Plasma-Assisted PET Bottle Sterilization for Hydrogen Peroxide Decomposition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sterilization apparatuses for PET bottles are costly due to high utility costs from producing hot air and warm water to eliminate remaining hydrogen peroxide, and reducing hydrogen peroxide usage compromises sterilization effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A sterilization apparatus that introduces plasma into PET bottles at specific points during the sterilization process to decompose and eliminate hydrogen peroxide, reducing the need for hot air and warm water, and includes multiple nozzles along the conveyance path for efficient plasma distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hydrogen peroxide is used to sterilize PET bottles, then sterilization effectiveness is improved, but hydrogen peroxide remains inside bottles after sterilization requiring additional elimination steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the harmful substance (hydrogen peroxide) from the PET bottle after sterilization by introducing plasma that decomposes the hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen, eliminating the need for additional elimination steps using hot air or warm water
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical-chemical state of hydrogen peroxide by introducing plasma, which transforms it from a harmful residue into harmless substances (water and oxygen) through decomposition, thereby resolving the contradiction between maintaining sterilization effectiveness and eliminating remaining hydrogen peroxide
2Loss of substance
If hot air and warm water are used to eliminate remaining hydrogen peroxide, then hydrogen peroxide is removed from bottles, but utility cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/thermal system (hot air and warm water generation) with a plasma-based chemical decomposition system, eliminating the need for expensive utility-consuming equipment while effectively removing hydrogen peroxide residues
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the approach from thermal elimination to plasma-based decomposition, transforming the physical-chemical parameters of the elimination process to achieve the same goal (hydrogen peroxide removal) with significantly reduced energy consumption and utility cost
3Use of energy by moving object
If the amount of hydrogen peroxide is reduced to decrease utility cost, then utility cost is lowered, but sterilization effectiveness decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces plasma at multiple continuous time points (before hydrogen peroxide introduction, after hydrogen peroxide introduction, and after hot air introduction) to continuously decompose hydrogen peroxide, ensuring complete sterilization effectiveness while minimizing the need for large amounts of hydrogen peroxide and reducing utility cost
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies plasma treatment in advance before hydrogen peroxide is introduced into the bottle, preparing the environment to minimize hydrogen peroxide adsorption and ensuring more effective sterilization with reduced hydrogen peroxide dosage, thereby lowering utility cost without compromising sterilization effectiveness
4Productivity
If plasma is introduced at multiple time points, then hydrogen peroxide elimination efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The plasma introducing means is designed as a multi-functional device that can introduce plasma at multiple different time points and positions within the bottle, allowing a single device to perform multiple sterilization and decomposition functions, thereby improving elimination efficiency without proportionally increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the plasma introduction process into multiple segments or stages (before hydrogen peroxide introduction, after hydrogen peroxide introduction, and after hot air introduction), with each segment targeting specific decomposition needs, thereby optimizing elimination efficiency while managing device complexity through structured segmentation
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
Plasma efficiently decomposes and eliminates hydrogen peroxide in a short time, reducing utility costs and equipment scale, while maintaining sterilization effectiveness by minimizing hydrogen peroxide adsorption and enhancing processing capability.
Implementation Method 1
Plasma has a characteristic of decomposing hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen.
Implementation Method 2
When plasma is introduced into the PET bottle, the thermal energy of the plasma is transferred to the PET bottle, thus making it possible to heat the entire PET bottle in a short time.
Data Source
AI summary
A PET bottle sterilization method for consecutively sterilizing multiple PET bottles (B) while conveying them, includes introducing hydrogen peroxide into a PET bottle (B) so as to sterilize its interior, and introducing hot air into the sterilized PET bottle (B) so as to eliminate hydrogen peroxide remaining inside it. This method includes introducing plasma into a PET bottle (B) by injecting plasma through a nozzle at at least one time point among a time point before hydrogen peroxide is introduced into the PET bottle (B), a time point after hydrogen peroxide was introduced into the PET bottle (B) and furthermore before hot air is introduced into the PET bottle (B), and a time point after hot air was introduced into the PET bottle (B).