Plasma Discharge in Liquid via Vortex Gas Gap
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for generating plasma discharge in liquids, such as produced water from oil and gas production, face challenges due to high electric conductivity, which leads to unstable and unreliable plasma generation, and the need for gas bubbles to maintain plasma discharge, making it difficult to treat large volumes efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A system and method involving a high-voltage and ground electrode configuration with a gas channel to create a vortex flow, allowing gas to be injected and maintained between the electrodes, generating a non-liquid gas gap for stable plasma discharge, independent of liquid conductivity, using forward or reverse vortex flows to control gas bubbles and increase treatment efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If plasma discharge is generated in high conductivity liquid, then treatment of produced water is achieved, but plasma generation becomes unstable and unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
Gas bubbles are introduced as an intermediary medium between the electrodes to replace the high-conductivity liquid in the discharge gap. This gas layer acts as a mediator that enables stable plasma generation by providing a low-conductivity environment for the electrical discharge, while still allowing the plasma effects to treatment the liquid waste.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes gas injection through nozzles to create and maintain a gas-filled gap between electrodes immersed in liquid. The pneumatic introduction of gas bubbles transforms the electrical discharge environment from liquid-phase to gas-phase, enabling reliable plasma generation despite the surrounding high-conductivity liquid medium.
2Reliability
If gas bubbles are used to maintain plasma discharge, then plasma generation is enabled, but treatment of large volumes becomes inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from treating plasma discharge as a two-dimensional surface phenomenon to a three-dimensional volumetric process by introducing gas bubbles that distribute throughout the liquid volume. This dimensional expansion allows plasma generation to occur throughout the bulk liquid rather than only at electrode surfaces, significantly increasing treatment capacity for large volumes.
Solution Approach 2:
The continuous liquid medium is segmented into discrete gas-bubble-containing zones between electrodes. Each gas bubble acts as an independent plasma generation site, and the collective effect of multiple segmented plasma zones throughout the liquid volume enables efficient treatment of large volumes while maintaining reliable discharge at each localized site.
3Power
If electrodes are positioned close together for discharge, then plasma generation is achieved, but gas bubbles cannot be maintained between electrodes
Solution Approach 1:
Gas is introduced periodically or continuously through injection nozzles to refresh and maintain the gas bubble population between electrodes. This periodic replenishment ensures that gas bubbles are constantly present to sustain the plasma discharge, preventing the electrodes from coming into direct liquid contact while maintaining the electrical gap necessary for power delivery.
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 stable and efficient plasma generation in large volumes of liquid, increasing the treatment efficiency by maintaining a gas gap between electrodes, allowing for effective plasma discharge and extended contact time with the liquid, thus addressing the limitations of existing methods.
Implementation Method 1
A vortex flow is generated at a tip of the first electrode
Implementation Method 2
plasma discharge generates active plasma species directly in liquid, i.e., OH, O, O3, H2O2, NOx, UV and electric fields
Implementation Method 3
When the voltage between the two electrodes increases to a certain value such as 2 kV, breakdown of gas between the two electrodes takes place, generating a discharge of plasma
Data Source
AI summary
A system for generating a plasma discharge in liquid utilizes first and second electrodes spaced apart in an interior space of a vessel holding the liquid. A channel can be defined in certain embodiments at least partially by at least one of the first and second electrodes, and an inlet in fluid communication with the interior space is configured to generate a vortical fluid flow in the vessel. A method for generating a plasma discharge in liquid is also provided.