Flexible Enclosing Cover Plasma Decontamination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current decontamination methods, particularly plasma decontamination devices, face limitations in efficiently removing contaminants from sensitive electronic equipment and complex surfaces due to unstable reactive radicals, limited contact area, and the need for high-purity gases, making them unsuitable for outdoor or battlefield use and achieving less than 99.9% efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A decontamination and sterilization device featuring a flexible, non-conductive enclosing cover with spaced reactive decontamination gas generators that simultaneously or independently spray plasma and reactive gases, increasing radical concentration and contact time with the contaminated surface, using a metal tube-type internal electrode and external electrode structure with dielectric materials to enhance plasma electron density.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single plasma jet is used for decontamination, then the device structure is simple, but the contact area with contaminated surface is narrow and radical retention time is short
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides a single plasma source into multiple plasma jets (at least two) that are distributed across the enclosing cover. Each plasma jet independently contributes to decontamination, collectively providing broad coverage of the contaminated surface while maintaining simple individual jet structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The plasma jets are positioned on the enclosing cover that envelops the contaminated object, transitioning from a single-point linear contact to a distributed spatial arrangement. This dimensional expansion allows simultaneous contact with multiple areas of the contaminated surface.
2Productivity
If high-frequency plasma (MHz or GHz) is used to increase contaminant decomposition efficiency, then decontamination speed improves, but additional complex components (matching system, shield, waveguide) are required
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces complex electromagnetic matching systems, shields, and waveguides with a simpler electrode structure that directly generates plasma. The electrode design optimizes plasma generation efficiency without requiring additional electromagnetic control components, achieving high decomposition efficiency through electrode geometry rather than complex RF matching.
3Productivity
If plasma is generated at high temperature to increase reaction rate, then contaminant decomposition improves, but the subject of decontamination may be thermally damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the plasma generation parameters by using atmospheric pressure plasma instead of vacuum plasma, and by optimizing electrode configuration to generate reactive species at lower temperatures. This allows high contaminant decomposition rates through increased radical concentration rather than thermal energy, preventing damage to sensitive materials.
4Ease of operation
If water or water-soluble antidotes are used for decontamination, then the decontamination process is simple, but they cannot be used for electronic equipment sensitive to chemicals or porous surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses plasma-generated reactive oxygen species and other strong oxidizing radicals that effectively decompose contaminants through oxidation reactions. These radicals work on all surface types including porous materials and chemically sensitive electronics without requiring liquid applications, providing both simplicity and universal applicability.
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 significantly increases decontamination efficiency by prolonging radical retention time and decomposition performance, achieving high-purity decontamination regardless of surface shape or material, and can be applied to both military and civilian contexts.
Implementation Method 1
atmospheric pressure plasma is generated through a plasma discharge phenomenon
Implementation Method 2
electrons or ions in the plasma come into contact with air or gas, especially water, hydrogen peroxide, alcohol, or acetone, in the discharge zone and are thus ionized and decomposed
Implementation Method 3
alternating current (AC) ranging from hundreds of volts (V) to tens of kilovolts (KV) between two electrodes is applied to such reactive gases under atmospheric pressure, whereby atmospheric pressure plasma is generated
Implementation Method 4
The radicals thus formed are very reactive, and thus a variety of bacteria and chemicals may be effectively removed within a time range from several seconds to several minutes from the contaminated surface
Data Source
AI summary
A device for removing toxic or harmful materials from an inside sealed by a sealed-type flexible enclosing cover, wherein the contaminated surface of the subject of decontamination is covered with the enclosing cover and a reactive gas is introduced thereto, and particularly to a decontamination and sterilization device, wherein a plasma generator is fixed to a enclosing cover and a plasma gas containing an active radical generated from the plasma generator is introduced to the inside sealed by the enclosing cover together with a reactive gas having a hydroxyl group such as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), water (H2O), or an alcohol (CnH2n+1OH) to thus increase the production of a reactive radical, whereby the plasma and the reactive gas are intensively applied to the inside sealed by the enclosing cover, thus increasing the contact with contaminants and realizing more efficient decontamination.