Cold Plasma Agricultural Generator with Dielectric Electrode Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agricultural methods lack effective means to enhance plant growth, improve health, and mitigate pathogens using plasma-activated liquids and gases.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus are developed to generate and apply plasma-activated liquids and gases to plants and agricultural settings, utilizing electrodes and dielectric cylinders to produce plasma-activated liquids and gases, which are then applied to plants to enhance growth and reduce pathogens.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If plasma-activated liquids and gases are applied to plants, then plant growth rate and yield are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The plasma generation system is divided into separate modular components: power supply unit, plasma generation chamber, delivery system, and control unit. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while maintaining overall system functionality, reducing the complexity burden on any single component.
Solution Approach 2:
A dielectric barrier is introduced as an intermediary between the electrodes and the plasma-activated liquid/gas generation zone. This dielectric layer enables plasma generation while isolating the complex high-voltage electrode system from direct contact with the treatment medium, simplifying the overall apparatus design and improving safety.
2Reliability
If plasma-activated liquids and gases are applied to plants, then plant health is enhanced and pathogens are destroyed, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The plasma generation system operates in periodic pulses rather than continuous mode. The power supply delivers energy in controlled bursts, creating plasma discharge cycles that alternate with relaxation periods. This periodic operation maintains effective plasma-activated liquid and gas generation while significantly reducing average energy consumption compared to continuous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts plasma generation parameters including voltage amplitude, pulse duration, and frequency based on the specific agricultural application requirements. By optimizing these parameters for each treatment scenario, the system achieves maximum plant health benefits with minimum energy input, avoiding excessive energy consumption.
3Quantity of substance
If electrodes are immersed in liquid to generate plasma, then plasma-activated liquid is produced, but electrode material is etched into the liquid
Solution Approach 1:
A dielectric barrier material is positioned between the electrodes and the liquid to prevent direct contact. This intermediary layer allows plasma generation to occur while blocking the etching of electrode materials into the liquid, thereby producing plasma-activated liquid free from harmful electrode contaminants.
Solution Approach 2:
The dielectric barrier utilizes porous material structures that permit plasma species and activated liquid components to pass through while physically preventing electrode material particles from contaminating the liquid. The porous structure maintains plasma generation efficiency while filtering out harmful etched materials.
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
The plasma-activated liquids and gases improve plant growth rate, increase yield, enhance health, and destroy pathogens such as fungi and bacteria, providing a sustainable and efficient agricultural solution.
Implementation Method 1
energizing, by a high voltage power supply, the first electrode and the second electrode to form a plasma between the first electrode and the second electrode
Implementation Method 2
etching material from at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode into the plasma-activated liquid
Implementation Method 3
energizing, by a high voltage power supply, an inner electrode and an outer electrode to generate the plasma gas from the gas
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for generating a plasma-activated liquid or gas, and applying the plasma-activated liquid for agricultural use. A system embodiment includes a hand-held device that can be pointed and directed at different target areas of a plant. A method embodiment includes generating a plasma discharge in a gas environment or a liquid environment, and applying the gas/liquid to a plant.