Segmented Electrode Plasma Apparatus for Sealed Package Sterilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing plasma generation technologies for sterilization face safety concerns, inefficiencies, and damage to sensitive items due to high voltages and electric fields, with ozone production often occurring outside sealed vessels, posing operator hazards and damaging contents.
Innovation Solution
A plasma generating apparatus with a specifically designed second electrode structure and gap configuration that generates plasma substantially within a sealed package, using a dielectric material and controlled electric field leakage to produce ozone only inside the package, ensuring safety and efficient sterilization without damaging contents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high voltage is used to generate plasma for sterilization, then sterilization effectiveness is improved, but damage to sensitive items and operator safety deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The second electrode is segmented into multiple discrete portions with gaps between them, allowing the electric field to be confined to specific regions directly above the electrode portions. This segmentation enables plasma generation localized within the sealed package while preventing widespread high voltage exposure that could damage sensitive items or endanger operators.
Solution Approach 2:
The electric field and plasma generation are localized to specific regions directly above the second electrode portions, rather than being distributed uniformly. This local quality approach ensures that high voltage effects are confined to where needed for sterilization, minimizing exposure to sensitive items and operators while maintaining effective sterilization in the target zones.
2Reliability
If high voltage is used to generate plasma, then sterilization effectiveness is improved, but operator safety deteriorates due to ozone generation outside sealed vessels
Solution Approach 1:
The segmented second electrode structure with gaps creates localized plasma regions that are confined within the sealed package. This prevents ozone from being generated outside the sealed vessel, eliminating the operator hazard associated with uncontrolled ozone release while maintaining effective sterilization within the package.
Solution Approach 2:
The dielectric material positioned between the first and second electrodes acts as an intermediary that allows the electric field to pass through to generate plasma, while simultaneously containing the plasma and ozone generation within the sealed package. This intermediary structure enables effective sterilization without exposing operators to harmful ozone.
3Device complexity
If a narrow closed vessel is used without internal electric conductor, then device complexity is reduced, but applied voltage must be increased causing damage to contents
Solution Approach 1:
The second electrode structure with its specific pattern of portions and gaps replicates the field-confining effect that would otherwise require complex internal conductors. This copying approach achieves the same plasma confinement and voltage control benefits as internal conductors would provide, but without adding the complexity of inserting conductors into the sealed package, thus protecting contents while maintaining device simplicity.
4Productivity
If conventional electrode arrangement is used, then plasma generation is achieved, but plasma is generated outside sealed package reducing sterilization efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The segmented second electrode with gaps creates discrete plasma generation zones that are spatially confined within the sealed package. This segmentation ensures that plasma is generated only where needed for sterilization, improving sterilization efficiency by concentrating the plasma effect within the package rather than allowing it to disperse outside, thereby enhancing both productivity and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The electric field and plasma generation are localized to specific regions directly above the second electrode portions within the sealed package. This local quality approach ensures that plasma is generated precisely where sterilization is needed, maximizing sterilization efficiency and effectiveness while preventing plasma formation outside the package that would waste energy and reduce productivity.
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 apparatus effectively generates ozone within sealed packages, ensuring operator safety and preventing damage to contents, while allowing for the sterilization of a wide range of items without the need for additional conductive components or modified packaging.
Implementation Method 1
a first electrode arranged behind a layer of insulating material and operable to generate an electric field which leaks out through a structured shape of a second electrode
Implementation Method 2
the electric field... into a space above the second electrode structure... to form plasma
Implementation Method 3
Ozone produced by the ozone-producing apparatus disperses to the objects in the plastic bag through the porous dielectric plate
Implementation Method 4
causes oxygen in the closed vessel to be converted to ozone
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
A plasma generating apparatus comprises a first, powered electrode and a second electrode structure located in front of the first electrode. An insulating layer is interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode structure. The second electrode structure has a plurality of second electrode portions defining gap portions there between. The width of the gap portions is w. The second electrode portions each have a forward surface and the gap portions each having a forward surface, the height difference between the forward surface of each second electrode portion and the forward surfaces of the adjacent gap portions being h, and wherein h is at most 1 mm and the ratio w/h is at least 1. Thus, the forward surfaces of the second electrode portions and the forward surfaces of the gap portions together provide a smooth topography. The plasma generated by the apparatus (in air or other oxygen-containing gas) forms ozone, which can be used to treat foodstuffs, for example. The smooth topography allows substantially all of the plasma to be generated inside a package whose wall is pressed towards the second electrode structure.