Nitrous Acid Generator Plasma Bubble Dissolution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for generating nitrous acid, such as those described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2007-77666, result in low nitrogen oxide concentration in bubbles, leading to inefficient dissolution in liquids and poor production of highly concentrated nitrous acid.
Innovation Solution
A nitrous acid generator is designed with a treatment vessel, a plasma generator, a gas-liquid contact member, and a cooler, where plasma is generated in a liquid bubble to produce nitrogen oxide, which is then efficiently dissolved in the liquid due to surrounding pressure, and the cooler maintains low temperatures to prevent nitrite ion conversion to nitrate ions, using a gas-liquid contact member with a long tube or filter to enhance contact area and circulation of liquid.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If nitrogen oxide is produced by electric discharge in air and bubbled through liquid, then nitrous acid solution can be generated, but the nitrogen oxide concentration in bubbles is low leading to inefficient dissolution
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the plasma generation process from the bulk liquid and concentrates it within the gas bubble phase. By applying electric discharge specifically to the gas bubble containing oxygen and nitrogen, nitrogen oxide is generated in high concentration within the bubble itself, rather than being produced in low concentration by bubbling air through liquid. This extraction of the reaction zone to the gas phase resolves the contradiction between nitrogen oxide concentration and dissolution efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates local high concentration of nitrogen oxide within the gas bubble by generating plasma specifically in that localized region. The electric discharge is applied locally to the gas bubble interface, producing nitrogen oxide preferentially in the gas phase where it can then dissolve into the surrounding liquid. This local quality enhancement addresses the contradiction by concentrating the reaction products where they are most needed.
2Speed
If the liquid is kept at higher temperature for faster reaction, then reaction rate increases, but nitrite ions convert to nitrate ions reducing nitrous acid concentration
Solution Approach 1:
The invention performs preliminary cooling of the liquid before the nitrogen oxide dissolution process. By pre-cooling the liquid to a lower temperature range (5-20°C), the system prevents the thermal conversion of nitrite ions to nitrate ions before the dissolution occurs. This preliminary temperature control ensures that when nitrogen oxide dissolves and forms nitrite ions, they remain stable and do not convert to nitrate, thus resolving the contradiction between reaction rate and nitrite ion concentration.
3Device complexity
If a simple bubbling system is used, then device complexity is low, but nitrogen oxide dissolution efficiency is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the simple mechanical bubbling system with a plasma generation system. Instead of relying solely on mechanical agitation and gas-liquid contact through bubbling, the system uses electric discharge (plasma) to chemically activate the gas phase and generate nitrogen oxide in situ within the bubbles. This substitution dramatically improves dissolution efficiency while adding only moderate complexity through the plasma generation components.
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 configuration efficiently produces highly concentrated nitrous acid by increasing nitrogen oxide concentration and dissolution in the liquid, while minimizing nitrite ion conversion to nitrate ions, resulting in enhanced nitrite ion generation and acid production.
Implementation Method 1
a plasma generator including a first electrode, a second electrode, and a power supply for applying a voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode, the plasma generator generating plasma in the bubble, the plasma producing nitrogen oxide including nitrogen monoxide and nitrogen dioxide
Implementation Method 2
a cooler cooling the nitrogen oxide and the liquid while the nitrogen oxide and the liquid pass through the gas-liquid contact member
Implementation Method 3
a gas-liquid contact member to which the nitrogen oxide and the liquid are introduced from the treatment vessel, the gas-liquid contact member causing the nitrogen oxide to be dissolved in the liquid while the nitrogen oxide and the liquid pass through the gas-liquid contact member
Data Source
AI summary
A nitrous acid generator includes a treatment vessel having an inner space being capable of holding a liquid; a gas supplier supplying a gas to the inner space such that the gas forms a bubble in the liquid, the gas containing oxygen and nitrogen; a plasma generator including a first electrode, a second electrode, and a power supply for applying a voltage therebetween, the plasma generator generating plasma in the bubble, the plasma producing nitrogen oxide including nitrogen monoxide and nitrogen dioxide; a gas-liquid contact member to which the nitrogen oxide and the liquid are introduced from the treatment vessel, the gas-liquid contact member causing the nitrogen oxide to be dissolved in the liquid while the nitrogen oxide and the liquid pass through the gas-liquid contact member; and a cooler cooling the nitrogen oxide and the liquid while the nitrogen oxide and the liquid pass through the gas-liquid contact member.