US3579027A - Igniting aid for high efficiency plasma producers - Google Patents

Igniting aid for high efficiency plasma producers Download PDF

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Publication number
US3579027A
US3579027A US710175A US3579027DA US3579027A US 3579027 A US3579027 A US 3579027A US 710175 A US710175 A US 710175A US 3579027D A US3579027D A US 3579027DA US 3579027 A US3579027 A US 3579027A
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United States
Prior art keywords
gas
arc
high efficiency
rod electrode
cylindrical wall
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Expired - Lifetime
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US710175A
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English (en)
Inventor
Maximilian Pater
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Gebrueder Boehler and Co AG
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Gebrueder Boehler and Co AG
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05H—PLASMA TECHNIQUE; PRODUCTION OF ACCELERATED ELECTRICALLY-CHARGED PARTICLES OR OF NEUTRONS; PRODUCTION OR ACCELERATION OF NEUTRAL MOLECULAR OR ATOMIC BEAMS
    • H05H1/00—Generating plasma; Handling plasma
    • H05H1/24—Generating plasma
    • H05H1/26—Plasma torches
    • H05H1/32—Plasma torches using an arc
    • H05H1/34—Details, e.g. electrodes, nozzles

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT An ignition device for high efficiency plasma [73] Assignee Gebr. Bohler & Co. Aktiengesellsclum producers, which device precludes the necessity for extremely Vienna, Austria high voltages to produce the initial ignition of the plasma [32] Priority Mar. 3, 1967 producer by providing high specific ionic densities between [33] Ami. the electrodes thereof.
  • the ignition device consists of an an- [3l] A203l/67 nular passage surrounding a rod electrode and through which ionizable gas is passed.
  • a way for overcoming this difficulty consists, for example, in the production of a short duration high induction voltage between the electrodes, but this measure carries the disadvantage of the great number of coil windings necessary for this purpose. l-ligh resistance occurs in the part of the apparatus providing the current.
  • Another possibility, difficult to place in practice could consist of a primary arc to be ignited between a cathode and an auxiliary graphite electrode, which are is transmitted to a second electrode, and then the auxiliary electrode can be removed.
  • An electric arc ignition apparatus is already known in which separate ignition electrodes have been utilized and through which, for example, a condenser is discharged.
  • the quasineutral plasma which has been produced from this discharge is directed between the electrodes of the electric arc and serves for the preliminary ionization, whereby naturally a considerable part of the positive and negative ions produced is lost, in proportion to the distance to betravelled, on account of recombination of the opposite charge carriers.
  • the gas to be ionized is directed through an are having the shape of a cone, or in the extreme case through an approximately discshaped arc, an azimuthal magnetic field is produced, leading to a separation of different charge carriers in the plasma, and also after a dissipation of the electrons there is an excess of positive charge carriers.
  • the positive charge carriers have no opportunity to neutralize, so that in comparison with the already known procedures, there results the advantage of maintaining for a longer period the ionized state of the auxiliary gas stream.
  • a further advantage of this invention in comparison with the already known procedures, consists in the possibility of operating with considerably lower voltage for ionization.
  • the method according to the invention consists therefore in the fact that the medium to be ionized is directed through a conical arc, and in the extreme case, a disc-shaped are when viewed along the electrode.
  • the ions produced therein are led into the space between the electrodes of the high efficiency plasma producer to be ignited, so that the voltage necessary to produce the initial ignition is greatly lowered on account of the relatively high specific ionic densities.
  • This method may be carried out by an apparatus which contains essentially the elements of an ordinary electric ignition sparkplug, namely, a central electrode preferably in rod form; an isolating body surrounding it at least partially; a counterelectrode which is shaped so that between it and the rod-shaped electrode there burns a conic or in the borderline case a disc-shaped arc; as well as additionally a stopping or securing device, a gas feeder, and a gas channel going through the sparking area.
  • These types of plasma sparking plugs can be screwed into any plasma producer and changed in a simple way and manner at any time. The necessary auxiliary sparking voltage can be realized with less effort due to the smaller requirements for the operation of the plasma spark plug.
  • the required electric current produced by passing a gas medium to be ionized through an arc-shaped cone and in the extreme case a disc, and thereafter the gas medium in at least a partially ionized state is brought into the space between the electrodes of the high efficiency plasma producer.
  • both electrodes, between which the conical arc burns, do not necessarily have to be part of the plasma ignition spark plug.
  • the plasma producer in which the plasma ignition spark plug is fixed serves as a counterelectrode. If the ignition spark plug electrode has been shaped as a rod electrode, as in the case with the usual electric spark plug, it is advantageous to make the isolating body which is surrounding it long enough to over reach the electrode tip in order to prevent a backfiring of the spark.
  • the ignition aid comprises a rod electrode 1 which is connected to a current source and is contained in an isolating cylindrical body 2.
  • An annular securing means 3 for the ignition aid is screwed into a plasma producer 5, and preferably the plasma producer acts as a counterelectrode and is also connected to the current source.
  • the gas to be ionized is introduced through a coupling 6, down through a gas feeding annular channel 4 and through a conical are 7 which is struck between the end of rod electrode 1 and the inner cylindrical wall surface of the plasma producer 5.
  • the lower portion of the cylindrical isolating body 2 continues axially beyond the end of rod electrode 1 into a cylindrical space defined by the inner wall surface of plasma producer 5.
  • the path of the gas introduced through coupling 6 is first through the annular channel 4, then through two axially succeeding tubular passages 8 and 9, respectively formed by the inner wall surface of the lower portion of the isolating cylindrical body 2 and the inner cylindrical wall surface of plasma producer 5.
  • the cone-shaped arc 7 has an azimuthal magnetic field on the inside and outside thereof, and as the gas goes through the arc it is partially ionized and the opposite charge carriers are radially separated by the azimuthal magnetic field. By virtue of the separation, there is less tendency for the opposite charge carriers to recombine, and consequently there is a higher specific ionic density when the gas is introduced between the electrodes of the high efficiency plasma producer.
  • the method according to the present invention makes possible the safe ignition of gas discharges in plasma producers of large dimensions, with easy manipulation thereof and the guarantee of uniform conditions and functioning of the apparatus.
  • a method of igniting a high efficiency plasma producer with relatively low voltage comprising the steps of passing a stream of ionizable gas through an ignition aid, said gas following a path defined by a rod electrode and a surrounding isolating body of said aid; producing an electric arc discharge between the end portion of said rod electrode and a counterelectrode radially spaced and axially beyond said rod electrode; the electric lines of force of said are being inclined in the form of a cone with the apex thereof pointing upstream the direction of flow of said ionizable gas in at least that area of said are through which said gas passes thereby producing an azimuthal magnetic field, whereby said gas passing through said inclined arc is at least partially ionized; radially separating, by virtue of said azimuthal magnetic field, the opposite charge carriers in said partially ionized gas to minimize recombination of said carriers and thereby create a high specific ionic density in said gas; and then introducing said high specific ionic density gas into the area between the ignition aid
  • a high efficiency plasma producer ignition aid utilizing relatively low voltage comprising an isolating body having an inner cylindrical wall in which a rod electrode is concentrically mounted and radially spaced to form an annular passage, said cylindrical wall extending axially beyond one end of said rod electrode forming a first tubular passage;.a second cylindrical wall coaxial and of larger diameter than the first forming a second tubular passage immediately succeeding said first tubular passage; means for feeding ionizable gas to the end of said annular passage opposite said one end of said rod electrode; means.
  • An ignition aid as claimed in claim 3 further comprising a securing device about said isolating body to secure said ignition aid to said high efficiency plasma producer.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Plasma & Fusion (AREA)
  • Spectroscopy & Molecular Physics (AREA)
  • Plasma Technology (AREA)
  • Treatment Of Fiber Materials (AREA)
US710175A 1967-03-03 1968-03-04 Igniting aid for high efficiency plasma producers Expired - Lifetime US3579027A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT203167A AT271654B (de) 1967-03-03 1967-03-03 Verfahren zur Erleichterung der Initialzündung eines Hochleistungsplasmaerzeugers

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3579027A true US3579027A (en) 1971-05-18

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US710175A Expired - Lifetime US3579027A (en) 1967-03-03 1968-03-04 Igniting aid for high efficiency plasma producers

Country Status (7)

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US (1) US3579027A (xx)
AT (1) AT271654B (xx)
CH (1) CH471521A (xx)
DE (1) DE1639200A1 (xx)
FR (1) FR1556047A (xx)
GB (1) GB1220466A (xx)
NL (1) NL6802944A (xx)

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3983438A (en) * 1975-08-21 1976-09-28 Xonics, Inc. Spark gap switch
US4339691A (en) * 1979-10-23 1982-07-13 Tokyo Shibaura Denki Kabushiki Kaisha Discharge apparatus having hollow cathode
US4987345A (en) * 1987-07-10 1991-01-22 U.S. Philips Corporation Charged particle source of large current with high energy
US5198724A (en) * 1990-10-23 1993-03-30 Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd. Plasma processing method and plasma generating device
US5369336A (en) * 1990-12-31 1994-11-29 Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd. Plasma generating device
EP0761415A2 (de) * 1995-09-01 1997-03-12 Agrodyn Hochspannungstechnik GmbH Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Oberflächen-Vorbehandlung von Werkstücken
US6768109B1 (en) * 2001-09-21 2004-07-27 6×7 Visioneering, Inc. Method and apparatus for magnetic separation of ions
US20070284340A1 (en) * 2006-06-09 2007-12-13 Morten Jorgensen Vortex generator for plasma treatment
US7645985B1 (en) 2007-08-22 2010-01-12 6X7 Visioneering, Inc. Method and apparatus for magnetic separation of ions
US20100170641A1 (en) * 2006-06-09 2010-07-08 3Dt Llc Plasma treatment method and apparatus

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN105554998B (zh) * 2016-02-16 2017-12-01 衢州迪升工业设计有限公司 熔丝引弧的等离子体装置

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2508954A (en) * 1943-02-03 1950-05-23 Merlin Gerin Electric discharge device with auxiliary electrode
US3370198A (en) * 1967-06-21 1968-02-20 Kenneth C. Rogers Plasma accelerator having a cooled preionization chamber
US3425223A (en) * 1967-03-07 1969-02-04 Thermal Dynamics Corp Electrothermal thruster

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2508954A (en) * 1943-02-03 1950-05-23 Merlin Gerin Electric discharge device with auxiliary electrode
US3425223A (en) * 1967-03-07 1969-02-04 Thermal Dynamics Corp Electrothermal thruster
US3370198A (en) * 1967-06-21 1968-02-20 Kenneth C. Rogers Plasma accelerator having a cooled preionization chamber

Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3983438A (en) * 1975-08-21 1976-09-28 Xonics, Inc. Spark gap switch
US4339691A (en) * 1979-10-23 1982-07-13 Tokyo Shibaura Denki Kabushiki Kaisha Discharge apparatus having hollow cathode
US4987345A (en) * 1987-07-10 1991-01-22 U.S. Philips Corporation Charged particle source of large current with high energy
US5198724A (en) * 1990-10-23 1993-03-30 Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd. Plasma processing method and plasma generating device
US5369336A (en) * 1990-12-31 1994-11-29 Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd. Plasma generating device
EP0761415A3 (de) * 1995-09-01 1998-01-28 Agrodyn Hochspannungstechnik GmbH Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Oberflächen-Vorbehandlung von Werkstücken
EP0761415A2 (de) * 1995-09-01 1997-03-12 Agrodyn Hochspannungstechnik GmbH Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Oberflächen-Vorbehandlung von Werkstücken
US5837958A (en) * 1995-09-01 1998-11-17 Agrodyn Hochspannungstechnik Gmbh Methods and apparatus for treating the surface of a workpiece by plasma discharge
US6768109B1 (en) * 2001-09-21 2004-07-27 6×7 Visioneering, Inc. Method and apparatus for magnetic separation of ions
US20070284340A1 (en) * 2006-06-09 2007-12-13 Morten Jorgensen Vortex generator for plasma treatment
US7547861B2 (en) 2006-06-09 2009-06-16 Morten Jorgensen Vortex generator for plasma treatment
US20100170641A1 (en) * 2006-06-09 2010-07-08 3Dt Llc Plasma treatment method and apparatus
US7645985B1 (en) 2007-08-22 2010-01-12 6X7 Visioneering, Inc. Method and apparatus for magnetic separation of ions

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB1220466A (en) 1971-01-27
NL6802944A (xx) 1968-09-04
DE1639200A1 (de) 1971-01-14
AT271654B (de) 1969-06-10
FR1556047A (xx) 1969-01-31
CH471521A (de) 1969-04-15

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