Patent ID: 12239843

DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

FIGS.1and2shows a system1for generating and controlling a non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma (plasma) having a discharge space10and a flow controller40, wherein the flow controller40is in a first state (FIG.1) and a second state (FIG.2), respectively. InFIG.3, a further embodiment is illustrated, wherein the state is shown in which the flow controller40is in the second state.FIGS.4-6show further embodiments in which the respective flow controllers adopt the first state, such that no plasma jet exits.

The discharge space10has a first opening12and a second opening14. In an embodiment according to the invention, the discharge space10is delimited by a dielectric30(FIG.1,FIG.2,FIG.3). The dielectric30may be formed in the form of a cylindrical shell.

The discharge space10extends along a longitudinal axis A. In the embodiment shown, the first opening12is located opposite the second opening14.

The system1shown has a high voltage electrode20arranged within the discharge space10(FIG.1-FIG.4). A ground electrode22is arranged outside the discharge space10at the dielectric30, wherein the ground electrode22is arranged near the second opening14(FIG.1-FIG.4). With the aid of the high-voltage electrode20and the ground electrode22, an electromagnetic field is generated in the discharge space10when voltage is applied (FIG.1-FIG.4).

In an embodiment, the high voltage electrode20and the ground electrode22are arranged outside the discharge space10at the dielectric30(FIG.5).

The system1may have a microwave generator202and a microwave resonator200(FIG.6).

The discharge space10may be connected to a working gas source50by means of a conduit element52, in particular by means of a gas conduit element. The conduit element52can on the one hand be fluidically connected to the discharge space10and on the other hand to the working gas source50(FIG.1,FIG.2,FIG.5,FIG.6). In particular, the conduit element52is arranged such that a working gas from the working gas source50is introducable through the conduit element52through the first opening12into the discharge space10. In an embodiment, the working gas source50is connected to the flow controller40by means of a conduit element52and further the flow controller40is connected to the discharge space10by means of another conduit element52(FIG.3,FIG.4).

The flow controller40can be used to control the working gas volume flow60in the discharge space10. In the first state, the flow controller40is arranged so that no working gas enters the discharge space10through the first opening12(FIGS.1,4,5,6). In the second state, working gas from the working gas source50can enter the discharge space10through the first opening12. Working gas flows from the first opening12through the discharge space10toward the second opening14(FIGS.2,FIG.3). The flow controller40can be a piezo valve (FIG.4).

A system1shown inFIG.5has a mixing arrangement54, wherein the flow controller40has the mixing arrangement54. Further, the system1has a further gas source51. The further gas source51may be connected to the mixing arrangement54. In particular, the mixing arrangement54is configured to mix the working gas from the working gas source50with a further gas from the further gas source51, so that a gas mixture is formed. The flow controller is formed to ensure that the resulting gas mixture is supplied to the discharge space10.

When an electromagnetic field is generated in the discharge space10, a plasma5is generated in the discharge space10and ejected from the discharge space10through the working gas volume flow60in the form of a plasma jet6through the second opening14(FIG.2,FIG.3).

In an embodiment according to the invention, the flow controller40is controlled with the aid of an automatic control unit70(FIGS.1,2,5,6). In particular, the state of the flow controller40can be set with the aid of the automatic control unit70, i.e. the automatic control unit70controls the flow controller40such that it is in the first state or in the second state. Thus, the automatic control unit70can be used to control whether or not a plasma jet exits the discharge space.

FIGS.7-15show embodiments according to the invention of a system1for generating and controlling a non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma with a plurality of discharge spaces.

InFIG.7a)-f), an embodiment of the system1in the form of a handheld device120is shown in different perspectives. The illustrated handheld device120can be operated manually or robotically.FIGS.7d)-f) show the handheld device120in a front view (d), a side view (e) as well as a perspective view (f). The handheld device120shown has a housing122. The handheld device has a handle140as well as a headpiece130. The headpiece130may have a plurality of recesses132.

FIGS.7a)-c) show an arrangement of four discharge spaces10a,10b,10c,10din a frontal view (a), a cross-sectional view (b) as well as a perspective view (c).

The four second openings14a,14b,14c,14dare arranged in a common plane. They point in a common direction R. The individual recesses132and the second openings14a,14b,14c,14dmay be arranged relative to one another in such a way that a respective plasma jet of the respective second opening14a,14b,14c,14dcan exit through the respective recess132.

FIG.8toFIG.12show embodiments of a system1having a plurality of discharge spaces10a,10b,10c. Each of the discharge spaces10a,10b,10cshown have a respective first opening12a,12b,12cand a respective second opening14a,14b,14c. In each of the discharge spaces10a,10b,10ca high voltage electrode20a,20b,20cis arranged.

The longitudinal axes Aa, Ab, Ac of the respective discharge spaces10a,10b,10cmay be arranged parallel to each other (illustrated inFIG.8).

The second openings14a,14b,14cof the respective exemplary systems1shown (FIG.8-FIG.12) are arranged in a common plane E, respectively. The respective second openings14a,14b,14cpoint in the same direction R. In particular, the surface normals Na, Nb, Nc point in the same direction R (FIG.8,FIG.11). The longitudinal axes Aa, Ab, Ac can extend in the direction of the surface normals Na, Nb, Nc.

FIGS.8and9show a system1for generating and controlling a non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma with three discharge spaces10a,10b,10c. The discharge spaces10a,10b,10care connected to a common working gas source50via respective conduit elements52a,52b,52c. The system1has flow controllers40a,40b,40c, by means of which an introduction of a working gas from the working gas source50into a respective discharge space10a,10b,10cis controlled.

The system1shown inFIGS.8and9comprises three discharge spaces10a,10b,10cwhose diameters Da, Db, Dc of the respective second openings14a,14b,14care identical (FIG.8).

FIG.8shows an arrangement of the system1in which all three flow controllers40a,40b,40care in their first state. This means that in none of the three discharge spaces10a,10b,10cworking gas from the working gas source50is introduced through the respective first opening12a,12b,12c.

FIG.9illustrates an arrangement in which a selected flow controller40bis in its second state. The other two flow controllers40a,40care in their respective first states. In this configuration, working gas is introduced into the selected discharge space10bwhose gas supply is controlled using the selected flow controller40b. Plasma5is generated in the selected discharge space10band exits with the aid of the working gas volume flow60from the assigned second opening14bas plasma jet6.

FIGS.10-12show a system1for generating and controlling a non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma comprising two discharge spaces10a,10b, wherein the respective associated second openings14a,14bof the illustrated discharge spaces10a,10bhave different diameters Da, Db

FIG.10shows an arrangement of a system1in which a selected flow controller40bis in the second state such that a plasma jet6exits from the second opening14bof the respective discharge space10b. The flow controllers40a,40bmay both be connected to an automatic control system72. The automatic control system72may control both flow controllers40a,40b. In particular, the automatic control system72controls such that a flow controller40a,40bis in the first state or in the second state.

FIG.11illustrates an arrangement in which the discharge spaces10a,10bare connected to different working gas sources50a,50bvia the respective conduit elements52a,52b. That is, the system has a plurality of working gas sources50a,50b. The flow controllers40a,40bmay be controlled by a common automatic control system72.

In addition to a working gas source50connected to both discharge spaces10a,10b, the system1illustrated inFIG.12has another gas source51. Further, the illustrated system1has a mixing arrangement54b. The flow controller40bmay have the mixing arrangement54b.

The further gas source51can be connected to the mixing arrangement54b. With the aid of the mixing arrangement54b, the working gas from the working gas source50is mixed with a further gas from the further gas source51. This gas mixture is supplied to the discharge space10b(by controlling the flow controller40b).

FIGS.13,14, and15show exemplary arrangements of the system1with a plurality of discharge spaces10, wherein the second openings14of the discharge spaces10face a central region Z. The discharge spaces10are connected to a common working gas source50. Using a plurality of flow controllers40, the working gas flow in each of the discharge spaces10is independently controlled.

FIGS.13and14show a front view (FIG.13) and a cross-sectional view (FIG.14) of an exemplary arrangement in which the discharge spaces10are arranged at a cuboid volume.

The second openings14are oriented toward the cuboid. In an embodiment, the discharge spaces10are arranged at four faces of the cuboid (FIG.13). No discharge spaces10are arranged at two opposing surfaces (FIG.14). Through these created entrances90,92, an object100can be supplied to the central region Z along a direction of movement B (FIG.14).

FIG.15illustrates an exemplary arrangement from the front, in which the discharge spaces10are arranged along a cylinder jacket. The second openings14face in the direction of the central region Z. The discharge spaces10can be arranged equidistantly to each other in the circumferential direction U.