Electron generation apparatus capable of multi-stage boosting for variable capacity

The present disclosure provides an electron generation apparatus includes: a discharge pin module having a support plate and a plurality of discharge pins coupled to the support plate; a discharge plate module disposed to be spaced apart from the plurality of discharge pins; a discharge plate slidably coupled inside the discharge plate module; a support structure having a coupling plate to which the discharge pin module and the discharge plate module are detachably coupled; and a circuit module having a main board located at a side opposite to the discharge pin module with the coupling plate being interposed therebetween and a plurality of distributed processing boards connected to the main board to apply a high-voltage, high-frequency pulse power to the plurality of discharge pins individually.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2019-0147586, filed on Nov. 18, 2019, and priority of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2019-0147593, filed on Nov. 18, 2019, in the KIPO (Korean Intellectual Property Office), the disclosure of which is incorporated herein entirely by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to an electron generation apparatus used for water treatment, pollutant treatment and odor removal, and more specifically, to an electron generation apparatus capable of multi-stage boosting for variable capacity to improve operation stability and power efficiency.

Description of the Related Art

Generally, the corona discharge method is representatively known as a method or structure that allows anion to be produced at atmospheric pressure. The corona discharge method has a structure that induces the generation of corona discharge between electrodes by applying a high voltage to the electrodes for each polarity.

The corona discharge generated as described above may be classified into a positive electrode corona and a negative electrode corona according to the conditions of the voltage applied to the electrodes for each polarity. The characteristics of the double positive electrode corona are easily expanded spatially than the negative electrode corona, but the negative electrode corona method generating a large number of free electrons and radicals is widely used in the field of industrial devices.

In addition, the method for generating free electrons, negative ions, and the like is classified into a pulse power supply method, an AC power supply method, a DC power supply method, and the like according to the type of a power supply device that applies power to each electrode. At this time, a conventional ozone generator or anion oxygen generator using pulse power has a pin-plate structure including a discharge pin and a ground portion. The plus electrode has a plate shape, and the minus electrode has a pin shape. Here, if a pulse power is applied to each electrode, a corona discharge is formed, and ozone or anion oxygen is generated at this time. However, the conventional power generator has a complicated structure for applying power to the plurality of discharge pins and the plurality of discharge pins respectively, which results in poor workability in replacing components.

In addition, the conventional electron generation apparatus has a limitation in practical use due to the durability problem and also has deteriorated efficiency in terms of power consumption.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure is designed to solve the conventional problem, and the present disclosure is directed to providing an electron generation apparatus, which may facilitate the management of contamination generated during a discharge process by using a discharge plate slidably coupled to a discharge plate module of an electron generation unit and improve maintenance management using a simple power applying structure to ensure excellent workability.

In addition, the present disclosure is directed to providing an electron generation apparatus, which has improved stability and power efficiency by enabling multi-stage boosting for variable capacity.

In one general aspect, there is provided an electron generation apparatus, comprising: a discharge pin module having a support plate and a plurality of discharge pins coupled to the support plate; a discharge plate module disposed to be spaced apart from the plurality of discharge pins; a discharge plate slidably coupled inside the discharge plate module; a support structure having a coupling plate to which the discharge pin module and the discharge plate module are detachably coupled; and a circuit module having a main board located at a side opposite to the discharge pin module with the coupling plate being interposed therebetween and a plurality of distributed processing boards connected to the main board to apply a high-voltage, high-frequency pulse power to the plurality of discharge pins individually, wherein the plurality of distributed processing boards includes: a high-voltage boosting unit1353configured to boost an AC power; and a DC conversion unit connected to the high-voltage boosting unit to convert the boosted AC power into a DC power and perform half-wave rectification.

The electron generation apparatus according to the present disclosure as described above may facilitate the management of contamination generated during a discharge process by using a discharge plate slidably coupled to a discharge plate module of an electron generation unit and improve maintenance management using a simple power applying structure to ensure excellent workability.

In addition, the electron generation apparatus has improved stability and power efficiency by enabling multi-stage boosting for variable capacity.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “includes”, “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. In addition, a term such as a “unit”, a “module”, a “block” or like, when used in the specification, represents a unit that processes at least one function or operation, and the unit or the like may be implemented by hardware or software or a combination of hardware and software.

Reference herein to a layer formed “on” a substrate or other layer refers to a layer formed directly on top of the substrate or other layer or to an intermediate layer or intermediate layers formed on the substrate or other layer. It will also be understood by those skilled in the art that structures or shapes that are “adjacent” to other structures or shapes may have portions that overlap or are disposed below the adjacent features.

In this specification, the relative terms, such as “below”, “above”, “upper”, “lower”, “horizontal”, and “vertical”, may be used to describe the relationship of one component, layer, or region to another component, layer, or region, as shown in the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood that these terms are intended to encompass not only the directions indicated in the figures, but also the other directions of the elements.

Hereinafter, an electron generation apparatus according to the present disclosure will be described with reference toFIGS. 1 to 4.

FIGS. 1 and 2are a side view and a front view showing an interior of an electron generation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The electron generation apparatus100includes an outer case110and an electron generation unit120received inside the outer case110. Inside the outer case110, a control unit for controlling the electron generation unit120and a power source for supplying power may be received together to be located at an upper portion of the electron generation unit120.

The electron generation unit120includes a circuit module130, a support structure140disposed at a lower portion of the circuit module130, a discharge pin module150electrically connected to the circuit module130, a discharge plate module160disposed to be spaced apart on a lower side of the discharge pin module150, and a plurality of electromagnetic field generators disposed to be received in the support structure140.

The circuit module130includes a main unit131, a plurality of distributed processing boards135connected to the main board131, and a coupling unit138functioning to fasten the plurality of distributed processing boards135.

The main board131generally has a flat plate shape and includes a plurality of connectors to which the plurality of distributed processing boards135are connected. The plurality of connectors is located on the main board131to be spaced apart from each other along transverse and longitudinal directions. The distributed processing boards135are located on the upper surface of the main board131.

Each of the plurality of distributed processing boards135includes an independent high-voltage and high-frequency pulse conversion circuit to apply a high-voltage and high-frequency pulse power individually. Each of the plurality of distributed processing boards135is connected to the connector provided at the main board131at the upper surface of the main board131.

The main board131and the plurality of distributed processing boards135connected to the main board131keep firmly coupled by the coupling unit138to form an integrated circuit module130.

The circuit module130is detachably coupled to the support structure140.

Specific implementation of the circuit module130and control flow thereof will be described later in detail with reference toFIGS. 5 and 6.

The support structure140includes a body141and a coupling plate145detachably coupled on an open upper portion of the body141.

The body141includes a bottom plate142, a sidewall143formed to extend from the bottom plate142, and a flange144formed to extend outward from an upper side of the sidewall143.

A plurality of electromagnetic field generators is installed to the bottom plate142and the sidewall143and located in the inner space of the body141. In the inner space of the body141, electrons are moved from top to bottom by the plurality of electromagnetic field generators. The coupling plate145is detachably coupled by a coupling unit such as a screw to cover the open upper portion of the body141.

The circuit module130, the discharge pin module150and the discharge plate module160are detachably coupled onto the coupling plate145. The circuit module130is located outside the support structure140with the coupling plate145being interposed therebetween, and the discharge pin module150and the discharge plate module160are located in the inner space of the body141.

The coupling plate145is made of an electrical insulating material, and a plurality of connection protrusions146formed in one-to-one correspondence with the distributed processing boards135may be installed at the coupling plate145. The connection protrusion146is formed to protrude from the coupling plate145toward the corresponding distributed processing board135and is made of an electrically conductive material.

Meanwhile, the fastening protrusion158functions to detachably couple the coupling plate145and the discharge pin module150. That is, the connection protrusion146and the fastening protrusion158are formed to be exposed along the vertical direction with respect to the coupling plate145.

Through the connection protrusion146and the fastening protrusion158, electricity from the corresponding distributed processing board135is applied to the discharge pin module150.

The coupling plate145is configured such that a pair of coupling plate are stepped along upper and lower portions. Specifically, the coupling plate145includes an upper coupling plate145aconnected to the circuit module130through the connection protrusion146and a lower coupling plate145bconnected to the support plate151of the discharge pin module150through the fastening protrusion158. The lower coupling plate145bhas a structure covering the open upper portion of the body141in a state of being connected to the upper end of the support plate151of the discharge pin module150. Meanwhile, the upper coupling plate145ais formed to maintain a smaller width than the lower coupling plate, thereby forming a stepped shape. Specifically, the upper coupling plate145amay be in the form of a PCB coupling plate, and the lower coupling plate145bmay be in the form of an STS discharging rectangular box.

Since the coupling plate145is configured by stacking a pair of coupling plates, the coupling plate may be replaced easily while maintaining a light weight, compared to a conventional single coupling plate. In addition, it is possible to reduce the generation of induction current that may occur at a side end of the coupling plate145by stacking a plurality of coupling plates made of different materials.

The flange144is coupled to communicate with the inner space of the body141in an upper region of the sidewall143. That is, in the basic structure of the rectangular plate, a flange passing hole147having a predetermined width is formed along the length direction. A flange protrusion148is formed along an inner edge of the flange passing hole toward the discharge plate module160. That is, the flange144allows the discharge plate170, which is slidably coupled to the discharge plate module160, to be drawn out through the flange passing hole147, in a state of being coupled to the sidewall143by means of the flange protrusion.

In the present disclosure, it is possible to periodically manage dust, which may be collected on the discharge plate module160, by using the discharge plate170. That is, in the existing technique, since impurity particles collected in the region of the discharge plate module160during the discharge process are accumulated, the function of the discharge plate is eventually not performed due to the dust, and at the same time, the entire device needs to be repaired. For this reason, the discharge plate170is configured to be drawn out through one side of the lower end of the discharge plate module160, thereby facilitating replacement and cleaning the discharge plate170.

The discharge pin module150includes a support plate151and a plurality of discharge pins155coupled to the support plate151.

The support plate151generally has a flat plate shape and is located at a side opposite to the main board131with the coupling plate145being interposed therebetween to be spaced apart from the coupling plate145. The support plate151is made of an electrical insulating material. The plurality of discharge pins155are coupled to the support plate151.

The plurality of discharge pins155protrude from the support plate151in a direction opposite to the coupling plate145in a state of penetrating the support plate151from top to bottom. The discharge pin155is made of an electric conducting material, and in an embodiment, the discharge pin155may be formed by coupling a screw to the support plate151. In the screw serving as the discharge pin155, a head is located at the coupling plate145, and an elongated body protrudes in the opposite direction.

Among the plurality of discharge pins155, neighboring discharge pins155form a single discharge pin group in which the discharge pins are electrically connected. In this embodiment, one discharge pin group includes four discharge pins155, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Four discharge pins155forming the discharge pin group are electrically connected to each other by an electric conductive member (not shown). The electric conductive member is connected to the connection protrusion extending from the lower end of the coupling plate145while keeping connected to the four discharge pins155at the upper end of the support plate151.

A high voltage is applied to the single discharge pin group from one corresponding distributed processing board135. The four discharge pins155forming a single discharge pin group are electrically connected.

The discharge plate module160generally has a flat plate shape and is made of an electrically conductive material. The discharge plate module160is located to be spaced apart from the plurality of discharge pins155by a predetermined distance in the inner space of the body141of the support structure140.

The discharge plate module160includes a bent portion161fastened to a lower end of the coupling plate145and a discharge plate receiving portion163coupled to a lower end of the bent portion. In a state where the discharge plate receiving portion163has a height corresponding to the flange protrusion148of the flange144, one side of the discharge plate receiving portion facing the flange protrusion is opened, and the other side of the discharge plate receiving portion is closed to correspond to an entry limit point of the discharge plate that enters the discharge plate receiving portion.

The discharge plate module160is detachably coupled to the coupling plate145by a coupling unit together with the discharge pin module150. As corona discharge is generated between the discharge pin155and the discharge plate module160, electrons and radicals ionized from the discharge pin155serving as a minus electrode to the discharge plate module160serving as a plus electrode are emitted.

The discharge plate170has a plurality of perforation holes located at the shortest distance respectively corresponding to the plurality of discharge pins155in one-to-one relationship. The perforation hole maintains the shortest discharge distance to improve discharge efficiency when foreign substances such as dust emitted from the discharge pin155are accumulated on the discharge plate170at the beginning of discharge.

The plurality of electromagnetic field generators is installed at the bottom plate142and the sidewall143of the body141, respectively, to transfer the electrons and radicals emitted from the discharge pin155to the bottom plate142. Each of the plurality of electromagnetic field generators may include a galvanized steel core and a coil wound around the core, and any configuration capable of generating an electromagnetic field may be used.

FIG. 5is a circuit diagram showing a circuit module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, andFIG. 6is a flowchart for illustrating an operation flow of the circuit module ofFIG. 5, which shows an example implementing the circuit of the distributed processing board included in the circuit module.

Each distributed processing board135may include a conversion unit1351, an amplification unit1352, a high-voltage boosting unit1353and a DC conversion unit1354.

An AC power supplied from a power source is applied to conversion unit1351(Step61), and accordingly the conversion unit1351converts the applied AC power to a DC power (Step62).

The amplification unit1352amplifies the DC power converted by the conversion unit1351and converts the DC power to an AC power again (Step63).

The high-voltage boosting unit1353boosts the AC power amplified and converted by the amplification unit1352(Step64). Accordingly, a potential is formed at the plurality of discharge pins155. As the potential increases, supersaturation of electrons may be induced. In addition, a shielding structure may be formed on the surface of the high-voltage boosting unit1353. For example, an insulating plastic resin material may be molded on the surface of the high-voltage boosting unit1353to form a shielding structure. This is in preparation for the voltage to be reversed to the high-voltage boosting unit1353due to the closed loop of the positive electrode wire, explained later.

The DC conversion unit1354is connected to the high-voltage boosting unit1353to convert the boosted AC current into a DC current and perform half-wave rectification thereto (Step65). Here, the DC conversion unit1354is configured such that a plurality of diode and capacitor pairs are connected in parallel to convert the AC current in multiple stages. Accordingly, it is possible to perform multi-stage boosting. As a result, capacity may be freely changed to optimize power efficiency.

In addition, double-voltage amplification and half-wave rectification are simultaneously performed at the capacitor, and the discharge pin1355is connected to a negative electrode wire connected to the capacitor (Step66). Accordingly, the current amplified doubly at the capacitor is applied to the discharge pin1355(Step67).

Meanwhile, due to the closed loop of the positive electrode wire, a large potential difference is formed at the negative electrode wire and the discharge pin1355from the air, and the current may be concentrated on the discharge pin1355through the negative electrode wire to induce an oversaturation state of electrons.

FIG. 7is a circuit diagram showing a circuit module according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, where a red dotted line on the left represents a pulse generator and a circuit portion that performs AC voltage amplification and conversion, and a blue dotted line on the right represents a circuit portion that boosts in multi stages.

Each stage of the multi-stage booster circuit portion is configured using two diodes and two capacitors and is configured to output a half-wave rectified DC power.

While the present disclosure has been described with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the figures, the embodiments are merely examples, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and other embodiments equivalent thereto can be performed. Therefore, the technical scope of the disclosure is defined by the technical idea of the appended claims The drawings and the forgoing description gave examples of the present invention. The scope of the present invention, however, is by no means limited by these specific examples. Numerous variations, whether explicitly given in the specification or not, such as differences in structure, dimension, and use of material, are possible. The scope of the invention is at least as broad as given by the following claims.