Electrostatic Atomizer Charge Balance and Current Monitoring
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrostatic atomizers face challenges in accurately monitoring and adjusting their output due to variations in manufacturing tolerances, material properties, and environmental conditions, often requiring complex and power-consuming components that are unsuitable for mass manufacture, especially in consumer or low-cost business markets.
Innovation Solution
An electrostatic atomizer with a simple configuration that includes a spray site, a spray electrode, a reference electrode, and a power supply capable of monitoring and adjusting the voltage to maintain charge balance, allowing for stable and efficient electrostatic atomization by counterbalancing electrical charges, thereby enabling precise measurement of spray current and detecting the end-of-life condition of the reservoir.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If complex monitoring and adjustment components are added to accurately monitor and adjust electrostatic atomization output, then measurement precision and adaptability improve, but device complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The reference electrode serves dual purposes: it counterbalances charge from the spray electrode to maintain stable atomization, and simultaneously functions as the monitoring electrode to measure spray current. This self-service approach eliminates the need for separate monitoring components, resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The reference electrode is designed to perform multiple functions: charge counterbalancing for stable electrostatic atomization and current measurement for monitoring spray output. This multi-functionality allows accurate measurement without adding extra components, addressing both measurement precision and device complexity requirements
2Reliability
If additional components are added to monitor reservoir level and detect end-of-life conditions, then reliability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The existing reference electrode and electrical circuitry are utilized to detect reservoir end-of-life conditions by monitoring changes in spray current characteristics. This approach provides reliable reservoir monitoring without adding separate sensors or components, resolving the contradiction between reliability and device complexity
3Adaptability or versatility
If voltage is increased to compensate for manufacturing tolerances and material variations, then adaptability improves, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spray current measured by the reference electrode provides feedback to the power supply, which automatically adjusts the voltage applied to the spray electrode to maintain optimal atomization conditions. This feedback control enables adaptability to manufacturing tolerances and material variations while avoiding excessive energy consumption by only applying the necessary voltage
Solution Approach 2:
The power supply dynamically adjusts voltage based on real-time spray current measurements, allowing the system to adapt to variations in manufacturing tolerances, material properties, and environmental conditions. This dynamic adjustment maintains consistent atomization performance without requiring excessive voltage headroom, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and energy consumption
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration allows for stable and efficient electrostatic atomization with minimal charge loss, precise measurement of spray current, and detection of the reservoir's end-of-life condition, ensuring consistent performance across varying conditions without the need for additional complex components.
Implementation Method 1
Electrostatic atomization is a technique for dispersing matter, often as a fine plume of droplets from a liquid, by subjecting the matter to be atomized to a suitable electric field. A voltage is applied between an electrode proximal to the matter to be atomized (the spray electrode) and at least one other electrode in the vicinity of the spray electrode.
Implementation Method 2
the spray electrode and the reference electrode are further arranged that an electrical charge of the matter to be atomized from the spray site is counterbalanced by at least equal amount of opposite electrical charge to be produced at the reference electrode
Data Source
AI summary
An object of the present invention is to provide an electrostatic atomizer variable in arrangement and configuration while being low in cost and uncomplicated. An electrostatic atomizer includes a spray site, a spray electrode (1) electrically connectable to the spray site, a reference electrode (2), and a power supply (4) for applying a voltage between the spray electrode (1) and the reference electrode (2). The reference electrode (2) is arranged such that when a voltage is applied between the spray electrode (1) and the reference electrode (2), matter to be electrostatically atomized is atomized from the spray site. The power supply (4) monitors an electrical property of the spray site, and adjusts the voltage to be applied between the spray electrode (1) and the reference electrode (2) according to a monitored electrical property of the spray site and a predetermined characteristic. The spray electrode (1) and the reference electrode (2) are arranged such that an electrical charge of the matter to be atomized from the spray site is counterbalanced by production of at least equal amount of opposite electrical charge at the reference electrode (2).