Cold Plasma Column Surface Treatment for High-Aspect Materials
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surface treatment systems for materials face limitations in generating homogeneous plasma treatments at atmospheric pressure, particularly for objects with high aspect ratios like fibers or tubes, and require high energy consumption or chemical use, which are not environmentally friendly.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a transfer device and a plasma generator device that generates a column of cold plasma with an oblong geometric shape, allowing materials to pass through, using gas mixtures that include high concentrations of nitrogen or oxygen, suitable for treating heat-sensitive materials and moving objects efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If torch plasma techniques are used for surface treatment, then high energy consumption is acceptable, but the technique is unsuitable for heat-sensitive materials and consumes considerable power
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operating parameters by using atmospheric pressure plasma instead of vacuum plasma, and employs a dielectric barrier discharge configuration that operates at lower temperatures. This allows the plasma to be applied to heat-sensitive materials while reducing power consumption compared to traditional torch methods
2Object-generated harmful factors
If DBD systems are used for surface treatment, then chemical-free treatment is achieved, but inhomogeneous treatments occur as plasmas are difficult to produce homogeneously at atmospheric pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a cylindrical or tubular dielectric barrier configuration that provides rotational symmetry around the material being treated. This geometric arrangement ensures uniform plasma distribution and homogeneous treatment across the entire surface, eliminating the inhomogeneity problems of conventional DBD systems
Solution Approach 2:
The dielectric barrier is segmented into multiple sections along the length of the treatment zone, allowing independent control and optimization of plasma generation in different regions. This segmentation enables precise control over treatment uniformity while maintaining chemical-free operation
3Ease of operation
If atmospheric pressure plasma is used, then treatment of moving objects is possible, but the small volume of plasma generated limits fast and efficient treatment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a continuous plasma column along the entire length of the dielectric barrier, ensuring uninterrupted plasma treatment as material passes through. This continuous plasma generation maintains constant treatment effectiveness while accommodating high-speed moving objects, thereby increasing productivity
4Quantity of substance
If high concentrations of additional gases (nitrogen or oxygen) are used in plasma generation, then plasma quenching occurs in known techniques, but the invention enables treatment with such gas mixtures
Solution Approach 1:
The dielectric barrier acts as an intermediary that confines and stabilizes the plasma discharge, preventing quenching even when high concentrations of nitrogen or oxygen are present in the gas mixture. The dielectric material maintains electrical insulation while allowing plasma generation with these typically destabilizing gas compositions
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 system enables multiple atmospheric plasmas to be generated over long lengths, suitable for inhomogeneous and/or homogeneous treatment of materials with very high aspect ratios, with low energy consumption and without the use of chemicals.
Implementation Method 1
the plasma generator device comprising a fluid F2 and being configured to generate a column of cold plasma
Data Source
AI summary
A system for surface treatment of materials, including a target material, at least one transfer device and at least one plasma generator device. The plasma generator device includes a fluid (formula B) and generates a column of cold plasma. The target material is able to travel a path between a starting point and an end point, passing through the plasma generator device and the plasma column, along a unit vector of movement. The transfer device includes a fluid (formula A) transferred from the transfer device to the plasma generator device. The plasma column, generated from the fluids (formula A) and (formula B), has an oblong geometric shape of length (formula C), according to a longitudinal axis colinear with the vector of movement, and of width (formula D), according to a transverse axis perpendicular to the vector of movement, such that (formula E).