Plasma System Mixing Water Mist for Hydroxyl Radical Generation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing plasma systems struggle to increase the content of hydroxyl radicals in atmospheric cold plasma bundles, which affects their utilization effectiveness in various applications.

Innovation Solution

A plasma system comprising a low-temperature atmospheric-pressure plasma source and a water-mist supplying source, where the plasma is mixed with a water mist in a mixer with a vortex-forming design, enhancing the mixing effect and increasing the hydroxyl radical content.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If water mist is added to increase hydroxyl radical content, then the utilization effect is improved, but the plasma may be weakened or extinguished

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehydroxyl radical contentVSAvoidplasma stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The mixer chamber provides a localized mixing zone where water mist and plasma interact, while the nozzle maintains plasma quality in the ejection region. This spatial differentiation allows hydroxyl radical generation in the mixing zone while preserving plasma stability during ejection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

Water mist is pre-formed and positioned in the mixer chamber before plasma ejection occurs. The mist is ready to mix with the plasma beam as it exits the nozzle, ensuring immediate interaction without disrupting plasma generation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Quantity of substance

If water mist is mixed with plasma, then hydroxyl radical content increases, but the mixing effect is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehydroxyl radical contentVSAvoidmixing uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The mixer chamber employs a curved inner wall surface that promotes vortex formation and rotational flow patterns. This curvature enhances the mixing between water mist and plasma by creating turbulent eddies that distribute hydroxyl radicals more uniformly throughout the mixture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses gas flow dynamics to drive the mixing process. The plasma jet itself acts as a fluid dynamic element that entrains and mixes with the water mist through pneumatic interaction, creating effective turbulence and homogeneous distribution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

3Area of moving object

If water droplet size is reduced to increase surface area, then mixing efficiency improves, but droplets may evaporate too quickly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater droplet surface areaVSAvoiddroplet lifetime

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of moving objectVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses a moderate amount of water mist rather than excessive water, creating fine droplets that provide sufficient surface area for mixing without overwhelming the plasma. This partial action approach maintains droplet lifetime while achieving adequate mixing efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The plasma beam continuously interacts with the water mist in a sustained manner as it passes through the mixer chamber. This continuous interaction ensures that droplets have sufficient time to mix and generate hydroxyl radicals before evaporating, maintaining both efficiency and duration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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 system effectively increases the hydroxyl radical content in the plasma, ensuring effective mixing without weakening or extinguishing the plasma, and maintaining suitable water droplet sizes for optimal mixing and surface area, thus improving the plasma's utilization in medical and industrial applications.

Implementation Method 1

a low-temperature atmospheric-pressure plasma source having a nozzle (111). The nozzle (111) is configured to eject a plasma P

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPlasma: Plasma

Implementation Method 2

mixing the plasma P ejected with a water mist W at the ejection zone Z

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMixing:

Implementation Method 3

The plasma P after mixing with the water mist W contains more hydroxyl radicals

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydroxyl radical generation:

Data Source

PatentUS11529591B2Plasma system and method of mixing plasma and water mist

Publication Date: 2022.12.20 NAT CHIAO TUNG UNIV

AI summary

A plasma system is provided. The plasma system includes a low-temperature atmospheric-pressure plasma source and a water-mist supplying source. The low-temperature atmospheric-pressure plasma source has a nozzle. The nozzle is configured to eject a plasma. The water-mist supplying source is configured to deliver a water mist to the plasma ejected from the nozzle.