the fluid when the fluid passes through the second flow path 158.

[0047] The second guide 145 may be disposed in contact with the first guide 141 or adjacent to the first guide 141 so that the fluid that has passed through the first guide 141 flows into the second guide 145. The second guide 145 has an expansion channel 146, a contraction channel 147, and a connection channel 148.

[0048] The expansion channel 146 is connected to the inlet channel 143 of the first guide 141. Fluid passing through the inlet channel 143 flows into the expansion channel 146. The diameter of the expansion channel 146 is larger than the diameter of the inlet channel 143. The pressure of the fluid passing through the narrow inlet channel 143 decreases as it flows into the expansion channel 146, and air bubbles B in the fluid may expand in the expansion channel 146.

[0049] The reduction channel 147 is connected to the expansion channel 146. The diameter of the reduction channel 147 is smaller than the diameter of the expansion channel 146. Therefore, the pressure of the fluid passing through the expansion channel 146 increases as it flows into the reduction channel 147, and bubbles B in the fluid may be reduced in size in the reduction channel 147. The connection channel 148 connects the reduction channel 147 to the discharge channel 113.

[0050] The connecting channel 148 is connected to the reduction channel 147. The connecting channel 148 has a shape in which its diameter gradually increases along the fluid flow direction A. The diameter of the connecting channel 148 at a portion connected to the reduction channel 147 is the same as the diameter of the reduction channel 147, and the diameter of the portion connected to the discharge channel 113 is larger than the diameter of the reduction channel 147. In addition, the diameter of the connecting channel 148 at a portion connected to the discharge channel 113 is smaller than the diameter of the discharge channel 113. The connecting channel 148 has a shape in which it gradually increases from the reduction channel 147 toward the discharge channel 113, thereby allowing the fluid passing through the reduction channel 147 to be more smoothly discharged to the discharge channel 113.

[0051] 6, the expansion inclination angle α of the connecting channel 148 is preferably greater than 0 degrees and less than 80 degrees. In this specification, the expansion inclination angle α of the connecting channel 148 may be defined as half the expansion angle β of the connecting channel 148. In addition, the expansion inclination angle α of the connecting channel 148 may be defined as the angle at which the inclined surface 150 provided on the inner surface of the second guide 145 is inclined from the center line C of the connecting channel 148. The inclined surface 150 of the second guide 145 is a portion that separates the connecting channel 148 from the inner surface of the second guide 145.

[0052] If the enlarged inclination angle α of the connecting flow channel 148 exceeds 80 degrees, the flow rate of the fluid passing through the connecting flow channel 148 and flowing into the discharge flow channel 113 will decrease too much, which is not preferable. The second guide 145 has a sloped portion 152 corresponding to the contact portion 122 of the outer body 110. The sloped portion 152 is provided on the outer surface of the second guide 145 so that its outer diameter gradually decreases along the fluid flow direction A. A first sloped portion connecting portion 152a and a second sloped portion connecting portion 152b are provided on both ends of the sloped portion 152. The first sloped portion connecting portion 152a is disposed upstream of the second sloped portion connecting portion 152b in the fluid flow direction A. The first sloped portion connecting portion 152a may be formed as a convex curved surface having a constant radius of curvature. The second sloped portion connecting portion 152b may be formed as a concave curved surface having a constant radius of curvature. For example, the first inclined portion connecting portion 152a may be curved with a first radius of curvature like the first contact portion connecting portion 122a of the contact portion 122, and the second inclined portion connecting portion 152b may be curved with a second radius of curvature like the second contact portion connecting portion 122b of the contact portion 122. Because the first inclined portion connecting portion 152a has the same radius of curvature as the first contact portion connecting portion 122a, the first inclined portion connecting portion 152a can be in stable contact with the first contact portion connecting portion 122a. Furthermore, because the second inclined portion connecting portion 152b has the same radius of curvature as the second contact portion connecting portion 122b, the second inclined portion connecting portion 152b can be in stable contact with the second contact portion connecting portion 122b.

[0053] The curvature radius of the first inclined portion connecting portion 152a and the second inclined portion connecting portion 152b may be variously changed depending on the curvature radius of the first contact portion connecting portion 122a and the second contact portion connecting portion 122b. A curved rounded portion 154 is provided around the edge of the end of the second guide 145 adjacent to the enlarged portion 120 of the outer body 110. If the end of the guide assembly 140 has sharp corners, problems of electric charge concentration at the corners can occur. Therefore, by providing the rounded portion 154 around the edge of the end of the second guide 145, problems of electric charge concentration at the end of the second guide 145 and damage or breakage of the second guide 145 due to the electric charge concentration can be reduced.

[0054] The rounded portion 154 preferably has a radius of curvature of 0.5 to 5 mm. If the radius of curvature of the rounded portion 154 is less than 0.5 mm, it is not preferable because it has little effect in preventing charge concentration. On the other hand, if the radius of curvature of the rounded portion 154 is more than 5 mm, a long, narrow gap may be formed between the outer body 110 and the second guide 145, causing the fluid that has passed through the second guide 145 to flow back into the gap. This backflow may cause the flow of the fluid that has passed through the second guide 145 to become uneven and unstable.

[0055] The range of the radius of curvature of the rounded portion 154 is not limited to the above dimensions, and may vary depending on the diameter of the second guide 145, the shape of the enlarged portion 120 of the outer body 110, etc.

[0056] 2 and 3, the second guide 145 may provide a second flow path 158 having an expanded diameter in at least a portion thereof so that a rapid pressure change in the fluid can occur. That is, the expanded flow path 146 and the contracted flow path 147 of the second guide 145 form the second flow path 158. The expanded flow path 146 may form an expanded diameter section in the second flow path 158. When the fluid passes through the second flow path 158, a rapid pressure change in the fluid occurs, which may cause bubbles B in the fluid to collapse.

[0057] When a large number of fine bubbles B with a high negative charge density at the interface collapse in a positively charged fluid, high-temperature (e.g., 12,000 to 14,000 K) and high-pressure (e.g., 3,200,000 bar) plasma is generated. The plasma generated within the fluid can ionize or decompose the fluid. In other words, the plasma generated within the fluid can chemically decompose the substances that make up the fluid.

[0058] When the fluid passes through the second flow path 158, a large number of bubbles B in the fluid collapse, but the region where the bubbles B collapse is not limited to the second flow path 158. That is, the collapse of bubbles B may occur in at least a portion of the first flow path 156 or a portion of the discharge flow path 113.

[0059] The fluid processing process using the fluid processing device 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail below. When a high-pressure fluid is supplied from the fluid supply device 10, the high-pressure fluid first passes through the first flow path 156, that is, the bubble formation flow path 156.

[0060] Specifically, the fluid first passes through the screw 130. The fluid, which flows quickly along the blades 131 of the screw 130, generates a vortex. At this time, a cavitation phenomenon occurs due to a sudden change in fluid pressure, which causes fine bubbles B to be generated in the fluid. After passing through the screw 130, the fluid passes through the focusing channel 142 and the inlet channel 143 of the first guide 141 in sequence while generating a vortex. At this time, the fluid is frictionally electrified with a positive charge, and negative charges are concentrated at the interfaces of the bubbles B in the fluid.

[0061] In this way, the fluid in which bubbles B are generated while passing through the bubble-forming channel 156 flows into the second channel 158, that is, the reaction channel 158, and flows while experiencing a sudden change in pressure.

[0062] Specifically, the fluid that has passed through the bubble-forming channel 156 first flows into the expansion channel 146, where the pressure drops sharply. Bubbles B in the fluid may expand in the expansion channel 146. Then, the fluid that has passed through the expansion channel 146 flows into the contraction channel 147, where the pressure rises sharply. Bubbles B in the fluid may contract in the contraction channel 147.

[0063] As described above, the fluid experiences a sudden change in pressure as it passes through the expansion channel 146 and the contraction channel 147, which form the reaction channel 158. As the bubbles B in the fluid expand and contract while passing through the reaction channel 158, they collapse in large numbers. When the bubbles B collapse in large numbers, a discharge occurs due to positive and negative charges in the fluid, generating plasma in the fluid. The plasma generates light, high heat, and high pressure, which can ionize or decompose the fluid.

[0064] The fluid treated with plasma in this manner may flow through the connecting channel 148 into the discharge channel 113 and then into the fluid storage device 20 from the discharge channel 113 . When the fluid treatment device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention receives water from the fluid supply device 10, the fluid treatment device 100 can treat the water into plasma activated water.

[0065] Specifically, when high-pressure water is supplied to the fluid treatment device 100, a large number of fine bubbles B are generated in the water according to the principle described above, and as these bubbles B collapse, plasma is generated. At this time, ionization or decomposition reactions of water molecules and ion bonding reactions proceed in the water, and a large number of hydronium ions (HO + ) and a large number of hydrogen and oxygen nanobubbles (e.g., diameters of 65 nm or less) are generated. + ) Plasma-activated water containing a large amount of hydrogen and oxygen nanobubbles can be used as a therapeutic agent, disinfectant, cleaning agent, etc.

[0066] The water supplied to the fluid treatment device 100 may be ultrapure water, or pretreated water from which foreign matter has been removed to have low electrical conductivity and high electrical resistance. Ultrapure water is water from which inorganic substances, dissolved gases, etc. have been removed and which has relatively high electrical resistance. Water with high electrical resistance may be frictionally charged while passing through the fluid treatment device 100, and then less charge may be discharged before plasma is generated. Furthermore, since water with high electrical resistance is less likely to be discharged before plasma is generated, stronger plasma may be induced, resulting in more efficient treatment.

[0067] As described above, the fluid processing device 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention can ionize or decompose a fluid by generating a large number of fine bubbles B in which negative charges are concentrated at the interface through the cavitation phenomenon of a flowing fluid and frictional electrification, and collapsing the bubbles B within the fluid. That is, the fluid can be ionized or decomposed in an electrodeless manner by collapsing a large number of fine bubbles B in the fluid, which have a high negative charge density at the interface, to generate high-temperature, high-pressure plasma. Here, the electrodeless manner may refer to a method in which a fluid is ionized or decomposed using energy generated when the bubbles B collapse within the fluid, without requiring electrodes to apply electrical energy to the bubbles B within the fluid.

[0068] Therefore, the fluid processing apparatus 100 according to this embodiment generates a large amount of fine bubbles B by utilizing the cavitation phenomenon of a flowing fluid, and then disintegrates a large amount of the fine bubbles B, which have negative charges concentrated at the interface, to generate plasma through charge discharge, thereby chemically decomposing or ionizing the fluid. That is, the fine bubbles B, which have a high negative charge density at the interface, are disintegrated in large amounts in a positively charged fluid to generate high-temperature, high-pressure plasma, thereby ionizing or decomposing the fluid in an electrodeless manner. Therefore, the fluid can be ionized or decomposed without an external power source or electrodes, allowing for efficient fluid treatment with little energy.

[0069] The specific configuration of fluid processing device 100 is not limited to the configurations described and illustrated above. For example, the specific configuration of the guide assembly 140 for providing the bubble-forming channel 156 and the reaction channel 158 may be variously modified.

[0070] In another embodiment, the first guide 141 may be formed in a form in which one guide in which the focusing passage 142 is formed and another guide in which the inlet passage 143 is formed are separated.

[0071] In another embodiment, the second guide 145 may be formed in a form in which one guide in which the narrowed passage 147 is formed and another guide in which the connecting passage 148 is formed are separated. As another example, the guide assembly 140 may be configured such that the first guide 141 and the second guide 145 are integrally formed.

[0072] In another embodiment, the guide assembly 140 may be integral with the outer body 110. In this case, the outer body 110 may be formed as a single insulating material having a through-hole formed therein, the through-hole having a portion with a reduced diameter and a portion with an increased diameter.

[0073] In addition, the bubble formation channel 156 may be modified to have a shape other than that shown in the figure, in which the diameter decreases at least in part along the fluid flow direction so as to cause bubbles to form in the flowing fluid.

[0074] Also, the reaction channel 158 may be modified to have other shapes than those shown in the drawings that are configured to collapse bubbles contained in the fluid. Also, the screw 130 may be omitted.

[0075] On the other hand, FIG. 7 shows a second guide according to another embodiment. 7 has an expansion channel 181, a contraction channel 182, and a connecting channel 183. The expansion channel 181 and the contraction channel 182 can provide reaction channels for generating a rapid pressure change in the fluid to collapse bubbles B in the fluid. The expansion channel 181 is connected to the inlet channel 143 of the first guide 141 (see FIG. 5), the contraction channel 182 is connected to the expansion channel 181, and the connecting channel 183 is connected to the contraction channel 182.

[0076] The connecting channel 183 has a shape in which the diameter gradually increases along the fluid flow direction A. The diameter of the connecting channel 183 at a portion connected to the reduction channel 182 is the same as the diameter of the reduction channel 182, and the diameter of the portion connected to the discharge channel 113 is larger than the diameter of the reduction channel 182. The expansion inclination angle α of the connecting channel 183 is preferably smaller than 80 degrees. The expansion inclination angle α of the connecting channel 183 may be defined as half the expansion angle β of the connecting channel 183. In addition, the expansion inclination angle α of the connecting channel 183 may be defined as the angle at which the inclined surface 185 provided on the inner surface of the second guide 180 is inclined from the center line C of the connecting channel 183. The inclined surface 185 of the second guide 180 is a portion that separates the connecting channel 183 from the inner surface of the second guide 180.

[0077] If the enlarged inclination angle α of the connecting flow path 183 exceeds 80 degrees, the flow rate of the fluid passing through the connecting flow path 183 and flowing into the discharge flow path 113 will decrease too much, which is not preferable. The second guide 180 is provided with an inclined portion 187 that corresponds to the contact portion 122 of the outer body 110. The specific configuration of the inclined portion 187 may be the same as the inclined portion 152 of the second guide 145 described above.

[0078] Additionally, a curved rounded portion 189 is provided around the edge of the end of the second guide 180. The specific configuration of the rounded portion 189 may be the same as the rounded portion 154 of the second guide 145 described above.

[0079] The second guide 180 according to this embodiment has a larger expansion inclination angle α of the connecting channel 183 than the second guide 145 shown in FIG. 6. Therefore, when the second guide 180 according to this embodiment is fabricated to the same length as the second guide 145 of FIG. 6, it has a reduced channel 182 that is longer than the reduced channel 147 of the second guide 145 of FIG. 6. As the length of the reduced channel 182 increases, the length of the reaction channel for collapsing bubbles B in the fluid also increases, thereby increasing the efficiency of plasma generation due to the collapse of bubbles B in the fluid, thereby improving the fluid treatment efficiency. In other words, the second guide 180 according to this embodiment can improve the fluid treatment efficiency without increasing the overall length of the fluid treatment device 100.

[0080] Meanwhile, FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a fluid treatment device according to another embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 8, and FIG. 10 is a separated view of a portion of the fluid treatment device shown in FIG. 8.

[0081] A fluid treatment device 200 according to another embodiment of the present invention includes an outer body 110, and a first body 210, a second body 220, a third body 230, and a fourth body 240 accommodated inside the outer body 110. The first body 210 may provide a bubble formation channel 250 for forming bubbles B in a fluid, and the second body 220 and the fourth body 240 may provide a reaction channel 252 for collapsing bubbles B contained in the fluid. The third body 230 is disposed in the reaction channel 252 and may serve to promote the collapse of bubbles B contained in the fluid.

[0082] The outer body 110 is hollow and can accommodate the first body 210, the second body 220, the third body 230, and the fourth body 240. An outlet channel 113 is provided inside the outer body 110, into which the fluid that has passed through the fourth body 240 flows. The outlet channel 113 is disposed downstream of the fourth body 240 in the fluid flow direction A. The outer body 110 also has an inlet channel 115 that accommodates the screw 130 of the first body 210 and an intermediate channel 116 that accommodates the third body 230. The inlet channel 115 is provided between the connecting tube 160 and the first guide 141 of the first body 210, and the intermediate channel 116 is provided between the second body 220 and the fourth body 240.

[0083] Additionally, a ledge 118 is provided inside the outer body 110 to limit the movement of the fourth body 240. The ledge 118 includes an enlarged portion 120 and a contact portion 122. The specific configuration of the outer body 110 is as described above.

[0084] The first body 210 includes a screw 130 and a first guide 141 . The screw 130 is disposed upstream of the first guide 141 with respect to the fluid flow direction A, and can swirl the fluid to cause it to flow into the first guide 141. The screw 130 has blades 131 for generating a vortex flow in the fluid.

[0085] The first guide 141 includes a focusing channel 142 and an inlet channel 143. The focusing channel 142 and the inlet channel 143 may form a first fluid channel 211 having a shape in which the diameter of at least a portion of the channel decreases along a fluid flow direction A.

[0086] The screw 130 and the first guide 141 are as described above. The second body 220 may be disposed in contact with or adjacent to the first guide 141 so that the fluid that has passed through the first guide 141 flows into it. The second body 220 has a second fluid flow path 221. The fluid that passes through the first fluid flow path 211 of the first body 210 flows into the second fluid flow path 221. The diameter of the second fluid flow path 221 is larger than the diameter of the inlet flow path 143. The fluid that has passed through the narrow inlet flow path 143 flows into the second fluid flow path 221, reducing its pressure, and air bubbles B in the fluid may expand in the second fluid flow path 221.

[0087] The third body 230 may be disposed in contact with or adjacent to the second body 220 so that the fluid that has passed through the second body 220 flows into it. The third body 230 has a third fluid flow path 231. The diameter of the third fluid flow path 231 is smaller than the diameter of the second fluid flow path 221. Therefore, the pressure of the fluid that has passed through the second fluid flow path 221 increases as it flows into the third fluid flow path 231, and air bubbles B in the fluid may shrink in the third fluid flow path 231.

[0088] The third body 230 is made of a material having higher electrical conductivity than the first body 210, the second body 220, and the fourth body 240. For example, the third body 230 may be made of metal. The third body 230 may act as a reservoir for storing negative charges. The third body 230 may also promote the collapse of bubbles B contained in the fluid. That is, the third body 230 may store negative charges and apply a repulsive force to bubbles B whose negative charges have concentrated at the interface, thereby promoting the collapse of bubbles B. The third body 230 may also form an electric field in the fluid, thereby promoting the collapse of bubbles B whose negative charges have concentrated at the interface. The third body 230 may also concentrate bubbles B in the center of the reaction channel 252 by the repulsive force, thereby guiding plasma to be generated stably along the center of the reaction channel 252.

[0089] Thus, the third body 230 has the function of promoting the collapse of the bubble B, and may be called an accelerator or a metal insert. The fourth body 240 may be disposed in contact with or adjacent to the third body 230 so that the fluid that has passed through the third body 230 flows into the fourth body 240. The fourth body 240 has a fourth fluid flow path 241 that allows the fluid to flow to the discharge flow path 113.

[0090] The fourth fluid flow path 241 includes a reduction flow path 242 and a connection flow path 243. The reduction flow path 242 is connected to the third fluid flow path 231 of the third body 230. The diameter of the reduction flow path 242 may be the same as that of the third fluid flow path 231. The connection flow path 243 has a shape in which the diameter gradually increases along the fluid flow direction A. The diameter of the connection flow path 243 at a portion connected to the reduction flow path 242 is the same as that of the reduction flow path 242, and the diameter of the portion connected to the discharge flow path 113 is larger than that of the reduction flow path 242. In addition, the diameter of the connection flow path 243 at a portion connected to the discharge flow path 113 is smaller than the diameter of the discharge flow path 113. The connection flow path 243 gradually widens from the reduction flow path 242 toward the discharge flow path 113, thereby allowing the fluid passing through the reduction flow path 242 to be more smoothly discharged to the discharge flow path 113.

[0091] The fourth body 240 has an inner surface provided with an inclined surface 244 that is inclined with respect to the center line of the connection channel 243 so as to separate the connection channel 243. The connection channel 243 may have an expansion inclination angle or expansion angle in the same angle range as the expansion inclination angle α or expansion angle β of the connection channel 148 provided in the second guide 145 described above.

[0092] The fourth body 240 includes a sloped portion 245 corresponding to the contact portion 122 of the outer body 110. The sloped portion 245 is provided on the outer surface of the fourth body 240 with an outer diameter that gradually decreases along the fluid flow direction A. A first sloped portion connecting portion 245a and a second sloped portion connecting portion 245b are provided on both ends of the sloped portion 245. The first sloped portion connecting portion 245a may be a convex curved portion with a constant radius of curvature. The second sloped portion connecting portion 245b may be a concave curved portion with a constant radius of curvature. For example, the first sloped portion connecting portion 245a may be a curved portion with a first radius of curvature like the first contact portion connecting portion 122a of the contact portion 122, and the second sloped portion connecting portion 245b may be a curved portion with a second radius of curvature like the second contact portion connecting portion 122b of the contact portion 122.

[0093] A curved rounded portion 247 is provided around the edge of the end of the fourth body 240 adjacent to the enlarged portion 120 of the outer body 110. By providing the rounded portion 247 around the edge of the end of the fourth body 240, it is possible to reduce the problem of electric charges concentrating at the end of the fourth body 240 or of the fourth body 240 being damaged or broken due to the electric charge concentration.

[0094] Similar to the rounded portion 154 of the second guide 145 described above, the rounded portion 247 of the fourth body 240 can have a radius of curvature of 0.5 to 5 mm. The fluid processing process performed by the fluid processing device 200 according to this embodiment will be described in more detail below.

[0095] When high-pressure fluid is supplied from the fluid supply device 10 (see FIG. 1), the high-pressure fluid flowing into the outer body 110 first passes through the screw 130. The fluid, which flows quickly along the blades 131 of the screw 130, generates a vortex. At this time, a cavitation phenomenon occurs due to a sudden change in fluid pressure, which causes fine bubbles B to be generated in the fluid. The fluid that has passed through the screw 130 passes through the focusing channel 142 and the inlet channel 143 of the first guide 141 in sequence while generating a vortex. At this time, the fluid is frictionally electrified with a positive charge, and negative charges are concentrated at the interfaces of the bubbles B in the fluid.

[0096] The pressure of the fluid passing through the first fluid flow path 211 drops suddenly as it flows into the second fluid flow path 221 of the second body 220. Air bubbles B in the fluid may expand in the second fluid flow path 221. Subsequently, the pressure of the fluid passing through the second fluid flow path 221 drops suddenly as it flows into the third fluid flow path 231 of the third body 230 and the reduced flow path 242 of the fourth body 240.

[0097] As a result, the fluid passing through the second fluid flow path 221, the third fluid flow path 231, and the fourth fluid flow path 241 experiences a sudden change in pressure, causing the bubbles B in the fluid to expand and contract and collapse in large quantities. At this time, the third body 230 applies a repulsive force to the bubbles B in the fluid, facilitating the collapse of the bubbles B. The collapse of the bubbles B in the fluid in large quantities generates plasma in the fluid, and the generated plasma can ionize or decompose the fluid.

[0098] Although the present invention has been described above in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, the present invention is not necessarily limited to such embodiments and may be variously modified within the scope of the technical concept of the present invention. Therefore, the disclosed embodiments are for illustrative purposes only and do not limit the technical concept of the present invention. Therefore, the above-described embodiments should be understood to be illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention should be interpreted by the scope of the following claims, and all technical concepts within the scope equivalent thereto should be interpreted as being included in the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A hollow outer body, a guide assembly housed in the outer body to provide a first flow path having a shape in which the diameter of at least a portion thereof decreases along a fluid flow direction, and a second flow path having a shape in which the diameter of at least a portion thereof increases to collapse air bubbles contained in the fluid flowing through the first flow path; a screw accommodated in the outer body to be located upstream of the guide assembly in a flow direction of the fluid to generate a vortex flow in the fluid; A fluid treatment device, wherein the inner surface of the outer body is provided with an enlarged portion that gradually increases in diameter in a direction away from the distal end of the guide assembly.

2. The fluid treatment device of claim 1 , wherein the enlarged portion is curved.

3. The fluid treatment device according to claim 1 , wherein both ends of the expansion section are provided with a first expansion section connecting section and a second expansion section connecting section, each of which has a curved surface.

4. 10. The fluid treatment arrangement of claim 1, wherein a curved round is provided around the distal edge of the guide assembly adjacent the enlarged portion.

5. 5. The fluid treatment device according to claim 4, wherein the rounded portion is configured as a curved surface having a radius of curvature of 0.5 to 5 mm.

6. the guide assembly includes a sloped portion whose outer diameter gradually decreases along the direction of flow of the fluid; The fluid treatment device of claim 1 , wherein the outer body includes a contact portion that protrudes from an inner surface of the outer body and contacts the inclined portion to restrain movement of the guide assembly so that the guide assembly cannot move in the direction of fluid flow.

7. The fluid treatment device according to claim 6, wherein the contact portion has a shape in which an inner diameter thereof gradually decreases along the direction of flow of the fluid so as to come into contact with the inclined portion.

8. a first inclined portion connecting portion having a convex curved surface with a first radius of curvature at one end of the inclined portion, and a second inclined portion connecting portion having a concave curved surface with a second radius of curvature at the other end of the inclined portion; 7. The fluid treatment device of claim 6, wherein one side end of the contact portion is provided with a first contact portion connecting portion having a concave curved surface type with the first radius of curvature so as to contact the first inclined portion connecting portion, and the other side end of the contact portion is provided with a second contact portion connecting portion having a convex curved surface type with the second radius of curvature.

9. 9. The fluid treatment device of claim 8, wherein the first radius of curvature is between 1 and 20 mm.

10. The first flow path is a focusing channel into which the fluid that has passed through the screw flows and whose diameter gradually decreases along the direction of the fluid flow; and 2. The fluid treatment device of claim 1, further comprising an inlet channel connected to an end of the focusing channel to receive the fluid from the focusing channel, the inlet channel having a diameter the same as a diameter of the end of the focusing channel.

11. The second flow path is an expansion channel connected to the inlet channel so that the fluid flows in from the inlet channel, the expansion channel having a diameter larger than that of the inlet channel; The fluid treatment device of claim 10 , further comprising a contraction channel connected to the expansion channel to receive the fluid from the expansion channel, the contraction channel having a diameter smaller than a diameter of the expansion channel.

12. the guide assembly includes a connecting passage connected to the first passage so that the fluid passing through the first passage flows therein, the connecting passage having a diameter gradually enlarging along a flow direction of the fluid, 2. The fluid treatment device according to claim 1, wherein a discharge channel is provided inside the outer body, the discharge channel being connected to the connection channel so that the fluid passing through the connection channel flows in, and the discharge channel has a diameter larger than that of the extension channel and the connection channel.

13. The fluid processing device of claim 12 , wherein the angle of expansion of the connecting channel is greater than 0 degrees and less than 80 degrees.

14. 10. The fluid treatment device of claim 1, wherein the guide assembly is made of a material that triboelectrically charges the fluid to a positive charge.

15. 10. The fluid treatment device of claim 1, further comprising an accelerator housed in the outer body to facilitate the collapse of air bubbles contained in the fluid.

16. 16. The fluid treatment device of claim 15, wherein the accelerator is a metal ring.

17. A hollow outer body, a first body accommodated in the outer body, the first body including a screw and a first fluid flow path having a shape that guides the flow of a fluid that has passed through the screw and has a diameter that decreases at least partially along the direction of the fluid flow; a second body connected to the first body and including a second fluid passage having a relatively larger diameter than one end of the first fluid passage to provide a pressure change to a fluid passing through the first fluid passage; and a third body connected to the second body, made of a material having higher electrical conductivity than the second body, and including a third fluid passage having a diameter smaller than that of the second fluid passage so as to provide a pressure change to a fluid passing through the second fluid passage; The fluid treatment device further includes an inner surface of the outer body, the inner surface of the outer body being located downstream of the third body in the direction of flow of the fluid, and having an enlarged portion whose diameter is gradually enlarged.

18. a fourth body connected to the third body and having a fourth fluid flow path into which the fluid having passed through the third fluid flow path flows; 18. The fluid treatment device of claim 17, wherein the fourth body includes a curved rounded portion around an edge of the distal end adjacent the enlarged portion.

19. The fluid treatment device according to claim 18, wherein the rounded portion is configured as a curved surface having a radius of curvature of 0.5 to 5 mm.

20. a fourth body connected to the third body and having a fourth fluid flow path into which the fluid having passed through the third fluid flow path flows; The fourth fluid flow path has at least a portion whose diameter gradually increases along the fluid flow direction, 18. The fluid treatment arrangement of claim 17, wherein the angle of expansion of the expanded portion of the fourth fluid flow path is greater than 0 degrees and less than 80 degrees.

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