RU2144760C1 - Method and electrode for ionizing atmospheric air - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: controlling atmospheric processes. SUBSTANCE: method involves creation of local spatial electric charge within external spatial electric charge so that ions of external charge are accelerated resulting in extension of spatial charge area. This is provided by corona conductor made as grid forming spatial loop surface and by unipolar ion source placed inside this loop. EFFECT: enlarged spatial charge area. 3 cl, 3 dwg

Description

 The invention relates to meteorology and can be used when conducting active impacts on atmospheric processes, in ecology and other fields.

 When conducting active impacts on atmospheric processes by an electric method, ionization of atmospheric air is a necessary condition for creating a space charge and the formation of convective flows [1, 2]. It can be carried out in various ways, for example, by x-ray irradiation or by spraying radioactive powders, however, the most common, quite simple and environmentally friendly way of ionizing air is to saturate it with ions formed as a result of corona discharge. To obtain a corona discharge, which ensures diffusion of ions into the air mass, a thin wire or pointed pins are used, to which an electric potential high-voltage relative to earth is supplied. The ions generated by such electrodes propagate in air, forming a volume electric charge in the form of a loop rising up and oriented in the wind.

 This method is described in the work of B. Vonnegut and G.B. Moore [2] and is taken as a prototype of the invention as the closest in meaning.

 The disadvantage of this method is the inability to achieve high concentrations of ions in air, i.e. receiving a space charge of high density, because the generated ions disperse in the air under the influence of wind and natural electric fields.

In order to enhance the ionization effect, which is expressed in increasing the productivity of ion generation by the corona wire and in the additional formation of ions due to the acceleration of their movement, a method is proposed that differs from the prototype in that inside the volume electric charge formed by the corona wire and having an initial density of 10 ³ - 10 ⁵ units / cm ³ create a local space charge of the same sign, but having smaller geometric dimensions and greater density.

 The electric field of the local “strong” charge acts on the ions in the region of the “weak” charge, accelerating them, which leads to an increase in the number of collisions with neutral air molecules and, as a result, to an increase in the degree of ionization.

 In addition, the electric field of the "strong" charge accelerates the outflow of ions from the corona wire, which is quickly compensated by the newly formed ions, thereby increasing the productivity of ion generation by the corona wire (Fig. 1).

 The creation of a local space charge can be carried out using a special electrode, the proposed device of which is given below.

 As a prototype, a well-known device [3] was selected, designed to create a space charge of increased density, which is a corona wire made in the form of a flat horizontal grid with a mesh of 50 x 12.5 m, covering an area of 1 ha.

 The proposed device is a corona electrode made in the form of a grid forming the surface of a volume contour having the shape of a ball, cube, cone or some more complex spatial figure.

 Due to the corona discharge occurring on the wire of which the network consists, the ions formed from its outer side diffuse into the open air space and disperse.

 Ions formed on the inner side of the grid diffuse into the electrode cavity and concentrate there, since the out-of-loop circuit is blocked by a high-voltage electric field, which is applied to the electrode [4].

 As a result, the concentration of ions inside the electrode cavity will increase, and with it the volume electric charge, which has its own electric field, will increase.

 The diffusion of ions into the cavity of the electrode will stop only after the concentration of voltage on the surface of the corona electrode is balanced by the electric field of the space charge formed in the cavity of the electrode. Thus, the air space adjacent to the outer surface of the electrode is less ionized, and the ions in it are exposed to the electric field of the space charge created inside the electrode.

 In FIG. 2 schematically shows the arrangement of the electrode and gives an image of the cavity of the electrode in section 1.

 In order to avoid the removal of ions from the electrode cavity by the wind, a protective casing 2 is provided; it also serves as electrical protection. The electrode is isolated from the ground by means of an insulator 3, using a high-voltage source 4, a potential high relative to earth is supplied to the electrode.

 In a corona discharge, the number of generated ions depends on the diameter of the wire and on the magnitude of the voltage supplied to it; therefore, the degree of ionization inside the electrode cavity depends on its design and may not be sufficient to create a local charge of the required density.

 To increase the charge density and control its value, i.e. for the active formation of a local space charge, a mesh electrode design is proposed that contains an autonomous ion source of the same polarity inside the cavity, made in the form of a set of corona wires or pointed pins 5, to which a high-voltage potential is supplied from a separate source or from the main source 4 through a converter (Fig. . 3).

 The electrode can be used in a stationary and mobile version mounted on a car. Depending on the design, the overall dimensions of the electrode change.

In the stationary version, the base area is 1-1000 m ² and in the mobile one it is 0.3-3.0 m ² .

Sources of information
1. Application of France N 2250938 A 01 G 15/00, 1991.

 2. Vonnegut B., Moore G.B. Artificial change in atmospheric space charge. Journal of Geophysical Research. T. 67. USA: 1962, N 3.

 3. RF patent N 2060639.

 4. Sakharov D.I., Fornication M.I. Physics.- M.: Fizmatgiz, 1960.

Claims (2)

 1. The method of ionization of atmospheric air, including the generation of unipolar ions with the formation of a volumetric electric charge in the air space adjacent to the corona wire, characterized in that inside the space charge create the same local volumetric electric charge of higher density, which informs the ions forming the initial charge, acceleration and this widens the ionization zone.  2. An electrode, which is a wire on which a corona discharge occurs, characterized in that the wire is made in the form of a grid forming the surface of a volume contour, inside which a source of unipolar ions is placed to actively create a volume electric charge local to the space charge, formed by homonymous ions generated from the outside of the contour grid.

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