Electrostatic Spray Device Detour Current Path Leakage Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional electrostatic spray devices experience leakage currents due to droplets or water content in the air, which destabilize the spraying process, especially under severe operation conditions like high humidity.

Innovation Solution

The electrostatic spray device incorporates a detour section on the dielectric surface between the electrodes, creating a longer current path with a potential gradient of 1.41 kV/cm or less, reducing the likelihood of electrical connection and thus minimizing leakage currents.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a direct current path is provided on the dielectric surface between the spray electrode and reference electrode, then the electrical connection is efficient, but leakage current increases due to droplets or water content in the air

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespray stabilityVSAvoidleakage current
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The current path is segmented into multiple sections by providing detour sections on the dielectric surface. This segmentation increases the total length of the current path and reduces the potential gradient along each segment, thereby reducing leakage current while maintaining electrical connection between electrodes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The current path is extended from a direct linear path to a multi-dimensional detour path on the dielectric surface. By utilizing the surface dimension of the dielectric, the path length is increased without compromising the functional connection between electrodes, effectively reducing potential gradient and leakage current

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Volume of moving object

If the distance between spray electrode and reference electrode is reduced, then the device size is minimized, but leakage current increases due to higher potential gradient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice sizeVSAvoidleakage current
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The solution moves the current path from a direct linear distance to a multi-dimensional detour path on the dielectric surface. This allows the physical distance between electrodes to remain small for compact device size, while the effective current path length is extended through the detour sections, reducing potential gradient and leakage current

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 design effectively reduces leakage currents and stabilizes the spraying process, ensuring a consistent and stable delivery of the spray liquid even under harsh conditions.

Implementation Method 1

The electrostatic spray device generates an electric field in the vicinity of an end of a nozzle, and atomizes and sprays a liquid at the end of the nozzle by using the electric field

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectric Field: Electric Field

Implementation Method 2

there is a possibility that the attached droplets electrically connect the spray electrode with the reference electrode, thereby generating a leakage current between the spray electrode and the reference electrode

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical Resistance: Electrical Resistance

Implementation Method 3

an electrostatic spray device which atomizes and sprays a liquid by EHD (Electro Hydrodynamics)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrohydrodynamics: Electrohydrodynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2819787B1Electrostatic spray device and method for positioning for the same
Publication Date: 2019.06.26 SUMITOMO CHEM CO LTD
  • EP2819787B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2819787B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4(b)
  • EP2819787B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6(b)

AI summary

An electrostatic spray device capable of reducing a leakage current is provided. An electrostatic spray device (100) includes a spray electrode (1) configured to spray a material from an end thereof, a reference electrode (2) for allowing voltage application across the spray electrode (1) and the reference electrode (2), a dielectric (10) on which the spray electrode (1) and the reference electrode (2) are provided, and a gap section (11) provided on a surface of the dielectric (10) for providing on the surface of the dielectric (10) a detouring current path between the spray electrode (1) and the reference electrode (2).