Coaxial Plasma Jet Nozzle for Monomer Mixing and Polymerization
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing plasma jet devices fail to effectively mix monomer precursors with ignitable gases, leading to incomplete polymerization.
Innovation Solution
A plasma jet device with a coaxial nozzle design featuring inner, middle, and outer channels, where a mixing volume is created by a nozzle cap with an exit opening smaller than the outer channel, allowing gases to circulate and mix within the cap, enhancing monomer precursor integration with plasma.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If monomer precursor is provided directly into the first channel together with the ignitable gas, then the device structure is simple, but the monomer precursor is not well mixed with the ignitable gas or plasma
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle is divided into three separate channels: an inner channel for ignitable gas, a middle channel for monomer precursor, and an outer channel for second ignitable gas. This segmentation allows each substance to be delivered separately and mixed only at the mixing volume, ensuring homogeneous mixing while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The channels are arranged in a nested coaxial configuration where the middle channel surrounds the inner channel, and the outer channel surrounds the middle channel. This nested structure enables efficient mixing within a compact nozzle design, as the gases flow concentrically and mix at the exit without requiring complex external mixing apparatus.
2Productivity
If monomer precursor is not well mixed with ignitable gas, then polymerisation efficiency is low, but device structure remains simple
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle cap creates a mixing volume before the final exit opening, allowing the ignitable gases and monomer precursor to mix and form plasma in advance. This preliminary mixing action ensures that by the time the plasma jet exits, the monomer precursor is thoroughly mixed with the ignitable gas, maximizing polymerisation efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The nozzle cap acts as an intermediary component that facilitates mixing between the different gases. By providing a dedicated mixing volume within the cap, it enables efficient interaction between the ignitable gases and monomer precursor without requiring complex external mixing equipment.
3Stability of the object's composition
If exit opening of nozzle cap is smaller than outer channel exit opening, then mixing is improved, but flow resistance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mixing function is achieved not by reducing the exit opening size alone, but by adding a spatial dimension through the mixing volume created by the nozzle cap. This allows extended mixing time and space without significantly increasing backpressure, as the mixing occurs within the cap's internal volume rather than at the exit restriction.
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 design ensures thorough mixing of monomer precursor with plasma, improving polymerization efficiency and preventing nozzle clogging, while maintaining stable flow and uniform distribution.
Implementation Method 1
A high voltage electrode is arranged in the inner channel for generating a plasma from the first ignitable gas flowing in the inner channel
Implementation Method 2
The nozzle cap enclosing a mixing volume after the exit openings of the inner channel, the middle channel and the outer channel, and the nozzle cap having an exit opening after the mixing volume with a size smaller than the exit opening of the outer channel, offers the advantage that the combined flow of the plasma and possible leftover first ignitable gas, the monomer precursor, and the second ignitable gas out of the exit openings of respectively the inner channel, the middle channel and the outer channel cannot pass completely through the smaller exit opening of the nozzle cap and is circulated inside the mixing volume.
Data Source
AI summary
A device for generating a plasma jet is disclosed. A nozzle of the device comprises an inner, middle and outer channel surrounding each other and electrically insulated from each other. The device is configured for flowing through the inner, middle and outer channel respectively a first ignitable gas, a monomer precursor and a second ignitable gas towards their respective exit openings. A high voltage electrode is arranged in the inner channel for generating a plasma from the first ignitable gas. The nozzle further comprises a nozzle cap enclosing a mixing volume after the exit openings of the inner, middle and outer channel. The nozzle cap is provided with an exit opening after the mixing volume, which exit opening is smaller than the exit opening of the outer channel.