METHOD AND A DEVICE FOR PRODUCTION OF PLASMA
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method for production of plasma and a mixture
of the gases hydrogen and oxygen known as Broun' s gas which burns in plasma, and
a device for implementation of the said method. They may be used in the heat
engineering for heating; for harmful waste treatment, for gasification of hydrogencontaining
hard materials, for melting and soldering metal and non-metal materials.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Methods are known for production of plasma between two hard electrodes, most
often made of graphite, connected to a direct current voltage source and with an
opposite polarity. Plasma is produced after initiating a plasma formation process
by initial touching the electrodes followed by their mechanical moving apart to a
definite critical distance, or by heating one of the electrodes so as to initiate an
electron emission under the effect of the high temperature.
2. A process called electrolysis is known, during which a direct current voltage is
applied to electrodes with an opposite polarity which are submerged in a water
solution of an electrolyte. Gas, resp. oxygen and hydrogen, start to release on the
positive electrode (cathode) and the negative electrode (anode). They may be
used either separately, or may be mixed in a definite manner into a gas mixture
known as Broun' s gas.
3. A process is known, during which water is heated to a high temperature so as to
initiate a reversible reaction where the water molecule is decomposed to its
constituents - oxygen and hydrogen. This process starts at a temperature above
1000 °C, and above 3000° C, substantially all water molecules are already
decomposed to their constituents. When the temperature lowers, hydrogen and
oxygen again bond to each other to form a water molecule, while a big amount of
thermal power is released during this synthesis.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The purpose of the invention is to provide for a method for production of plasma
which is more efficient, cheaper, environmentally friendly and safe, as well as a
device for easy and efficient implementation of the said method.
The problem is solved using the method proposed for production of plasma and
the device for implementation of the said method.
According to the method proposed, two or more water streams are created by
means of a distributor in which water under pressure enters from a circulation pump
which draws the water from a water tank. These water streams, through connection
joints, reach one or more pairs of pipes made of a heat-resistant material. Each of the
pipes accommodates a metal electrode which is connected to a direct current high
voltage source, while both electrodes are with an opposite polarity. When the voltage
is applied, plasma is produced in the gap between the openings of said pair of pipes
through which the water flows. The voltage is applied simultaneously to the
electrodes, when they are only two, and when they are more than two, it can be
supplied at various times to the different pairs of electrodes.
The voltage supplied to the electrodes exceeds 1000 V. In one particular
embodiment of the invention, the direct current high voltage supplied is between 3000
V and 5000 V.
Plasma produced within the gap between the openings of each pair of pipes is with
a temperature above 4000° C.
The amount of pressure of the water streams and the supply voltage of the source
are determined depending of the size of the plasma area to be obtained.
The device proposed for plasma production comprises at least one pair of
electrodes with an opposite polarity which are accommodated in pipes through which
water flows and are connected to a high direct current voltage source. Water enters
from a water tank, and by means of a circulation pump under a definite pressure goes
to a distributor where it is divided into at least two or more even water streams which,
through flexible connection, pass into the pipes of a heat-resistant insulation material.
These pipes accommodate also the electrodes. The electric current passes from the
electrodes into the water streams and charges them with opposite charges. Plasma is
produced in the space between the water streams flowing out from the pipe ends,
whereby gas bubbles start to release on the surfaces of the electrodes accommodated
in the pipes at a definite distance from their outlet, resp. oxygen - at the positive
electrode, and hydrogen - at the negative electrode. The gases are carried away by the
water stream and, leaving the pipe end, they fall into the plasma where they burn in a
common plasma-gas flame.
Particular embodiments of the invention are possible, wherein the pipes are made
of a quartz glass or ceramics and may be arranged horizontally, one opposite the other,
or at a definite angle in relation to each other.
The gap between the pipe openings through which the water streams flow may be
various, while in one of the embodiments according to the invention, it exceeds 5 mm.
According to a particular embodiment of the invention the pipes and the electrodes
accommodated therein are two, and according other embodiments, they may be " N ",
where N is an even number.
A part of the water of the water streams passing through the pipes is used for
production of plasma, and another part which is not used, returns back to the water
tank. Thus, a closed loop is created in which the water pumped out of the tank,
passing through the circulation pump, divided by the distributor into two or more
water streams used for production of plasma, is partially returned back into the tank
which, on its part, should be topped-up as required.
The advantages of the method and the device proposed for plasma production
consist in that they are environmentally friendly, do not release harmful emissions,
and consume a small amount of power. The plasma obtained is with a temperature
exceeding 4000° C, and available and cheap materials are used for their production.
With view to intensification of plasma formation, an electrolyte solution at a low
concentration may be used, and with view to increasing the process energy yield,
small amounts of water-soluble fuels or water-oil emulsions may be added.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
Fig. 1- Device for implementation of the method
1. Water tank
2. Distributor
3. Flexible pipe connections
4. Electrodes
5. Pipe of a heat-resistant material
6. Plasma
7. Direct current high voltage source
8. Water pump
EXAMPLES OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
In the particular embodiment shown in fig. 1 of the plasma production device, water
under pressure is fed from a water tank (1) using a circulation pump (8) into a
distributor which outlets are connected by means of flexible connections (3) to a pair
of pipes (5) made of a quartz glass, of ceramics or another heat-resistant insulation
material. Each one of the pipes (5) accommodates one electrode (4) which is
connected to a direct current high voltage source (7). One of the electrodes is with a
positive charge (anode), and the other is with a negative charge (cathode). The pipes
are open in their one end and the water entering them flows freely out through this
said end, falling through a funnel-like collector again into the water tank. A clearance
(gap) of at least 5 mm exists between both water streams which freely flow out
through the open pipe ends, whereby in the clearance between them, after applying a
direct current high voltage to the electrodes, a process of plasma formation is
initiated.
The clearance between the water streams may be varied within definite limits which
influences the intensity of the plasma formation process. Both electrodes are
completely submersed under the eater passing through the pipes and do not reach the
pipe free opening, while the water column between the electrode end and the pipe
open end is 20 mm in this particular embodiment, by may vary within definite critical
limits. Both pipes, resp. their openings, may be arranged horizontally, one opposite
the other, or at a definite angle which may vary according to our desire to make the
plasma formation process either less, or more intensive.
Small amounts of hydrogen and oxygen gases start to be added to the plasma torch
with a temperature exceeding 4000° C obtained in the gap, which gases start to be
discharged on the electrode surfaces, resp. hydrogen - on the anode, and oxygen - on
the cathode. They are carried in the form of small bubbles by the water passing and,
going out through the free pipe openings, they fall into the plasma torch, where
hydrogen burns-up, and oxygen intensifies the process of burning. Due to the fact that
the plasma torch contacts directly with the water streams and is formed between them,
an intensive process of evaporation from the water surface starts. The water molecules
evaporated, falling into the plasma area and due to the extremely high temperature of
the medium, decompose to hydrogen and oxygen which move in height, and when the
ambient temperature starts to lower, a reversible reaction of a water molecule
synthesis is initiated. Said reaction gets more intensive with increase of the distance to
the active plasma formation area; and a big amount of energy is also released during
said synthesis.
In another particular embodiment of the invention, the pairs of water streams, resp.
the electrodes accommodated therein, are more than one, the direct current high
voltage may be applied at various times to the electrodes, and the order of switching
on the different pairs of electrodes depends on the desired process. 1, 2, 3, 4 up to N
pairs of electrodes may be comprised, which, on its turn, leads to creation of 1, 2, 3, 4
up to N separate plasma formation processes.
APPLICATION (USE) OF THE INVENTION
The invention may be used for production of DHW /domestic hot water/, of steam to
be used for production of electric energy, as an external heat source for a Stirling
engine, for combustion of waste /including medical and radioactive/, for gasification
of hydrogen-containing hard materials, for melting and welding metal and non-metal
materials.
claims
1.Method for production of plasma, characterized in that at least one pair of water
streams moving under pressure, situated at a definite distance opposite each other,
are charged with opposite polarity by means of electrodes (4), installed inside the
water streams and connected to the two opposite poles of direct current electricity
source (7) of high voltage, whereby between the two water streams is formed an
area where plasma (6) with temperature exceeding 4 000 °C is produced.
2.A method for production of plasma according to claim No.l, characterized in
that the high voltage direct current is supplied simultaneously to all pairs of
electrodes (4).
3.A method for production of plasma according to claim No.l, characterized in
that the high voltage direct current is supplied at various times to the pairs of
electrodes (4).
4.A method for production of plasma according to claims No.l - 3, characterized in
that the high voltage direct current supplied to the electrodes (4) exceeds 1000 V.
5.Device for production of plasma, characterized in that it comprises at least one
pair of electrodes connected to the opposite poles of a source of high voltage
direct current, and each of the electrodes (4) is accommodated inside a pipe (5)
made of heat-resistant insulation material, and they are supplied with water by
means of flexible pipe connections (3) from a distributor (2), into which the water
is fed under pressure by a vvater pump (8) from a water tank (1).
6.A device for production of plasma according to claim No.5, characterized in that
the pipes (5) are made of a quartz glass or ceramics.
7.A device for production of plasma according to claims No.5 and 6, characterized
in that the open pipe ends (5) are arranged horizontally or at an angle, opposite
each other.
8.A device for production of plasma according to claims No.5 - 7, characterized in
that the clearance between open ends of the pipes (5) exceeds 5 mm.
9.A device for production of plasma according to claims No.5 - 8, characterized in
that the number of the pipes (5) and the electrodes accommodated in them (4) are
from two up to "N", where N is an even number.