Cyclone Plasma Air Disinfection Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air purifiers and non-thermal plasma reactors are inefficient in removing microorganisms and pollutants due to shorter residence time and exposure within the device, failing to completely eliminate airborne pathogens and VOCs.
Innovation Solution
A non-thermal cyclone plasma disinfection device with a cyclone separator housing and a dielectric-barrier discharge or metal-to-metal corona discharge plasma reactor, which uses a cyclone motion to increase the residence time of fluid within the non-thermal plasma, effectively disinfecting and filtering the air by generating reactive species that degrade pathogens and VOCs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional air purifiers use ultraviolet filters to destroy microorganisms, then some biological impurities are eliminated, but the residence time is too short to completely eliminate all microorganisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a cyclone geometry with curved spiral pathways instead of straight linear paths. The fluid enters tangentially and follows a helical trajectory through the cyclone separator, increasing the residence time from seconds to minutes. This curved path allows complete microorganism elimination while maintaining continuous flow, resolving the contradiction between elimination completeness and residence time.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention adds a spatial dimension by creating a three-dimensional cyclone vortex flow pattern. Instead of simple linear passage through a filter, the fluid is redirected into a rotating helical path that充分利用 the cyclone chamber volume, extending exposure time to plasma without increasing device length or complexity.
2Productivity
If conventional plasma reactors are used for pathogen disinfection, then rapid disinfection is achieved, but the clean air delivering rate is reduced due to shorter residence time and exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The device segments the air treatment process into two distinct stages: (1) particle separation in the cyclone separator where heavy particles are removed via centrifugal force, and (2) plasma disinfection in the NTP reactor where microorganisms and VOCs are eliminated. This segmentation allows each stage to operate optimally - the cyclone pre-concentrates contaminants for more efficient plasma treatment while maintaining high airflow rates.
Solution Approach 2:
The cyclone separator performs preliminary particle removal before the air enters the plasma reactor. By removing heavy particles in advance, the plasma reactor focuses its energy on disinfecting microorganisms and degrading VOCs, improving overall system efficiency and maintaining high clean air delivering rates while ensuring complete pathogen elimination.
3Quantity of substance
If conventional air purifiers remove dust particles, then particulate matter is filtered, but microorganisms present in the air are not trapped
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges two previously separate functions into a single integrated device: the cyclone separator (for particle removal) and the non-thermal plasma reactor (for microorganism and VOC elimination). The combined system processes air through both stages sequentially, ensuring comprehensive removal of particles, microorganisms, and gaseous pollutants in one pass, thereby resolving the contradiction between particle filtering and microorganism removal.
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 achieves complete elimination of microorganisms and pollutants by extending the residence time of fluid within the non-thermal plasma, enhancing disinfection efficiency and pollutant removal, thereby improving indoor air quality.
Implementation Method 1
a cyclone separator housing configured to filter heavy particles out of the fluid and a non-thermal plasma reactor configured within the housing. The housing comprising side walls defining a primary cavity, a fluid inlet, and a fluid outlet. The housing is configured for a cyclone motion of the fluid within the side walls and the primary cavity of the housing.
Implementation Method 2
The housing is configured for a cyclone motion of the fluid within the side walls and the primary cavity of the housing
Implementation Method 3
Another effective technology that can be used to disinfect pathogens is a Non-thermal plasma (NTP). The NTP can disinfect the pathogens up to 7-log reduction within seconds to minutes of operations.
Implementation Method 4
The non-thermal plasma reactor is a dielectric-barrier discharge (DBD) plasma reactor or metal-to-metal corona discharge reactor
Implementation Method 5
The non-thermal plasma reactor is a dielectric-barrier discharge (DBD) plasma reactor or metal-to-metal corona discharge reactor
Implementation Method 6
Disinfection by NTP can be highly feasible as the reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the reactive nitrogen species (RNS) generated by the plasma can penetrate the cell surface of bacteria (cells and spore forms), fungi, and viruses and destroy the underlying bio-molecular components.
Implementation Method 7
these ROS and RNS can degrade the VOCs to harmless gaseous molecules
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure provides a plasma-based cyclone fluid disinfection and filter device for the removal of particles and disinfection of fluid using a non-thermal plasma. The device comprises a housing configured to filter the fluid, comprising a side walls defining a primary cavity, and a non-thermal plasma reactor configured within the side walls to generate the non-thermal plasma within the side walls. Further, the device comprises an inlet opening within the side walls to enter the fluid within the side walls disinfect the inlet fluid within the side walls using the non-thermal plasma. Further, the device comprises a cylindrical inner tube connected with a fluid outlet, and a DBD plasma reactor defined within the walls of the cylindrical inner tube to further disinfect the fluid using the plasma, before exhausting it out within the environment. Further, the device comprises a detachable cassette and an ionizer.