Device and method for removing harmful environmental substances using plasma by utilizing tokamak technology

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device and a method for removing harmful environmental substances using plasma, wherein a gliding arc plasma device is used to treat indoor air and thereby eradicate harmful substances as well as microorganisms and bacteria in the air, thus making it possible to supply clean air. In particular, the present invention relates to a device and a method for removing harmful environmental substances using plasma by utilizing tokamak technology, wherein the device is used in an indoor circulation system within underground spaces or installed directly in an external air intake duct in order to suck in external air, and passes the air into a reactor, thus making it possible to supply large underground spaces with large volumes of fresh air obtained by purifying polluted air. In addition, the device can also be operated in real time with a processing capacity and a stable reduction rate by being combined in series and in parallel, does not use additional additives for chemical decomposition, thus preventing secondary pollution, can filter out fine particulate matter particles of at most 100 µm and process automotive pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur oxides (SOx), and hydrocarbons, which are uncombusted carbon compounds, and can be applied to air circulation devices installed in tunnels on motorways.

Description

Device and method for removing hazardous environmental substances using plasma using tokamak technology

[0001] The present invention relates to a device and method for removing hazardous environmental substances using plasma applied with tokamak technology, and more particularly, to a device and method for removing hazardous environmental substances using plasma applied with tokamak technology, which treats indoor air using a gliding arc plasma device to eradicate not only hazardous substances in the air but also microorganisms and bacteria, thereby supplying clean air.

[0002] In particular, the present invention relates to a device and method for removing harmful environmental substances using plasma using tokamak technology, which is used in an indoor circulation type in an underground space or is installed directly in a separate outside air intake pipe to allow air to pass into the reactor, thereby supplying a large amount of fresh air purified from polluted air to a large underground space.

[0003] More specifically, the present invention relates to a device and method for removing harmful environmental substances using plasma with tokamak technology applied, which can be operated in real time and with a processing capacity and a stable reduction rate by combining devices in series and parallel, and can prevent secondary pollution by not using additives for separate chemical decomposition, and can process nitrogen oxides (Nox), sulfur oxides (Sox), and hydrocarbons, which are automobile pollutants, as well as filter out fine dust particles of 100㎛ or less, and can be applied to air circulation devices installed in tunnels of automobile-only roads.

[0004] Due to the development of industry and explosive growth of population, human energy consumption is rapidly increasing day by day, and fossil fuels and natural resources, which are the raw materials for thermal and nuclear power generation, the main energy production methods currently in use, are being depleted due to limited reserves, and there is a problem of emitting various greenhouse gases and hazardous substances as byproducts of these power generation.

[0005] In addition, despite extensive research on alternative energy sources that have recently been gaining attention, such as solar, wind, and tidal power, they have not yet achieved sufficient energy production efficiency or the quality of generated electric energy to be of commercial value.

[0006] On the other hand, nuclear fusion technology, which can produce enormous energy from the mass defect that occurs when two or more hydrogen atoms combine to form one helium atom in an ultra-high-temperature plasma state, is evaluated as an alternative energy source for the future, and is a field in which dynamic research has been conducted for several decades.

[0007] Nuclear fusion devices come in various forms depending on how they generate ultra-high-temperature plasma and how they operate stably. However, among them, the Tokamak device, which can confine and control ultra-high-temperature plasma using magnetic fields, is recognized as having great potential as a future commercial power plant.

[0008] The tokamak device is a technology field with a large ripple effect because it can be used not only for nuclear fusion plasma generation for power generation, but also for commercial plasma generation for various industrial applications such as environmental, mechanical, and material technology, as it is easy to generate nuclear fusion plasma and control it in a magnetic field of an annular ring.

[0009] Modern humans lead affluent and convenient lives thanks to the advancement of industry and technology. However, unlike the pre-industrial era when there were no sources of environmental pollution, problems caused by various harmful gases are occurring.

[0010] In particular, the large amount of carbon dioxide emissions from the combustion of fossil fuels poses a significant threat to human survival by causing climate change due to global warming, and humanity is facing serious environmental problems such as the outbreak of diseases and threats to life due to the increased concentration of various harmful gases and microorganisms in the atmosphere.

[0011] As mentioned earlier, nuclear fusion energy is attracting attention as a clean energy source because it does not produce greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, and the damage caused by the production of various harmful gases can be reduced through the development of various environmental technologies.

[0012] In particular, environmental problems caused by air pollution are becoming more serious in underground spaces where atmospheric circulation is poor due to spatial closure. The occurrence of pollutants and their impact on the human body are as shown in the table below.

[0013]

[0014]

[0015]

[0016] Various technologies are being applied to solve these serious problems, but as the number of pollutants continues to increase with the development of industry, there is a strong social demand for more efficient and permanent gas treatment devices.

[0017] In particular, modern people spend nearly 80-90% of their time indoors in artificial environments, and creating a pleasant indoor environment is crucial for the health of occupants. According to a 2014 report by the World Health Organization (WHO), indoor air pollution causes 4.3 million deaths annually, and indoor pollutants are approximately 1,000 times more likely to reach the lungs than outdoor pollutants.

[0018] Among indoor air pollutants, microbial contamination, such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses, is particularly important from a public health perspective. Compared to outdoor environments, indoor air has limited air circulation and less exposure to ultraviolet rays from sunlight, allowing for relatively long-term survival of indoor airborne microorganisms.

[0019] Therefore, to prevent microbial infection and spread, a treatment device to actively remove indoor airborne microorganisms is needed.

[0020] Meanwhile, various technologies are being used that utilize plasma, a phenomenon in which gas is heated to an ultra-high temperature and separated into electrons and positively charged ions.

[0021] Plasma is an ionized gas composed of electrons, ions, and neutral gas molecules. A scientific definition is an electrically quasi-neutral gas that exhibits collective behavior. A direct current high-voltage discharge is a method of obtaining plasma. Gas (air from the underground space to be treated) is injected between two conductive electrodes, low pressure is maintained (at room temperature and atmospheric pressure), and when a direct current high voltage is applied, a DC discharge occurs and plasma is generated.

[0022] When the applied DC high voltage reaches a specific voltage Vb, the threshold voltage, explosive ionization occurs. As the voltage increases, electrons accelerate toward the anode and ionize the gas. Through this process, the current increases exponentially and secondary electron emission occurs. The ions created by ionization are attracted to the cathode and strike the cathode, which releases secondary electrons. The released secondary electrons have high energy, so they collide with gases and create many ions and electrons. These created ions are then accelerated toward the cathode to create secondary electrons, and these electrons ionize the gas again, creating more ions.

[0023] If this process is repeated, the current will increase at a rate faster than the exponential function, which is called an avalanche (breakdown). When an avalanche occurs, it transitions to a glue (gas-riding) discharge state, causing a gliding arc. In the gliding arc state, ionization occurs when secondary electrons are emitted and the electrons generated escape the plasma through drift or diffusion and recombine with ions at the walls. In some cases, electrons disappear from the plasma while forming negative ions. When the rate at which ions are lost throughout the region and the rate at which electrons and ions are created through ionization become equal, the plasma reaches equilibrium and is self-sustaining.

[0024] In this region, the gas begins to glide arc, glue begins, the plate voltage drops, and the current increases rapidly. The voltage Vb required to maintain this region is called the breakdown voltage. Much of the light produced in the gliding arc as glue begins comes from excited states of molecules or atoms.

[0025] This derivative plasma technology utilizing tokamak nuclear fusion technology can be used not only for energy production but also for various industrial applications such as environmental, mechanical, and material technologies. However, it is necessary to build a gliding arc device with a simple device configuration and operating principle, which has high potential as a practical system, and to secure technology that can quantitatively determine the sterilization efficiency by treating microorganisms.

[0026] Matter can be divided into four states: solid, liquid, gas, and plasma. When sufficient energy is supplied to a gaseous substance, the gases collide with each other at extremely high energies. If the supplied energy exceeds the ionization energy, electrons in atoms and molecules are removed. These atoms and molecules, freed from their electrons, become ions, a process called ionization. This separation of electrons and ions is called plasma.

[0027] Nuclear fusion devices, which can produce enormous amounts of energy from the mass defect that occurs when two or more hydrogen atoms combine in an ultra-high-temperature plasma state and change into a single helium atom, have various states depending on how to generate ultra-high-temperature plasma and operate the system stably. However, the tokamak method, which confines and controls the plasma using magnetic fields, is widely recognized. This tokamak device is mainly used for power generation by confining the inside of a donut-shaped magnet arranged in a ring shape, but tokamak application technology is spreading to various industrial applications such as environmental, mechanical, and material technology.

[0028] There are various types of air purification devices using plasma, examples of which include Patent Documents 1 to 3. However, these devices have a problem in that the air purification function is reduced during the process of passing through the reaction space, as the plasma is instantaneously generated within the space where the plasma is generated.

[0029] The present invention was developed to solve the problems of the prior art as described above, and the purpose of the present invention is to provide a device and method for removing harmful environmental substances using plasma using tokamak technology that can have the effect of improving human health by generating oxygen in the atmosphere where the oxygen concentration is low and can cause breathing discomfort, such as in a closed and crowded space, and maintaining an appropriate level of oxygen concentration.

[0030] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a device and method for removing harmful environmental substances using plasma with tokamak technology, which can be installed in multi-use facilities such as hospitals, subways, or train stations to remove harmful substances and harmful bacteria and provide clean air.

[0031] In particular, the present invention aims to provide a device and method for removing hazardous environmental substances using plasma using tokamak technology, which increases the efficiency of removing hazardous substances and harmful bacteria by lengthening the time for which polluted air passes through the plasma by confining the plasma so as to prevent the plasma from temporarily disappearing when decomposing pollutants.

[0032] In order to solve the above-described purpose, the present invention provides a device for removing hazardous environmental substances using plasma, which uses a plasma generator comprising a cylindrical external electrode and an internal electrode installed inside the external electrode and having a reaction space between the external electrode and the external electrode, and further comprises a high-voltage supply device for supplying a high-voltage DC voltage to the outside of the cylindrical external electrode to create an electrically quasi-neutral gas that acts collectively inside the reaction space, thereby passing the atmosphere to be treated through the reaction space and decomposing carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and unburned carbon, which are saturated hazardous gases in the passing atmosphere.

[0033] It is preferable that the above external electrode be made of a special steel plate with an aluminum plating on the exterior and an iron core plate on the inner electrode.

[0034] The high voltage supply device is installed to prevent the plasma state from temporarily disappearing during the process of generating a gliding arc to create plasma during the operation of the device for processing pollutants passing into the device, and the high voltage supply device is preferably composed of an electrically insulated copper wire wound around the outer periphery of the external electrode and having an outer covering; a DC power source that supplies DC electricity to the copper wire; and a variable resistor connected in series to the DC power source.

[0035] It is preferable that the above internal electrode be manufactured with a blade-shaped cross-section to generate a gliding arc, thereby increasing the length of the arc and increasing the reaction time for the material to be treated.

[0036] The method for removing hazardous environmental substances using plasma using a device for removing hazardous environmental substances using plasma using tokamak technology according to the present invention is characterized in that a high direct current voltage is applied to the high voltage supply device to ionize, and as electrons are accelerated toward the anode, secondary electrons are emitted, and the electrons with relatively high energy ionize the gas again to create more ions, thereby causing a gliding arc to occur by Mann.

[0037] It is preferable to further supply a mixture of CO₂, steam, and CH₄ gas into the above reaction space so as to reform chain-shaped hydrocarbons into ring-shaped hydrocarbons by reforming them into H₂ and CO₂.

[0038] It is desirable to separate and compress H₂ from among the modified ring-shaped hydrocarbons so that it can be used as a fuel for rotary engines including vehicles.

[0039] It is desirable that the modified ring-shaped hydrocarbon be attached to a refrigerator or low-temperature refrigeration facility to inhibit the growth and development of plants, or used by flower farms to temporarily delay the full bloom of flowers and extend the preservation of their shape, or used as air in the vinyl containers used to package them.

[0040] When atoms or molecules with sufficient energy collide and create an excited state, the molecules change into vibrational rotational energy and when they transition to the ground state, the light emitted in a wide wavelength range from ultraviolet to visible light can be used to kill bacteria, suppress bacterial growth, remove pathogens and fungi, and for antibacterial purposes.

[0041] The device and method for removing hazardous environmental substances using plasma using tokamak technology according to the present invention have the effect of purifying the air more effectively and removing hazardous substances in the air.

[0042] In particular, the present invention can increase the air purification effect by confining plasma generated in a reaction space and sterilizing not only harmful substances but also bacteria in the air passing through the reaction space.

[0043] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an example of a device for removing hazardous environmental substances using plasma to which tokamak technology according to the present invention is applied.

[0044] Figure 2 is a side view of an example of a device for removing hazardous environmental substances using plasma to which tokamak technology according to the present invention is applied.

[0045] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of an example of a device for removing hazardous environmental substances using plasma to which tokamak technology according to the present invention is applied.

[0046] Figure 4 is a perspective view of another example of a device for removing hazardous environmental substances using plasma to which the tokamak technology according to the present invention is applied.

[0047] Figure 5 is a perspective view of another example of a device for removing hazardous environmental substances using plasma to which the tokamak technology according to the present invention is applied.

[0048] Figure 6 shows photographs of various types of atmospheric pressure plasma according to the generation method and thermal equilibrium state.

[0049] Figure 7 shows the electrode structure of the plasma generator.

[0050] The present invention can be practiced with various modifications. Specific embodiments are illustrated in the drawings and described in detail. However, this is not intended to limit the invention to specific embodiments, but rather to encompass all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and technical scope of the present invention.

[0051] In describing each drawing, similar reference numerals are used to designate similar components. In describing the present invention, detailed descriptions of related known technologies are omitted if they are deemed to obscure the gist of the present invention.

[0052]

[0053] The present invention can provide clean air by removing harmful substances and bacteria more efficiently.

[0054] A device for removing hazardous environmental substances using plasma to which tokamak technology according to the present invention is applied is a device composed of a cylindrical external electrode (11) and an internal electrode (12) installed inside the external electrode and having a reaction space (10a) between the external electrode and the device, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4.

[0055] This device for removing hazardous environmental substances of the present invention is a derivative technology of tokamak nuclear fusion, and plasmas at various atmospheric pressures are being applied in industrial fields such as environment, machinery, and materials.

[0056] Plasma under atmospheric pressure can be classified into several types according to its characteristics, and depending on the discharge method, thermodynamic equilibrium state, or temperature, it can be classified into thermal plasma, gliding arc, pulsed corona discharge (PCD), or dielectric barrier discharge (DBD), as shown in Fig. 5 and the table below.

[0057]

[0058]

[0059]

[0060] Among these plasmas, thermal plasma is generated using high-power arcs or high-frequency waves ranging from several kW to several MW, so it can achieve high temperatures of up to 20,000 degrees, and can be applied in various fields such as mechanical processing such as ceramic coating, welding, and cutting, synthesis of new materials, melting and pyrolysis of waste, but since it is basically a high-power device, it has the disadvantage of being difficult to apply commercially except in special fields.

[0061] In addition, in the case of pulse corona discharge or dielectric barrier discharge, since plasma is generated by intermittently and repeatedly causing discharge at atmospheric pressure using a pulse or high-frequency high-voltage power source, operation is possible with low output, but there is a disadvantage in that its application is limited due to the narrow discharge space.

[0062] On the other hand, a gliding arc is a plasma in which temperature changes and a transition of thermal equilibrium occurs depending on the characteristics of the power source or the length of the arc. Unlike thermal plasma, it has chemical selectivity, and compared to general non-equilibrium plasmas such as PCD or DBD, it can obtain a high electron density, and partially exhibits high temperature characteristics, so it is economical and can be used in various industrial fields. The present invention utilizes such a gliding arc.

[0063] As shown in (b) of Fig. 5, a gliding arc is a discharge that occurs between two electrodes to which a high voltage is applied, and its length varies over time.

[0064] First, when a high voltage is applied between two electrodes, a discharge occurs at the closest distance between the two electrodes according to the principle of the Pachen curve organized for discharge voltage, pressure, and discharge distance, and the discharge channel in the ignited plasma state rises upward due to the injection of external gas or a decrease in its own density, and its length increases, so its electrical properties change as the applied voltage increases.

[0065] After passing through this transition section, the gliding arc acquires the characteristics of a completely non-equilibrium plasma, and when the length of the discharge channel exceeds a certain distance, the power supply no longer supplies sufficient voltage, so the discharge stops, but since a high voltage is still applied to the electrode, re-ignition occurs at the part below the electrode where the discharge distance is closest, and the plasma state is maintained by continuously repeating the transition described above.

[0066] Accordingly, the gliding arc can have both high temperature, high electron density thermal plasma characteristics and room temperature, high electron energy non-equilibrium plasma characteristics.

[0067] Gliding arcs are classified into HCGA (High-Current Gliding Arc) and LCGA (Low-Current Gliding Arc) depending on the supply current of the power system. LCGA (I ≤ 1A) is mainly used because it is relatively simple to manufacture and manage, and most of the time and power are in an unbalanced state in a single discharge cycle.

[0068] Gliding arcs have been used in the fertilizer industry since the early 1900s, and more recently, they are being used for gas reforming, which uses CO₂ or steam along with CH₄ as a discharge gas to produce H₂ and CO, as well as for treating hazardous gases such as H₂S (hydrogen sulfide) and VOCs (volatile organic compounds). Furthermore, gliding arcs generate large quantities of chemically active species (radicals) such as ozone, which also has the advantage of enabling biological treatment.

[0069] Gliding arcs require a close distance between electrodes for initial ignition, and because the discharge continues while increasing the length of the discharge channel, as previously explained, blade-shaped electrodes, such as those in Figure 7 (a), are primarily used. However, in this case, the reaction area and time between the gas to be treated and the plasma are limited, so research has been conducted on modified forms of gliding arc devices, and a tornado-shaped device, such as those in Figure 6 (b), has been developed.

[0070] The tornado gliding arc is a device that forcibly supplies plasma-forming gas from outside the system by creating a swirl flow, thereby increasing the length of the arc and maintaining the discharge. As such, it has the advantage of increasing the time and area in which the gas to be treated reacts with the plasma inside the discharge.

[0071] Chemical reactions within a reactor that forms an electric field involve electrons within the plasma obtaining energy from the electric field to create and maintain plasma through ionization and dissociation, and energy transfer from electrons to atoms and molecules occurs primarily through inelastic collisions, and these inelastic collisions are linked to various chemical reactions.

[0072]

[0073] Here (excitation)

[0074] e+F → F˝+ e˝

[0075] F˝ → F+ hv

[0076] When an electron with sufficient energy collides with an atom or molecule, the electron causes the atom or molecule to be in an excited state as shown above, and the excited state of the atom / molecule is expressed as vibration, rotation, or change in electronic energy level.

[0077] Atoms can only be in excited states of electrons, but molecules can also change their excited states through rotational motion or vibrational energy.

[0078] When transitioning from an excited state to a ground state, light is emitted, and in plasma, light of a wide wavelength range from ultraviolet to visible light is emitted.

[0079]

[0080] dissociative attachment

[0081] e + SF6→ SF6

[0082] Halogen elements and electronegative gases dissociate by attracting low-energy electrons to atoms / molecules. During this process, electrons are captured to form negative ions, and during the dissociation and capture process, negative ions are produced more often than positive or negative ions.

[0083] e + A → A + + A - + e

[0084] e + AB → A + + B - + e

[0085] e + O₂ → 2 O + e O + O -

[0086]

[0087] ionization

[0088] Ionization in atoms and molecules occurs primarily from electron collisions, resulting in the creation of positive, negative, atomic, and molecular ions.

[0089] e + O₂ → O₂ + + 2e

[0090] e + CF₄ → CF₃+ + F + 2e

[0091] e + O₂ → O + + 2e

[0092] When a supply voltage of 100 volts DC is applied to create a transient response state of the electromagnetic field, the magnetic field becomes stronger and a large magnetic field exists, and this magnetic field overwhelms the electric field created by the electrostatic attraction between electrons and nuclei. In this case, the flame propagation phenomenon occurs, and the gas molecules and microparticles in the introduced gas are instantly combusted and the rings are separated.

[0093] The present invention utilizes the gliding arc technology described above, and in order to create an electrically quasi-neutral gas that acts collectively inside the reaction space (10a), a high voltage supply device (20) for supplying a high direct current voltage is additionally installed outside the cylindrical external electrode.

[0094] The device of the present invention passes the atmosphere to be treated through a reaction space and decomposes carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and unburned carbon, which are harmful gases saturated in the atmosphere passing through.

[0095] The above plasma generator (10) is formed in a cylindrical shape as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, and is configured by installing an internal electrode (120) at the inner center of a cylindrical external electrode (11).

[0096] This plasma generator (10) is a technology already known by various technologies including Patent No. 10-0459712, and a detailed description thereof is omitted.

[0097] The present invention installs a high voltage supply device on the outside of a cylindrical body constituting an external electrode (11) of a plasma generator (10) configured as described above, so that plasma generated in a reaction space (10a) between the external electrode and the internal electrode is confined by a magnetic field generated through the high voltage supply device, thereby allowing the plasma to act on the contaminated air for a longer period of time than when the contaminated air passes through the reaction space.

[0098] The above high voltage supply device (20) has a function of temporarily preventing the plasma state from disappearing during the process of generating a gliding arc to create plasma during the operation of the device to process contaminants passing into the device.

[0099] That is, when the device of the present invention operates and a glue discharge is initiated, a gliding arc is generated, and the plasma temporarily disappears when the contaminant is decomposed, and a direct current magnetic field is created by using a fixed pressure supply device to confine the plasma, which is a tokamak method, so that the electronic state occurring in the central electrode is continuously maintained, the plasma state is stably stored, and the radical reaction occurs continuously, and in particular, it acts as an incubator that satisfactorily maintains the dissociation phenomenon necessary for the decomposition of harmful gas molecules and the electron movement of molecules.

[0100] Plasma occurring in a room temperature and pressure structure can be considered depending on the humidity of the incoming gas and the concentration of impurities saturated in the gas.

[0101] The above high voltage supply device (20) is wound around the outer periphery of the external electrode and has an electrically insulated copper wire (21) with an outer covering;

[0102] The high voltage supply device (20) is intended to maintain plasma by generating a magnetic field as described above, and as shown in Fig. 1, is composed of an electrically insulated copper wire (21) wound around the outer periphery of an external electrode and having an outer covering; a DC power source (22) that supplies DC electricity to the copper wire; and a variable resistor (23) connected in series to the DC power source.

[0103] The above-mentioned connecting wire (21) is a conductive wire coated with an electrical vinyl insulated wire covering on the outside, and is installed by winding 160 to 250 turns of a connecting wire with a diameter of 1.5 to 2.5 mm in a right-aligned winding method centered on the direction from the gas inlet to the outlet.

[0104] The DC power source (22) and variable resistor (23) are installed in series with the above-mentioned connecting line (21).

[0105] The above DC power supply has a voltage of 24 V.

[0106] The above variable resistor (23) is a variable resistor of 100Ω to 1000Ω, and is connected in series with the DC power source. When a voltage of 24 volts of the DC power source is applied, magnetization occurs in the coupling wire (21), and a magnetic field like a tokamak is formed, which can confine plasma very momentarily.

[0107] The external electrode (11) is made of an aluminum-plated steel plate, and the internal electrode (12) is made of a special steel plate with an iron core plate built into it.

[0108] As shown in Fig. 2, the internal electrode (12) above is manufactured with a blade-shaped cross-section to generate a gliding arc, thereby increasing the length of the arc and increasing the reaction time for the material to be treated.

[0109] That is, the internal electrode (12) is composed of a plurality of steel plates with embedded iron core plates, and a sawtooth-shaped blade is formed on the outer peripheral end of each steel plate to increase the response time.

[0110] The method for removing hazardous environmental substances using plasma using tokamak technology according to the present invention applies a high direct current voltage to the high voltage supply device to ionize, and as electrons are accelerated toward the anode, secondary electrons are emitted, and the electrons with relatively high energy ionize the gas again to create more ions, causing a gliding arc to occur by Mann.

[0111] It is preferable to further supply a mixture of CO₂, steam, and CH₄ gas into the above reaction space to reform it into H₂ and CO₂, thereby changing chain-shaped hydrocarbons into ring-shaped hydrocarbons.

[0112] Among the modified ring-shaped hydrocarbons, H₂ can be separated and compressed to be used as a fuel for rotary engines including vehicles.

[0113] When atoms or molecules with sufficient energy collide and create an excited state, the molecules are transformed into vibrational rotational energy, and when they transition to the ground state, they emit light with a wide wavelength from ultraviolet to visible light, which can be used to kill bacteria, inhibit bacterial growth, remove pathogens and fungi, and for antibacterial purposes.

[0114] In addition, the present invention can be used to produce CO₂ by converting the device into a cyclic hydrocarbon and attaching it to a refrigerator or low-temperature refrigeration facility to inhibit the growth and development of plants, or to temporarily delay the full bloom of flowers in flower farms and extend the preservation of their shape, or to use it as air in a vinyl container for packaging them.

[0115] In addition, the present invention can be used for the purpose of recovering oxygen in air quality where the oxygen concentration has significantly dropped to 18% or less in underground spaces and tunnels, and purifying a mixed harmful gas of hydrogen sulfide and volatile organic compounds in the air quality.

[0116] When atoms or molecules with sufficient energy collide and create an excited state, the molecules change into vibrational rotational energy and when they transition to the ground state, light is emitted. The light that is emitted has a wide wavelength from ultraviolet to visible light, and it can be used in air conditioners for the purpose of killing bacteria, inhibiting bacterial growth and culture, removing pathogens and mold, and antibacterial purposes.

[0117] It can be used by attaching it to an air injection pipe in an underground space with high humidity or by attaching it to an air circulation driving device to prevent the growth of microorganisms.

[0118] In addition, the present invention temporarily applies an excessive direct current voltage to create a large magnetic field to create a transient response state of the electric field, thereby causing electrostatic power to overwhelm the space between electrons and nuclei, and causing a flame propagation phenomenon. At this time, microparticles and specific impurities can be carbonized.

[0119] By adsorbing and solidifying PM10 particulate matter and heavy metals through electrostatic force generated during operation of the device, the solid matter is removed during the idle period, allowing for simple operation technology.

[0120] In addition, the present invention can be used to treat floating microorganisms such as mold, germs, and bacteria, and mixed various harmful gases generated during the combustion process of fossil fuels such as formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and complex gases.

[0121] It is desirable that the ultraviolet and visible light sparks generated when a gliding arc occurs within the device take the form of a tornado, with the radial sparks continuing continuously in the form of a whirlpool.

[0122] When the humidity is high under atmospheric pressure, the operating energy consumption is reduced, resulting in a decrease in power consumption, but the electrical insulation strength is reduced in the processing of complex mixtures, and the generation of electrostatic force, which determines the efficiency of the device, is increased due to the effect of moisture, resulting in high efficiency performance.

[0123] Unlike the existing technology that provided instantaneous discharge without the plasma turning off phenomenon even during gliding arc, it can provide a stable reduction of fine harmful gases.

[0124] The present invention as described above has the following effects.

[0125]

[0126] 1. Gliding arc device effect

[0127] Two types of plasma treatment devices were fabricated to compare the effectiveness of removing atmospheric microorganisms.

[0128] The first device was a device (flow plasma treatment device; Fig. 8 (a)) in which indoor air was passed through a gliding arc plasma discharge section and captured in an impactor at a constant flow rate of 100 LPM (liter per minute).

[0129] Using this device, we investigated the effectiveness of treating indoor airborne microorganisms by varying the number of electrodes (e.g., one pair and four pairs). Using two impactors, we collected and compared 500 L of plasma-treated and untreated air samples.

[0130] The second device was a device that repeatedly passed plasma electrodes (4 pairs) while circulating indoor air (30 LPM) through a 220 L chamber (circulating plasma treatment device; Fig. 8 (b). The circulated air without plasma treatment was captured (200 L) and set as a control group, and the effect of plasma-induced air microorganism treatment was compared and evaluated.

[0131]

[0132] A. Flow-type plasma treatment device (Fig. 8(a))

[0133] The indoor air was treated using a flow plasma treatment device equipped with a pair of electrodes, and the number of individuals was 68 CFU / 500 L, which was a 15% decrease compared to the untreated sample (80 CFU / 500 L) (Experiment 1: Fig. 9 (a)).

[0134] In another experiment conducted indoors, the indoor air was treated using a plasma device, resulting in a population count of 26 CFU / 500 L, a 40% reduction compared to the untreated sample (43 CFU / 500 L). (Experiment 2: Fig. 9 (a)).

[0135] When the number of electrodes was increased to 4 pairs and the plasma device was treated, the number of organisms was 26 CFU / 500 L, which was a 30% decrease compared to the untreated sample (37 CFU / 500 L). (Experiment 1: Fig. 9 (b)), and in another experiment conducted indoors, the number of organisms was 22 CFU / 500 L when the indoor air was treated using the plasma device, which was a 50% decrease compared to the untreated sample (44 CFU / 500 L) (Experiment 2: Fig. 9 (b)).

[0136] As a result, when the number of electrodes increased, the indoor air microbial treatment effect increased from 15-40% to 30-50%, but the increase was somewhat lower than the increase in the number of electrodes.

[0137]

[0138] B. Circulating plasma treatment device (Fig. 8(b))

[0139] When indoor air was treated for 10 minutes using a circulating plasma treatment device, the number of airborne microorganisms decreased by 83.7%, from 49 CFU / 200 L to 8 CFU / 200 L (table below). When the treatment time was increased to 30 minutes, the number of airborne microorganisms decreased by 95.9%, to 2 CFU / 200 L compared to before treatment. These results demonstrate that circulating plasma treatment devices have the potential to be more effective than flow-through plasma treatment devices in treating indoor airborne microorganisms.

[0140] The number of atmospheric microorganisms measured using a circulating plasma treatment device

[0141] And microbial sterilization efficiency according to plasma treatment time.

[0142]

[0143]

[0144] 2. Effect of appropriate oxygen supply device

[0145] Adequate oxygenation is a concept that improves oxygen supply and has a positive effect on the function and health of the human body. When adequate oxygen is supplied sufficiently, the following effects can generally be achieved, and may vary depending on the physical characteristics of the individual.

[0146] *Increased energy production: Oxygen is necessary for the body's metabolic processes to generate energy. Adequate oxygen supply can boost metabolism, increase energy production, and improve activity and stamina.

[0147] *Strengthens immunity: Adequate oxygen supply strengthens the immune system and promotes antioxidant effects, preventing cell damage caused by oxygen free radicals, which can help prevent disease and improve recovery.

[0148] *Improved brain function: The brain is one of the organs in our body that consumes a lot of oxygen, and sufficient oxygen supply can improve brain function and enhance concentration, memory, and cognitive ability.

[0149] *Improved exercise performance: Adequate oxygen supply can help improve exercise performance and recovery by supplying oxygen to muscles during exercise, improving endurance and reducing muscle fatigue.

[0150] *Promotes deep sleep: Sufficient oxygen supply improves sleep quality and helps you reach deep sleep stages during sleep.

Claims

1. A device for removing hazardous environmental substances using a plasma generator (10) comprising a cylindrical external electrode (11) and an internal electrode (12) installed inside the external electrode and having a reaction space (10a) between the external electrode and the internal electrode. A device for removing hazardous environmental substances using plasma with tokamak technology, characterized in that a high voltage supply device (20) for supplying high direct current voltage is further installed on the outside of a cylindrical external electrode to create an electrically quasi-neutral gas that acts collectively inside the above reaction space (10a), thereby passing the atmosphere to be treated through the reaction space and decomposing carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and unburned carbon, which are saturated hazardous gases in the passing atmosphere.

2. In paragraph 1, A device for removing harmful environmental substances using plasma using tokamak technology, characterized in that the outer electrode (11) is made of a special steel plate with an aluminum plating on the exterior and an inner electrode (12) has an iron core plate built in.

3. In paragraph 1, The above high voltage supply device (20) is installed to prevent the plasma state from temporarily disappearing during the process of generating a gliding arc to create plasma during the operation of the device to process contaminants passing into the device. The above high voltage supply device (20) is wound around the outer periphery of the external electrode and has an electrically insulated copper wire (21) with an outer covering, A device for removing hazardous environmental substances using plasma using tokamak technology, characterized by comprising a direct current power source (22) that supplies direct current to the above-mentioned connecting line; and a variable resistor (23) connected in series to the direct current power source.

4. In paragraph 1, The above internal electrode (12) is a device for removing hazardous environmental substances using plasma with tokamak technology applied, characterized in that the cross-section of the electrode is manufactured in a blade shape to generate a gliding arc, thereby making the arc longer and increasing the reaction time for the substance to be treated.

5. In a method for removing hazardous environmental substances using plasma using a device for removing hazardous environmental substances using plasma according to any one of clauses 1 to 4, A method for removing hazardous environmental substances using plasma using tokamak technology, characterized in that a high direct current voltage is applied by the high voltage supply device to ionize, electrons are accelerated toward the anode, secondary electrons are emitted, and the electrons with relatively high energy ionize the gas again to create more ions, causing a gliding arc to occur by Mann.

6. In paragraph 5, A method for removing hazardous environmental substances using plasma with tokamak technology, characterized in that a mixture of CO₂, steam, and CH₄ gas is further supplied into the above reaction space to reform chain-shaped hydrocarbons into ring-shaped hydrocarbons by means of H₂ and CO₂.

7. In paragraph 6, A method for removing hazardous environmental substances using plasma using tokamak technology, characterized in that H₂ is separated and compressed from the above-mentioned changed ring-shaped hydrocarbons so that it can be used as fuel for a rotary engine including a vehicle.

8. In paragraph 6, A method for removing hazardous environmental substances using plasma using tokamak technology, characterized in that the above-mentioned modified ring-shaped hydrocarbon can be attached to a refrigerator or low-temperature refrigeration facility to inhibit the growth and development of plants, or used in flower farms to temporarily delay the full bloom of flowers and extend the preservation of their shape, or used as air in a vinyl container for packaging them.

9. In paragraph 5, A method for removing hazardous environmental substances using plasma using tokamak technology, characterized in that when atoms or molecules with sufficient energy collide to create an excited state and become excited, the molecules change into vibrational rotational energy and when they transition to the ground state, the light emitted has a wide wavelength from ultraviolet rays to visible light, which can be used for the eradication of bacteria, inhibition of bacterial growth and culture, removal of pathogens and fungi, and antibacterial purposes.

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