Cold Plasma Sanitizing for Dispenser Ozone-Water Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional sanitization methods for dispensing systems, such as beverage dispensers, require frequent reloading of disinfecting and cleaning liquids, complicating maintenance and hindering automation.
Innovation Solution
An integrated sanitizing system that generates ozone-containing water through cold plasma technology, eliminating the need for consumable disinfectants by modifying regular water to acquire antimicrobial properties, which is then circulated through the dispensing system for sanitization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional disinfecting liquids are used for sanitization, then cleaning effectiveness is achieved, but system complexity increases due to frequent reloading and maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The system generates its own sanitizing agent (ozone) on-demand through a plasma generation device, eliminating the need for external disinfecting liquid reservoirs and reloading operations. The plasma device converts oxygen from ambient air into ozone, which then circulates through the dispensing system to sanitize components automatically.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of liquid dispensing and reservoir management with a plasma-based chemical generation system. Instead of mechanically pumping and reloading liquid disinfectants, the system uses electrical plasma discharge to generate ozone gas, which is then dissolved in water to create sanitizing solution automatically.
2Reliability
If consumable disinfecting liquids are used, then sanitization is effective, but automation is hindered due to manual reloading requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system autonomously generates sanitizing agents through the plasma device without requiring manual intervention for reloading. The plasma generation device continuously or periodically produces ozone from ambient oxygen, which is then automatically circulated through the water system to sanitize dispensing components.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical and chemical parameters of ambient air by using plasma discharge to convert oxygen (O2) into ozone (O3). This parameter change transforms ordinary air into a sanitizing agent that can be dissolved in water and circulated through the dispensing system, enabling automated sanitization without consumable liquid cartridges.
3Quantity of substance
If plasma discharge is initiated in air flow, then ozone is generated, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The plasma generation device operates continuously or in repeated cycles to maintain a steady supply of ozone in the air flow. This continuous plasma discharge ensures that ozone is constantly generated and available for dissolution into the water system, maintaining sanitization effectiveness without requiring high-energy intermittent bursts.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses water as an intermediary medium to transfer and concentrate the sanitizing effect. Ozone generated by plasma discharge in air is dissolved into water, which then circulates through the dispensing system. This intermediary approach allows efficient energy utilization by concentrating ozone production in a controlled plasma chamber rather than dispersing energy throughout the entire dispensing system.
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 automated, efficient sanitization of dispensing systems without the need for reloading disinfectants, ensuring continuous operation and improved hygiene by using ozone-saturated water to sanitize internal components.
Implementation Method 1
The discharge cell is configured to initiate a cold plasma discharge in an air flow
Implementation Method 2
expose water in the tank to the air flow for a time sufficient to provide dissolution of ozone from the air flow into the water and form ozone-containing water
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus comprises a dispensing system and a sanitizing system. The apparatus has a dispensing mode and sanitizing mode. The dispensing system may comprise a first valve and at least one component, the at least one component having an inner surface. The first valve is opened to send a free-flowing material to the at least one component when the apparatus is in the dispensing mode. The first valve is closed when the apparatus is in the sanitizing mode. The sanitizing system comprises a processing unit having a discharge cell configured to initiate a cold plasma discharge in an air flow. A tank may be configured to receive the air flow from the discharge cell of the processing unit and expose water in the tank to the air flow for a time sufficient to provide dissolution of ozone from the air flow into the water and form ozone-containing water.