Droplet charge insertion device and insertion method using electret

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device and method for inserting charge into a droplet using an electret, and more specifically, to a device for inserting charge into a droplet using an electret comprising: a liquid storage body; a liquid discharge part located on one side of the liquid storage body; and an electret for charging a droplet discharged through the liquid discharge part; wherein the device has a cylindrical or polygonal cylinder-shaped housing configured to surround the discharge part, and the electret is provided on the inner surface of the housing, and the discharged droplet falls along the central axis of the housing and becomes charged.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for inserting charge into a droplet using an electret and a method for inserting charge. Background Technology

[0002] Among energy harvesting technologies utilizing various resources, energy harvesting technology using water droplets is attracting attention. Accordingly, various types of Droplet-based Electricity Generators (DEGs) that produce electrical energy using water droplets are being introduced.

[0003] Furthermore, droplet manipulation technology is being actively used in various fields, including microfluidics, drug delivery, and nanotechnology. As a technology that manipulates the shape, movement path, and location of water droplets, droplet manipulation technology has very high potential.

[0004] The technology of inserting electric charges into water droplets is being applied industrially in techniques such as electrospraying.

[0005] However, existing technology had limitations regarding wide-ranging applications because it required high-voltage power supplies in the kilovolt range and devices with large and complex structures.

[0006] Therefore, to enhance the practicality of water droplet charge insertion technology, a technology that inserts charges into water droplets more simply is required. Prior art literature

[0007] Republic of Korea Registered Patent 10-1897680, Japan Registered Patent JP 5892708 B, Japan Published Patent JP 2014-515326 A The problem to be solved

[0008] Accordingly, the present invention has been devised to solve the aforementioned conventional problems. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the purpose is to provide a device and method for inserting charge into a droplet using an electret, which generates a water droplet with inserted charge through electrostatic induction using an electret that forms an electrostatic field semi-permanently, and which can be applied to the fields of energy harvesting and droplet manipulation using the water droplet with inserted charge.

[0009] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the purpose is to provide a technology for generating a water droplet having a large amount of electrostatic charge by appropriately placing an electret, manufactured using a method such as corona charging, around a discharge port where the water droplet falls.

[0010] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the purpose is to provide a device and method for inserting charge into a droplet using an electret, which does not require a power source and can control the charge contained in a droplet by adjusting the surface potential of the electret (the polarity of the charge can also be controlled), has a simple structure, and can use various types of liquids.

[0011] Furthermore, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the purpose is to provide a device and method for inserting charge into a droplet using an electret, wherein a large amount of electrical energy can be easily harvested through rainwater, etc., by simply configuring the device when using the present invention, and since the DEG basically harvests electrical energy through the flow of charge generated from the movement of water droplets, the electrical output of existing DEG devices can be significantly increased when using water droplets with a large amount of charge inserted, most types of water droplets can be utilized, and the method of manipulating the water droplets can be utilized not only with an electric field through an external power source but also with an electric field utilizing the electret.

[0012] According to an embodiment of the present invention, it is expected that when the present invention is commercialized, it can be utilized in industrial fields as well as research fields by applying energy harvesting and droplet manipulation technologies. Furthermore, since it is possible to create droplets with inserted charges regardless of the type of liquid, the purpose is to provide a device and method for inserting charges into droplets using electrets, which can increase the absorption rate through the skin through the charges within the liquid when applied to cosmetics or pharmaceuticals applied to the skin.

[0013] Meanwhile, the technical problems to be solved by the present invention are not limited to those mentioned above, and other technical problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention belongs from the description below. means of solving the problem

[0014] The first objective of the present invention can be achieved by a device for inserting charge into a droplet using an electret, characterized by comprising: a liquid storage body; a liquid discharge unit located on one side of the liquid storage body; and an electret for charging a droplet discharged through the liquid discharge unit.

[0015] In addition, it may be characterized by having a cylindrical or polygonal cylinder-shaped housing configured to surround the discharge portion, and having the electret provided on the inner surface of the housing.

[0016] In addition, the discharged droplet may be characterized by falling onto the central axis of the housing and becoming charged.

[0017] And the above liquid storage body may be characterized by being grounded.

[0018] In addition, the above electret may be characterized by being manufactured using a corona charging method.

[0019] And the above housing may be characterized by being composed of electrodes.

[0020] In addition, it may be characterized by including a connector connecting the liquid storage body and the housing, and the discharge port being located inside the housing.

[0021] And the above connector may be characterized by being composed of PLA, and the above electrode may be composed of aluminum.

[0022] In addition, the above electret may be characterized as being a negatively charged film or a positively charged film.

[0023] And the above-described electrostatic film may be characterized by ionizing the fluid surrounding the workpiece by means of a high-voltage pin to which a high voltage is applied under an electrode plate, so that the generated ions are injected into the workpiece by an electric field.

[0024] In addition, the above-mentioned workpiece material may be characterized as being FEP.

[0025] The second objective of the present invention can be achieved by a method for inserting charge into a droplet using an electret, comprising: a step of discharging a droplet from a liquid discharge unit located on one side of a liquid storage body; and a step of charging the droplet discharged through the liquid discharge unit by an electret, wherein the electret is provided on the inner surface of the housing having a cylindrical or polygonal cylinder-shaped housing configured to surround the discharge unit, and wherein the discharged droplet falls along the central axis of the housing and becomes charged.

[0026] And the liquid storage body may be grounded, and the housing may be characterized as being composed of an electrode.

[0027] In addition, it may be characterized by including a connector connecting the liquid storage body and the housing, and the discharge port being located inside the housing.

[0028] In addition, the above electret may be characterized in that a positive charge is inserted into the droplet when the above electret is a negative charge charging film, and a negative charge is inserted into the droplet when the above electret is a positive charge charging film. Effects of the invention

[0029] According to the device and method for inserting charge into a droplet using an electret according to an embodiment of the present invention, a droplet with inserted charge is generated through electrostatic induction using an electret that forms an electrostatic field semi-permanently, and furthermore, the effect of being applicable to the fields of energy harvesting and droplet manipulation using the charged droplet is achieved.

[0030] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a technology can be provided for generating a water droplet having a large amount of electrostatic charge by appropriately placing an electret, manufactured using a method such as corona charging, around a discharge port where the water droplet falls.

[0031] Furthermore, according to an embodiment of the present invention, when an electret charged with a negative (-) charge is positioned near a water outlet, a positive (+) charge is induced near the outlet through grounding by electrostatic induction, and subsequently, as the water droplet separates from the outlet, the water droplet falls while retaining the positive charge. This method has the advantage of a very simple structure in that it simply drops a water droplet with an inserted charge by placing the electret without a separate power source.

[0032] According to the device and method for inserting charge into a droplet using an electret according to an embodiment of the present invention, the purpose is to provide a device and method for inserting charge into a droplet using an electret that does not require a power source, can control the charge contained in the droplet by adjusting the surface potential of the electret (the polarity of the charge can also be controlled), has a simple structure, and can use various types of liquids.

[0033] Furthermore, according to an embodiment of the present invention, when using the device, a large amount of electrical energy can be easily harvested from rainwater, etc., by simply configuring the device. Additionally, since the DEG basically harvests electrical energy through the flow of charge generated from the movement of water droplets, using water droplets with a large amount of charge inserted can significantly increase the electrical output of existing DEG devices. Moreover, most types of water droplets can be utilized, and the method of manipulating the water droplets can be utilized not only with an electric field through an external power source but also with an electric field using electrets, which is an advantage.

[0034] According to an embodiment of the present invention, when the present invention is commercialized, it is expected to be utilized in industrial fields as well as research fields through the application of energy harvesting and water droplet manipulation technologies. Furthermore, since it is possible to create water droplets with inserted charges regardless of the type of liquid, when applied to cosmetics or pharmaceuticals applied to the skin, it has the effect of increasing the absorption rate through the skin by utilizing the charges within the liquid.

[0035] Meanwhile, the effects obtainable from the present invention are not limited to those mentioned above, and other unmentioned effects will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention belongs from the description below. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0036] The following drawings attached to this specification illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention and serve to further enhance understanding of the technical concept of the present invention together with the detailed description of the invention; therefore, the present invention should not be interpreted as being limited only to the matters described in such drawings. FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a charge insertion device within a droplet using an electret according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows the potential distribution around an electret fabricated with a square shape of about 10 cm and a surface potential of about -3 kV, FIG. 3 is a perspective view and a partially cutaway enlarged view of a charge insertion device within a droplet using an electret according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram modeling the principle of falling with a charge inserted into a droplet according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5a is a graph of surface potential and charge according to an experimental example of the present invention, FIG. 5b is a graph of charge amount with respect to needle diameter according to an experimental example of the present invention, Figures 5c and 5d show the results of simulating the potential and electric field magnitudes formed when using an electret fabricated at -3kV according to an experimental example of the present invention using a program called COMSOL. FIG. 6 is data showing the amount of charge contained in water droplets when +1.5kV, 0V, and -1.5kV electrets are used according to the experimental example of the present invention, FIGS. 7A and 7B are graphs showing that the stronger the surface potential of the electret according to an experimental example of the present invention, the stronger the attractive force separating the water droplet from the discharge port. Figure 8 shows a photograph illustrating the behavior of water droplets (orange and green) with opposite charges when electrets charged with opposite poles are placed on both sides of a tank filled with oil according to an experimental example of the present invention. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0037] The above objects, other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be easily understood through the following preferred embodiments associated with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein and may be embodied in other forms. Rather, the embodiments introduced herein are provided to ensure that the disclosed content is thorough and complete and to ensure that the spirit of the invention is sufficiently conveyed to a person skilled in the art.

[0038] In this specification, when a component is described as being on another component, it means that it may be formed directly on the other component or that a third component may be interposed between them. Also, in the drawings, the thicknesses of the components are exaggerated for the effective description of the technical content.

[0039] The embodiments described herein will be explained with reference to cross-sectional and / or plan views, which are exemplary illustrations of the invention. In the drawings, the thicknesses of films and regions are exaggerated for effective explanation of the technical content. Accordingly, the shapes of the exemplary drawings may be modified by manufacturing techniques and / or tolerances, etc. Accordingly, the embodiments of the invention are not limited to the specific shapes depicted but include variations in shape produced according to the manufacturing process. For example, a region depicted as a right angle may be rounded or have a certain curvature. Accordingly, the regions illustrated in the drawings have properties, and the shapes of the regions illustrated in the drawings are intended to illustrate specific shapes of the regions of the device and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Although terms such as first, second, etc., have been used to describe various components in the various embodiments of this specification, these components should not be limited by such terms. These terms are used merely to distinguish one component from another. The embodiments described and illustrated herein also include their complementary embodiments.

[0040] The terms used herein are for describing the embodiments and are not intended to limit the invention. In this specification, the singular form includes the plural form unless specifically stated otherwise in the text. As used herein, 'comprises' and / or 'comprising' do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other components to the mentioned components.

[0041] In describing the specific embodiments below, various specific details have been included to explain the invention more specifically and to aid understanding. However, a reader with sufficient knowledge in the art to understand the invention will recognize that it can be used without these various specific details. In some cases, it is noted in advance that commonly known aspects that are not significantly related to the invention have been omitted to prevent unnecessary confusion in describing the invention.

[0043] Hereinafter, the configuration, function, and insertion method of a charge insertion device within a droplet using an electret according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0044] FIG. 1 illustrates a conceptual diagram of a charge insertion device within a droplet using an electret according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0045] As shown in Fig. 1, the image shows a droplet with an inserted charge being dropped by placing the electret near the discharge port of a grounded liquid.

[0046] When a negatively charged electret is placed near a water outlet, a positive charge is induced near the outlet through grounding via electrostatic induction. Subsequently, as the droplet separates from the outlet, it falls while retaining the positive charge. This method is structurally very simple in that it drops a charged droplet simply by placing the electret, without the need for a separate power source.

[0047] Figure 1 summarizes the features and advantages of a charge insertion device within a droplet using an electret according to an embodiment of the present invention as follows.

[0048] 1) It does not require power.

[0049] 2) By adjusting the surface potential of the electret, the charge contained in the water droplet can be controlled (the poles of the charge can also be controlled).

[0050] 3) The structure is simple.

[0051] 4) Various types of liquids can be used.

[0052] Figure 2 illustrates the potential distribution around an electret fabricated with a square shape of about 10 cm and a surface potential of about -3 kV. As shown in Figure 2, the surface portion of the electret exhibits a nearly uniform potential distribution of -3 kV, and it can be confirmed that a potential of -2 kV or higher is formed even at a distance of about 2 cm.

[0054] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view and a partial cutaway enlarged view of a charge insertion device within a droplet using an electret according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0055] Figure 4 is a diagram showing a model of the principle of falling with a charge inserted into a droplet according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0056] As previously mentioned, a charge insertion device for a droplet using an electret according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a liquid storage body; a liquid discharge unit located on one side of the liquid storage body; and an electret for charging a droplet discharged through the liquid discharge unit.

[0057] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the device has a cylindrical or polygonal cylinder-shaped housing configured to surround the discharge portion, and an electret is provided on the inner surface of the housing.

[0058] And the discharged droplet falls onto the central axis of the housing and becomes charged.

[0059] In addition, the liquid storage body is grounded, and the electret can be manufactured using a corona charging method, etc.

[0060] And the housing is composed of electrodes and can be aluminum.

[0061] In addition, it includes a connector connecting the liquid storage body and the housing, and such a connector may be composed of PLA.

[0062] A needle portion for discharging a droplet is provided at the end of the discharge port, and the needle portion is located inside the housing.

[0063] And the electret may be a negative charge charging film or a positive charge charging film, and the charging film may be manufactured by ionizing the fluid surrounding the workpiece under an electrode plate by a high-voltage pin to which a high voltage is applied, and the generated ions are injected into the workpiece by an electric field. And such a workpiece may be a polymer film such as FEP.

[0064] Therefore, when a liquid droplet is discharged from the needle portion of the liquid discharge unit located on one side of the liquid storage body, the electret charges the liquid droplet discharged through the liquid discharge unit.

[0065] The discharged droplet falls onto the central axis of the housing and becomes charged, and the liquid storage body is grounded.

[0066] When the electret is a negatively charged film, a positive charge is inserted into the droplet, and when the electret is a positively charged film, a negative charge is inserted into the droplet.

[0068] Below, experimental examples and experimental results regarding the embodiments of the present invention mentioned above will be described.

[0069] Figure 5a illustrates a graph of surface potential and charge amount according to an experimental example of the present invention. The graph shown in Figure 5a represents the charge amount of a water droplet falling from a 1.36 mm outlet according to the surface potential of the electret. It was confirmed that when a positively charged electret was used, a negative charge was inserted into the water droplet, and when a negatively charged electret was used, a positive charge was inserted into the water droplet. In addition, the charge amount of the water droplet increased as the surface potential of the electret increased, and a charge amount of 300 pC was measured at an electret with a surface potential of approximately -3 kV.

[0070] Figure 5b is a graph of the charge amount according to the diameter of the needle part in an experimental example of the present invention. The size of the water droplet also showed a significant effect on the amount of charge inserted. The graph above shows the amount of charge according to the diameter of the discharge port when using a -1,500 V electret. As a result, it was confirmed that the amount of charge decreases as the diameter of the discharge port decreases.

[0071] Figures 5c and 5d are the results of simulating the potential and electric field magnitudes formed when using an electret fabricated at -3kV according to an experimental example of the present invention using a program called COMSOL.

[0072] As shown in Figures 5c and 5d, when using an electret made at -3kV, the potential and electric field magnitudes formed can be simulated using a program called COMSOL, and it can be confirmed that a strong electric field is formed near the surface of the water droplet.

[0073] Figure 6 shows data indicating the amount of charge contained in water droplets when +1.5kV, 0V, and -1.5kV electrets are used according to the experimental example of the present invention.

[0074] The data in Fig. 6 represents the amount of electric charge contained in water droplets when +1.5kV, 0V, and -1.5kV electrets are used, respectively. The measurements were taken using a device called a Faraday cup, which is used to measure minute amounts of electric charge, and the moment the data changes rapidly is the moment the water droplet falls. Through these results, it can also be confirmed that water droplets with a constant amount of electric charge can be continuously generated even without supplying an external power source.

[0075] FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate graphs showing that the stronger the surface potential of the electret according to an experimental example of the present invention, the stronger the attractive force separating the water droplet from the discharge port becomes.

[0076] The data in Figures 7a and 7b is a graph showing that the stronger the surface potential of the electret, the stronger the attractive force separating the water droplet from the discharge port, and the surface potential on the x-axis represents the surface potential of the electret. Consequently, it can be confirmed that the higher the surface potential of the electret used, the shorter the time it takes for 50 water droplets to fall, and the lighter the weight of the fallen water.

[0077] Figure 8 shows a photograph illustrating the behavior of water droplets (orange and green) with opposite charges when electrets charged with opposite poles are placed on both sides of a tank filled with oil according to an experimental example of the present invention.

[0078] This shows the behavior of water droplets (orange and green) with opposite charges dropped onto opposite sides of an oil-filled tank, with electrets charged with opposite poles placed on either side. The results indicate potential applications in fields requiring the movement of fluids to specific locations, such as microfluidic systems or drug delivery.

[0080] In addition, the apparatus and method described above are not limited to the configurations and methods of the embodiments described above; rather, all or part of each embodiment may be selectively combined to allow for various modifications to be made.

Claims

Claim 1 A device for inserting charge into a droplet using an electret, comprising: a liquid storage body; a liquid discharge part located on one side of the liquid storage body; and an electret for charging a droplet discharged through the liquid discharge part; a housing in the shape of a cylindrical or polygonal cylinder configured to surround the discharge part, wherein the electret is provided on the inner surface of the housing, and a connector connecting the liquid storage body and the housing, wherein the discharge part is located inside the housing and the connector is composed of PLA. Claim 2 delete Claim 3 A device for inserting charge into a droplet using an electret, characterized in that, in claim 1, the discharged droplet falls onto the central axis of the housing and becomes charged. Claim 4 A charge insertion device within a droplet using an electret, characterized in that, in claim 3, the liquid storage body is grounded. Claim 5 A device for inserting charge into a droplet using an electret, wherein, in claim 4, the electret is characterized by being manufactured using a corona charging method. Claim 6 A charge insertion device within a droplet using an electret, characterized in that, in claim 4, the housing is composed of an electrode. Claim 7 delete Claim 8 delete Claim 9 A charge insertion device within a droplet using an electret, characterized in that, in claim 1, the electrode is composed of aluminum. Claim 10 A device for inserting charge into a droplet using an electret, characterized in that, in claim 5, the electret is a negative charge charging film or a positive charge charging film. Claim 11 A charge insertion device within a droplet using an electret, wherein, in claim 10, the electric film ionizes the fluid surrounding the workpiece under an electrode plate by means of a high-voltage pin to which a high voltage is applied, and the generated ions are injected into the workpiece by an electric field. Claim 12 A charge insertion device within a droplet using an electret, characterized in that, in claim 11, the workpiece material is FEP. Claim 13 A method for inserting charge into a droplet using an electret, comprising: a step of discharging a droplet from a liquid discharge unit located on one side of a liquid storage body; and a step of charging the droplet discharged through the liquid discharge unit by an electret; wherein the method comprises a cylindrical or polygonal cylinder-shaped housing configured to surround the discharge unit, wherein the electret is provided on the inner surface of the housing, the discharged droplet falls along the central axis of the housing and is charged, and a connector connecting the liquid storage body and the housing is included, wherein the discharge unit is located inside the housing, and the connector is composed of PLA. Claim 14 A method for inserting charge into a droplet using an electret, characterized in that, in claim 13, the liquid storage body is grounded and the housing is composed of an electrode. Claim 15 delete Claim 16 A method for inserting charge into a droplet using an electret, characterized in that, in claim 14, when the electret is a negative charge charging film, a positive charge is inserted into the droplet, and when the electret is a positive charge charging film, a negative charge is inserted into the droplet.

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