Impactor Spray Ion Source Target Surface Vortex Structures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional Impactor Spray ion sources lack structures to disturb gas flow, which limits their ionization efficiency and sensitivity, as they rely on smooth surfaces that do not promote vortex flow patterns essential for nebulization and desolvation processes.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating structures on the target surface that disturb gas flow, such as vortex generating structures, strakes, or fins, to promote surface flow vortices and enhance ionization efficiency by encouraging gas flow attachment and turbulence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If smooth target surface is used, then device simplicity is maintained, but ionization efficiency and sensitivity are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by introducing vortex generating structures (such as grooves, ridges, or protrusions) at specific locations on the target surface. These localized structures create microvortices in the gas flow path, enhancing droplet shearing and ion formation only in critical regions, while the rest of the target surface remains simple and easy to manufacture.
Solution Approach 2:
The vortex generating structures act as intermediaries between the gas flow and the droplets. They disturb the gas flow to create microvortices that enhance the interaction between gas and droplets, thereby improving ionization efficiency without requiring complex overall target design.
2Productivity
If vortex generating structures are added to the target, then ionization efficiency increases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of making the entire target surface complex, the patent introduces simple vortex generating structures (grooves, ridges, or protrusions) only in specific regions where gas flow disturbance is most beneficial. This localized approach enhances ionization efficiency while minimizing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The target surface is segmented into functional regions: areas with vortex generating structures for enhanced ionization and areas without such structures for simplicity. This segmentation allows the device to achieve high ionization efficiency in critical zones while maintaining overall structural simplicity.
3Productivity
If gas flow disturbance structures are incorporated, then droplet shearing and ion formation improve, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by adding simple vortex generating structures (such as grooves or ridges) only in specific regions of the target surface where gas flow disturbance is most effective for droplet shearing and ion formation. This localized modification maintains ease of manufacture for the majority of the target surface while achieving improved ion formation efficiency.
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 modified target surface structures increase ionization efficiency and sensitivity by creating microvortices, improving the performance of Impactor Spray ion sources by enhancing droplet shearing and ion formation.
Implementation Method 1
The nebuliser assembly 1 is composed of an inner liquid capillary 2 and an outer gas capillary 3 which delivers a high velocity stream of gas at the nebulizer tip to aid the atomization of the liquid solvent flow
Implementation Method 2
a nebulizer produces a stream of high velocity liquid droplets in a supersonic gas jet that impinges on a metallic rod target that is held at high voltage and is in close proximity to the nebuliser tip
Implementation Method 3
the gas flow wake 7 follows the curvature of the target (Coanda effect) and is swung in the direction of the ion inlet orifice 8
Implementation Method 4
A heated desolvation gas (for example nitrogen) flows between the nebulizer 1 and the heater 4 at a flow rate of typically 1200 L/hr
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided an ion source comprising one or more nebulizers and one or more targets, wherein said one or more nebulizers are arranged and adapted to emit, in use, a stream predominantly of droplets which are caused to impact upon said one or more targets and to ionize said droplets to form a plurality of ions, wherein said one or more targets further comprise one or more structures configured to disturb gas flowing along a surface of said one or more targets.