Power Supply Apparatus for Plasma Generator Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional power supply apparatuses for plasma generators face challenges in stable long-term operation and maintainability, particularly in handling failures and ensuring quick recovery, especially when dealing with capacitive loads, which can lead to instability and contamination of gases like ozone.
Innovation Solution
A power supply apparatus that includes an inverter, a current-limiting reactor, and a detection unit to regulate short-circuit currents and quickly stop output in case of failures, along with a controller to manage the inverter actions and detect short circuits, enabling quick recovery and stable resonance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a power supply apparatus supplies voltage to a plasma generator (capacitive load), then the plasma generator can generate ozone gas and radical gas, but the capacitive load has inconstant impedance that varies depending on load conditions, making it very difficult to stably operate the plasma generator
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a series reactor (inductor) to the power supply apparatus output to change the electrical parameters of the system. The reactor introduces inductance that compensates for the capacitive nature of the plasma generator load, stabilizing the impedance and enabling stable operation. This parameter change transforms the system from a purely capacitive load to an RLC circuit with controlled impedance characteristics.
2Power
If a power supply apparatus with small load power factor is used, then the apparatus size can be reduced, but the ratio of actually supplied electric power capacity to active power becomes extremely small, requiring greater electric power capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The series reactor acts as an intermediary component between the power supply apparatus and the plasma generator. It mediates the power factor issue by introducing inductive reactance that counterbalances the capacitive reactance of the plasma load, thereby improving the overall power factor and reducing reactive power losses without requiring a larger power supply apparatus.
3Ease of repair
If conventional power supply apparatus is used for plasma generator, then the system can operate, but it is very difficult to handle failures and ensure quick recovery, leading to instability and contamination of gases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a detection unit that continuously monitors the system for short circuits and failures before they can cause significant damage or instability. By detecting abnormalities in advance and triggering protective actions, the system can quickly recover from failures and prevent gas contamination, improving both ease of repair and system reliability.
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 solution allows for stable operation of plasma generators by quickly addressing short circuits and maintaining gas purity, enhancing the reliability and maintainability of the system.
Implementation Method 1
an inverter (3) that converts direct-current electric power to alternating-current electric power
Implementation Method 2
a current-limiting reactor (Lc) that is located on an output side of the inverter (3) and regulates a short-circuit current
Implementation Method 3
a detection unit (31, 32, 41, 42) that is located on an output side of the inverter (3) and detects a short circuit
Implementation Method 4
The gas in the discharge space is excited by an electric field caused by the application of the voltage, generating a large amount of ozone gas and a large amount of radical gas
Data Source
AI summary
A current-limiting reactor that regulates a short-circuit current, a controller that controls an action of an inverter, and a detection unit that detects a short circuit. The controller causes the inverter to stop when a short circuit has occurred.