Double-Housing Plasma Source Chamber for Compact Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional plasma source chambers in spectrometers face challenges in achieving compact designs while maintaining effective cooling without disturbing the plasma, especially when the plasma source is vertically oriented.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a double-layered heat protection structure with an inner and outer housing, where a spacing between the housings allows for air flow that cools the outer surface without passing through the inner housing, thereby limiting the air flow through the inner housing to prevent plasma disturbance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the plasma chamber dimensions are decreased to create a compact instrument, then the instrument size is reduced, but the distance between the plasma source and chamber walls decreases leading to excessive heat transfer and safety hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The plasma chamber is segmented into an inner chamber (housing the plasma source) and an outer chamber (with cooling air flow paths), separated by insulation barriers. This segmentation allows the inner chamber to be compact while the outer chamber provides thermal management space, resolving the contradiction between compact size and heat dissipation.
Solution Approach 2:
Thermal insulation barriers are introduced as intermediary elements between the hot plasma source and the chamber walls. These barriers mediate the heat transfer process, allowing the plasma chamber to maintain compact dimensions while preventing excessive heat from reaching the outer surfaces, thus ensuring safety without requiring large distances.
2Temperature
If a strong air flow is provided through the plasma chamber for cooling, then the chamber can be compact with effective cooling, but the plasma becomes disturbed and unstable
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling air flow path is segmented into separate regions: an outer flow path around the plasma source and an inner flow path through the plasma chamber. The outer flow provides cooling without disturbing the plasma, while the inner flow is minimized. This segmentation resolves the contradiction between effective cooling and plasma stability.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the plasma chamber are assigned different air flow characteristics. The region around the plasma source has minimal air flow to maintain stability, while the outer chamber walls have enhanced cooling air flow. This local differentiation allows effective cooling without plasma disturbance.
3Adaptability or versatility
If an air outlet is positioned away from the center of the plasma chamber to free up space, then mounting flexibility is improved, but crossflows of air occur which disturb the plasma
Solution Approach 1:
The air flow system is segmented into separate inlet and outlet positions that are optimized for different functions. Air inlets are positioned to minimize disturbance to the plasma, while outlets are positioned to provide cooling and mounting flexibility. This segmentation allows the system to achieve both plasma stability and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The air flow paths are arranged in three-dimensional space around the plasma source rather than in a single plane. By utilizing vertical and radial dimensions, the system can position outlets away from the center for flexibility while maintaining laminar flow patterns that do not disturb the plasma.
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 approach enables a compact plasma source chamber that effectively cools its outer surface while minimizing air flow disturbances to the plasma, ensuring safe operation and maintaining the freedom to mount the plasma torch vertically or horizontally.
Implementation Method 1
walls of the inner housing and walls of the outer housing define a spacing so as to allow a first air flow from the at least one outer air inlet opening to the at least one outer air outlet opening through the spacing between the inner housing and the outer housing, thus cooling the outer housing with air
Implementation Method 2
the inner housing comprises at least one inner air inlet opening in a first wall of the inner housing and at least one inner air outlet opening in a second wall of the inner housing to allow a second air flow from the at least one inner air inlet opening to the at least one inner air outlet opening through the inner housing
Data Source
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AI summary
A plasma source chamber (10) for use in a spectrometer comprises an inner housing (11) for accommodating a plasma source (31) and an outer housing (12) accommodating the inner housing. The outer housing (12) comprises at least one outer air inlet opening (21) in a first wall and at least one outer air outlet opening (22) in a second wall. Walls of the inner housing and walls of the outer housing define a spacing (25) so as to allow a first air flow (1) from the at least one outer air inlet opening (21) to the at least one outer air outlet opening (22) through the spacing (25) between the inner housing and the outer housing. The inner housing (11) comprises at least one inner air inlet opening (23) in a first wall and at least one inner air outlet opening (24) in a second wall to allow a second air flow (2) from the at least one inner air inlet opening to the at least one inner air outlet opening through the inner housing. Thus, an improved cooling of the outer surfaces of the plasma source chamber is achieved.