Aseptic Nitric Oxide Generator Using High-Voltage Discharge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing nitric oxide generators rely on harmful materials like ammonia, require high energy consumption, and have complex setups, making them unsuitable for home or business use due to safety concerns and high operational costs.
Innovation Solution
A nitric oxide generator using high-voltage discharge to break down nitrogen and oxygen molecules in contaminated air, combined with a magnetic field to extend contact time and catalytic reactions to remove byproducts, producing aseptic and odorless nitric oxide while degrading malodorous materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If ammonia is used as a feed material to produce nitric oxide, then nitric oxide can be generated, but harmful factors increase due to the toxicity and fire risk of ammonia
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful covalent bonds in nitrogen and oxygen molecules into beneficial nitric oxide through high-voltage discharge. Instead of using harmful ammonia, the invention directly breaks down atmospheric nitrogen and oxygen to produce nitric oxide, transforming a potentially dangerous chemical process into a safe physical-chemical process that eliminates ammonia-related hazards while maintaining nitric oxide generation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the fundamental parameter of the reaction method from chemical reaction with ammonia to physical breakdown through high-voltage discharge. By applying high voltage (typically 10-100 kV) to atmospheric air, the covalent bonds of nitrogen and oxygen are broken and reformed into nitric oxide, completely eliminating the need for ammonia and its associated harmful factors
2Productivity
If high temperature heating is applied to produce nitric oxide from ammonia and oxygen, then nitric oxide generation is achieved, but energy consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the thermal-mechanical system (high-temperature heating) with an electrical field system (high-voltage discharge). Instead of using thermal energy to break chemical bonds, the invention uses electrical energy directly to ionize and excite nitrogen and oxygen molecules, causing them to react and form nitric oxide. This substitution dramatically reduces energy consumption by eliminating the need for high-temperature maintenance and heat transfer losses
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the energy input parameter from thermal energy (high temperature) to electrical energy (high voltage). By applying high-voltage discharge directly to atmospheric air, the system achieves nitric oxide generation at ambient or near-ambient temperatures, completely eliminating the energy-intensive heating process required by conventional ammonia-based methods
3Manufacturing precision
If complex apparatus including heating equipment and cryogenic freezing system is used to produce and purify nitric oxide, then purification is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the complex purification subsystems (cryogenic freezing system, multiple absorption towers, distillation equipment) from the conventional nitric oxide production process. By using high-voltage discharge on atmospheric air, the method directly produces high-purity nitric oxide as the primary reaction product, with minimal byproducts that do not require complex separation processes. The system outputs nitric oxide mixed with inert gases, which is sufficient for most applications without requiring further purification
Solution Approach 2:
The invention enables the system to self-regulate and self-purify through the inherent characteristics of high-voltage discharge. The electrical discharge process naturally favors the formation of nitric oxide while minimizing other reaction products. The system automatically maintains optimal reaction conditions through feedback control of discharge parameters, eliminating the need for external complex control and purification systems
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 generator effectively produces nitric oxide with enhanced sterilization and removal efficiency, reducing harmful byproducts and noise, and enables automatic feedback control for improved air quality.
Implementation Method 1
applies a very high field electron energy generated by a high-voltage discharge unit to the contaminated indoor air in order to breakdown the covalent bond between nitrogen (N2) molecules and oxygen (O2) molecules in the air by an electrochemical reaction, thereby generating nitric oxide (NO)
Implementation Method 2
a magnetic field processor provided with an induction coil for maintaining an excited state by applying a magnetic field to the contaminated air transferred through the high-voltage discharge unit
Data Source
AI summary
An aseptic and odorless nitric oxide generator according to the present invention removes harmful materials such as ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and the like, which are generated during discharge from a high-voltage discharge unit, by contacting the same with respective catalysts at a catalytic reaction unit, reduces noise, which is generated in a discharging process, by using a sound-absorbing material provided inside an exhaust pipe, and receives measured data from respective sensors provided inside the exhaust pipe so as to allow a control unit to execute and automatically operate a feedback control, thereby supplying and circulating indoors the air containing aseptic and odorless high-quality nitric oxide, and thus is very appropriate for the nitric oxide absorption by a person residing indoors through the mouth, the skin and a breathing process.