Cold Plasma Sterilization Device for Rapid Large-Area Decontamination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current decontamination and sterilization methods are inefficient and time-consuming, often requiring hours or days and generating heat, which is not suitable for rapid decontamination of large areas, especially in hazardous environments such as nuclear, biological, and chemical incidents.
Innovation Solution
A large-area atmospheric discharge cold plasma device utilizing a gas source, resistor network, and power source to create a plasma beam that can decontaminate or sterilize surfaces quickly and efficiently, with adjustable energy input and carrier gas flow, capable of handling various substrates and contaminants without heat generation or hazardous chemicals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional decontamination methods are used, then decontamination can be achieved, but it requires long periods of time (hours or days) and generates damaging heat
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameters of plasma generation by using atmospheric pressure conditions instead of vacuum, and applying radio frequency power directly to the plasma cloud. This enables rapid energy transfer to the plasma, achieving decontamination in seconds or minutes rather than hours or days, while maintaining ambient temperature through the cold plasma mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs radio frequency periodic electromagnetic fields to continuously energize and sustain the plasma cloud. This periodic energy input maintains high electron temperatures for rapid decontamination while the bulk gas remains cold, resolving the time-temperature contradiction
2Productivity
If high power plasma is used for rapid decontamination, then decontamination speed increases, but heat generation damages the substrate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a plasma cloud where only the electron component is highly energized (10-1 eV) while the bulk gas molecules remain at ambient temperature. This local energy concentration in electrons enables rapid chemical reactions for decontamination without heating the substrate, resolving the speed-temperature contradiction
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the unique properties of cold plasma where the electron gas phase is hot while the neutral gas phase remains cold. This phase separation in energy distribution allows rapid decontamination through energetic electron reactions without thermal damage to the substrate
3Adaptability or versatility
If vacuum chamber plasma technology is used, then plasma can be formed, but it requires complex vacuum equipment and cannot be used in open air
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the vacuum environment with an atmospheric pressure inert or reactive gas environment. By using gases like helium, argon, nitrogen, or air at atmospheric pressure, the system eliminates complex vacuum chambers while maintaining plasma formation capability, enabling versatile application in open air and various operational settings
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the mechanical vacuum system with an atmospheric pressure plasma generation system using radio frequency fields. This replacement eliminates complex vacuum pumps and chambers, simplifying the device while enabling use in diverse environments including open air, medical facilities, and industrial settings
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 device enables rapid decontamination and sterilization of large areas in seconds or minutes, effectively neutralizing a wide spectrum of organisms and chemicals, including radioisotopes, without collateral damage to substrates, and can be used in diverse settings, including medical and industrial applications.
Implementation Method 1
A plasma can be formed where a gas is exposed to a specific amount of energy, and that energy exposure separates the gas component molecules into a collection of ions, electrons, charge-neutral gas molecules, and other species in varying degrees of excitation
Implementation Method 2
The term 'cold plasma' is used to indicate that only a small fraction of the inert carrier gas is ionized
Implementation Method 3
The plasma formation can cause oxygen molecules of the air passing near the electrodes to break down into component molecules, including reactive oxygen species ('ROS'). Organic substrates, such as bacteria, viruses, microbes and mold spores can be exposed to ROS, and then destroyed or rendered harmless rapidly
Data Source
AI summary
A cold plasma device for large area decontamination that can function as a scrub brush to sterilize surfaces and areas that are otherwise difficult, time consuming and/or may cause exposure hazards under convention sterilization methods.