Corona Discharge Point Cleaning via Voltage Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Corona discharge points in ion mobility spectrometers (IMS) can become coated with substances, reducing their effectiveness and requiring higher voltages for operation, leading to instability and potential failure, especially in unheated portable devices where constant heating is not feasible.
Innovation Solution
A processing system is used to control the corona discharge point, operating it at an initial voltage for ionization and then at a higher cleaning voltage to periodically remove coatings, thereby maintaining effectiveness and reducing the voltage required for operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the corona discharge point is operated continuously at high voltage to maintain ionization effectiveness, then the ionization performance is improved, but the corona discharge point becomes coated with substances leading to instability and potential failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by switching the corona discharge point between normal operating voltage and elevated cleaning voltage in alternating time intervals. During normal operation, ionization is maintained; during cleaning intervals, the elevated voltage removes deposited substances. This periodic switching resolves the contradiction by preventing coating accumulation while maintaining ionization effectiveness.
2Reliability
If constant heating is applied to the corona discharge point to prevent coating deposition, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity and power consumption increase, making it unsuitable for portable devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the thermal field approach (heating) with an electrical field approach (voltage switching). Instead of using a separate heating system to prevent coating, the invention uses controlled electrical voltage variations to achieve cleaning. This substitution eliminates the need for additional heating components, reducing device complexity and power consumption while maintaining reliability.
3Reliability
If the operating voltage is increased to compensate for coating on the corona discharge point, then the ionization effectiveness is maintained, but the energy consumption increases and stability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by periodically cleaning the corona discharge point before coating accumulation significantly increases the required operating voltage. By removing deposits during cleaning intervals, the system maintains optimal ionization conditions and avoids the need for compensating voltage increases, thus reducing energy consumption and maintaining stability.
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
This method effectively cleans the corona discharge point, reducing the voltage needed for operation, preventing instability, and extending the life of the IMS system by periodically removing deposited substances.
Implementation Method 1
operating the corona discharge point at an operating voltage for a first time interval, with or without an additional higher pulse voltage, to produce a corona discharge
Implementation Method 2
operate the corona discharge point at a cleaning voltage greater than the operating voltage for a second time interval subsequent to the first time interval to produce a corona discharge
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2
AI summary
Systems and techniques for cleaning a corona discharge point are described. A controller (150) can be operatively coupled to a corona discharge point (108) to control the operation of the corona discharge point (1089. The controller (150) and the corona discharge point (108) can be included with, for example, an ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) system (100). The controller (150) can be used to operate the corona discharge point (108) at an operating voltage for a first time interval, with or without an additional higher pulse voltage, to produce a corona discharge, and to operate the corona discharge point (108) at a cleaning voltage greater than the operating voltage for a second time interval subsequent to the first time interval to produce a corona discharge. The effectiveness of the corona discharge point (108) can be monitored by, for instance, measuring a voltage necessary to produce a corona discharge at the corona discharge point (108), measuring a current produced at the corona discharge point (108) from a corona discharge, and so forth.