Bubble-Mediated Plasma Generation for Liquid Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional liquid-treating apparatuses require high power and long times to generate plasma efficiently, leading to increased power consumption and inefficiency in treating liquids.
Innovation Solution
A plasma-generating apparatus that includes a first and second electrode, a bubble-generating part, a gas-supplying apparatus, and a power supply, where the gas is supplied to generate bubbles covering the electrode, allowing efficient plasma generation with reduced power consumption and shorter treatment times by controlling the voltage application within the bubbles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If high-voltage pulses are applied to generate plasma in liquid, then plasma generation is achieved, but power consumption increases and treatment time extends
Solution Approach 1:
Gas bubbles serve as an intermediary medium between the electrode and liquid. The bubbles concentrate the electric field and facilitate plasma generation with lower applied voltage, reducing power consumption while maintaining treatment effectiveness. The bubble-liquid interface acts as a mediator that enhances energy transfer efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical state and distribution of gas in the liquid by introducing bubbles. This parameter change (from dissolved gas to bubble form) creates regions of enhanced electric field concentration, allowing plasma generation at lower voltages and reducing overall power consumption while improving treatment efficiency.
2Productivity
If high-voltage pulses are applied to generate plasma in liquid, then plasma generation is achieved, but treatment time increases
Solution Approach 1:
Gas bubbles act as intermediaries that concentrate the electric field and facilitate faster plasma generation. The bubble-liquid interface provides a preferred pathway for discharge, reducing the time required to achieve effective plasma treatment compared to direct liquid discharge.
Solution Approach 2:
Gas bubbles are introduced into the liquid before applying the high-voltage pulses. This preliminary action creates pre-formed interfaces that are ready for immediate plasma generation, eliminating the time delay that would be required to initiate plasma in bulk liquid.
3Use of energy by moving object
If bubbles are supplied from outside between electrodes, then power consumption is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode structure is designed to serve multiple functions: it acts as both the electrical conductor for high-voltage pulses and as the gas supply interface for bubble generation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate gas supply components, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining the power-saving benefits of bubble-mediated plasma generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The gas supply function is merged with the electrode structure. Gas is supplied through or near the electrode, combining two functions (electrical discharge and bubble generation) into a single integrated component, which simplifies the overall apparatus while achieving reduced power 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
Enables efficient plasma generation for liquid treatment with low power consumption and short treatment times, reducing the need for large power supplies and improving treatment efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a bubble-generating part which generates a bubble in the liquid when the liquid is contained in the treatment vessel
Implementation Method 2
a power supply which applies voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode... Plasma generated around the high-voltage electrode 2 generates OH, H, O, O2−, O−, and H2O2
Implementation Method 3
The high-voltage electrode 2 and the ground electrode 3 are connected to a power supply 9 which generates high-voltage pulses. The discharge is made by applying negative high-voltage pulses of 2 kV/cm to 50 kV/cm and 100 Hz to 20 kHz between both electrodes
Implementation Method 4
Bubbles 10 of steam and a jet flow 11 caused by bubbles 10 are generated by evaporation of water with energy of discharge
Implementation Method 5
a jet flow 11 generated by the bubbles 10... vaporization involved by a shock wave and a jet flow 11 is generated by the bubbles 10
Implementation Method 6
the ion species in the plasma are penetrated and diffused in the liquid
Data Source
AI summary
The plasma-generating apparatus includes a treatment vessel 509 containing to-be-treated water 510, a first electrode 504 and a second electrode 502 within the treatment vessel, a bubble-generating part which generate a bubble 506 such that a surface where conductor of the first electrode 504 is exposed to the to-be-treated water is positioned within the bubble 506, a gas-supplying apparatus 505 which supplies gas to the bubble-generating part, a pulsed power supply 501 connected to the first and the second electrodes 502 and 504, a control apparatus 520 which controls one or both of the gas-supplying apparatus and the power supply such that the voltage is applied between the first and the second electrodes 502 and 504 when at least surface where the conductor of the first electrode 504 is exposed is positioned within the bubble.