Plasma Actuator Sterilization with UV-Generated Active Oxygen
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sterilization methods using ozone and ultraviolet light face limitations in generating and distributing active oxygen effectively, leading to sterilization performance comparable to conventional ozone methods, as active oxygen is unstable and difficult to distribute uniformly.
Innovation Solution
A sterilization device incorporating a plasma generator to create an induced flow of high-concentration ozone, which is then decomposed into active oxygen using ultraviolet light, ensuring efficient surface treatment of objects by actively supplying active oxygen.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If active oxygen is generated by irradiating ozone with ultraviolet light, then sterilization ability is improved, but active oxygen is unstable and difficult to distribute uniformly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent generates active oxygen in advance within the container using ozone and ultraviolet light irradiation before the sterilization process begins. This preliminary generation ensures that active oxygen is already present and distributed in the treatment space, eliminating the need for complex real-time distribution systems and addressing the instability issue by pre-establishing the active oxygen environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary substance (ozone) that can be stably stored and transported, then converted to active oxygen through ultraviolet light irradiation. This intermediary approach allows stable distribution of ozone followed by controlled conversion to active oxygen, solving the distribution difficulty of unstable active oxygen.
2Device complexity
If conventional sterilization methods using ozone and ultraviolet light are used, then device complexity is reduced, but sterilization performance is limited to irradiated portions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sterilization mechanisms into a single integrated system: ozone generation, ultraviolet light irradiation, and active oxygen production all occur within the same container. This merging allows the system to achieve superior sterilization performance (affecting both irradiated and non-irradiated portions) while maintaining relatively simple device structure, as all functions are integrated rather than requiring separate complex subsystems.
3Reliability
If active oxygen is generated locally on the treatment surface, then sterilization performance is improved, but device complexity increases due to plasma generator and induced flow mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs pneumatic principles by using plasma-generated induced flow to actively transport and distribute active oxygen across the treatment surface. The plasma generator creates airflow patterns that naturally deliver active oxygen to difficult-to-reach areas, achieving enhanced sterilization performance through fluid dynamics rather than complex mechanical positioning systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a fluid flow dimension to active oxygen distribution by utilizing plasma-induced airflow. Instead of relying solely on passive diffusion or mechanical movement, the system creates three-dimensional airflow patterns that actively transport active oxygen across the treatment surface, enabling coverage of complex geometries and hard-to-reach areas while maintaining relatively simple device structure.
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 achieves superior sterilization performance by generating active oxygen locally on the treatment surface, effectively sterilizing areas that conventional methods miss, including surfaces difficult to reach with ultraviolet light alone.
Implementation Method 1
a plasma generator (103) that generates an induced flow (109) including ozone
Implementation Method 2
the induced flow (109) is irradiated with ultraviolet light to generate active oxygen
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a sterilization device or the like showing excellent sterilization performance surpassing the sterilization performance by ozone or ultraviolet rays. The sterilization device or the like is equipped with a plasma generator and an ultraviolet light source. The plasma generator is a plasma actuator provided with a first electrode and a second electrode with a dielectric in-between, and in which an induced flow including ozone is generated by application of a voltage between the two electrodes. The ultraviolet light source is arranged so as to be able to irradiate the surface of an object to be sterilized, and the plasma actuator is arranged so that the induced flow is supplied to said surface.