Plasma Jet Flow Controller for Large-Area Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing plasma jet arrangements are inadequate for large-area treatments, such as wound healing in burn victims, as they emit focused plasma jets suitable only for spot treatments, and arrays of plasma jets require complex and costly shielding to prevent electromagnetic interference.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for generating and controlling a non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma, featuring a discharge space with a flow controller that can adopt two states: one where no working gas is supplied to prevent plasma exit, and another where the working gas is supplied to generate and control a plasma jet, allowing for precise control of plasma output without the need for continuous primary plasma generation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If multiple plasma jet arrangements are arranged side by side to treat larger areas, then the treatment area is increased, but the electromagnetic fields of the individual arrangements influence each other requiring complex and costly shielding
Solution Approach 1:
The treatment area is divided into multiple discharge spaces (10a, 10b, 10c) that can be independently controlled. Each discharge space can generate plasma separately, allowing selective activation of specific regions based on treatment needs, thereby avoiding unnecessary electromagnetic interference while maintaining large-area treatment capability
Solution Approach 2:
The plasma generation is controlled in a time-resolved manner through flow controllers that can be activated sequentially or periodically. This temporal separation allows different discharge spaces to operate at different times, eliminating electromagnetic field interference between adjacent plasma jets while still providing comprehensive area coverage
2Reliability
If continuous primary plasma generation is used to maintain plasma output, then plasma availability is ensured, but system complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous plasma generation, the system uses pulsed plasma generation controlled by flow controllers that can be rapidly switched between active and inactive states. This periodic activation maintains plasma availability when needed while significantly reducing average power consumption and simplifying the control system
Solution Approach 2:
The working gas flow itself serves as the control mechanism for plasma generation. By simply modulating the gas flow rate through the discharge space, plasma is generated or extinguished without requiring complex electrical control systems, achieving reliable plasma availability through a simple flow-controlled mechanism
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 solution enables simple, cost-effective, and user-friendly control of plasma jets, reducing the complexity and cost of plasma jet arrays, while allowing for precise dosing and modulation of plasma output, effectively addressing the limitations of existing technologies for large-area treatments.
Implementation Method 1
at least one high-voltage electrode for generating an electromagnetic field for generating a plasma
Implementation Method 2
A plasma is generatable in the discharge space, particularly from the introduced working gas
Implementation Method 3
The plasma exiting through the second opening is controlled by a flow controller of the system, which is formed to set a volume flow of the working gas
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a system (1) for generating and controlling a non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma, comprising: —a discharge space (10) into which a working gas can be introduced via a first opening (12), wherein a plasma (5) can be generated in the discharge space (10), wherein the discharge space (10) has a second opening (14), so that the plasma (5, 6) can exit from the discharge space (10) through this second opening (14) and —at least one high-voltage electrode (20) for generating an electromagnetic field for generating a plasma (5) in the discharge space (10). The plasma (5, 6) exiting through the second opening (14) is controlled by a throughflow controller (40) of the system (1), which throughflow controller (40) is designed to adjust a volume flow (60) of the working gas through the first opening (12) from a working gas source (50) into the discharge space (10). In this case, the throughflow controller (40) is further designed to assume at least a first state and a second state, wherein in the first state no working gas is supplied from the working gas source (50) to the discharge space (10), so that no plasma (5) exits from the second opening (14) even when there is a generated electromagnetic field in the discharge space (10), and wherein in the second state the working gas is supplied from the working gas source (50) to the discharge space (10), a plasma (5) is generated in the discharge space (10) and the plasma (5, 6) exits from the second opening (14).