Ion Generator Electrode Layout for Trace Ozone Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ion generators either fail to generate a trace amount of ozone or produce excessive ozone, which is harmful, and lack effective control over ozone levels.
Innovation Solution
An ion generator design featuring a ground electrode with a partially exposed tip on an insulation substrate, allowing a controlled leakage current between the ground and metal electrodes, along with a resistor-formed ground electrode for adjusting ozone generation, enables the production of a controlled trace amount of ozone alongside negative or positive ions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the whole surface of the ground electrode is covered with insulating resin, then ozone generation is minimized, but the ability to generate a controlled trace amount of ozone is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The ground electrode is designed with non-uniform insulation coverage: the tip portion facing the metal electrode tip is left uncovered to allow controlled leakage current and trace ozone generation, while the remaining surface is covered with insulating resin to minimize overall ozone production. This local differentiation enables simultaneous achievement of both low ozone generation and controlled trace ozone capability.
2Productivity
If high voltage is applied to generate ions, then ion generation efficiency is improved, but harmful ozone generation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful ozone generation is extracted and isolated to a specific location (the tip portion of the ground electrode) by leaving only that small area uncovered with insulating resin. The majority of the electrode surface is insulated to prevent ozone generation, while the exposed tip area allows controlled leakage current to produce only trace amounts of ozone necessary for deodorization and sterilization functions.
3Quantity of substance
If the exposed area of the ground electrode tip is increased, then trace ozone generation is improved, but ozone levels may become excessive and harmful
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of insulating the entire ground electrode surface or leaving it completely exposed, only a partial area (the tip portion) is left uncovered. This partial exposure provides just enough leakage current path to generate the required trace amount of ozone for deodorization and sterilization, while avoiding excessive ozone production that would occur with full exposure.
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 allows for the generation of a controlled trace amount of ozone and ions, improving safety by reducing the required voltage and enabling precise control over ozone levels for deodorization and sterilization purposes.
Implementation Method 1
since the tip of the ground electrode is not covered with the insulating film, a leakage current can flow between the ground electrode and the metal electrode, and thereby a trace amount of ozone is generated together with generation of ions
Data Source
AI summary
An ion generator that can generate a controlled trace amount of ozone together with negative or positive ions. The ion generator includes an insulation substrate, a ground electrode and a high-voltage electrode on the insulation substrate, an insulating film formed on the ground electrode, and a wire electrode. The root of the wire electrode is soldered to the high-voltage electrode. The tip of the wire electrode is arranged so as to protrude in a recessed part. The ground electrode has a pair of legs disposed on the insulation substrate at the sides of the recessed part. The legs are parallel to the wire electrode on opposite sides of the wire electrode. The insulating film is provided on the surface of the ground electrode to cover the ground electrode except the high-voltage electrode contacting a first terminal, a contact portion contacting a second terminal and parts of the legs of tips of the ground electrode that face the tip of the wire electrode.