WO2013051255A1

WO2013051255A1 - A plasma generating method and system

Info

Publication number: WO2013051255A1
Application number: PCT/JP2012/006347
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hirofumi FUKIKOSHI; Kiyoshi TAKASUGA; Hirofumi Kajiwara; Takemi ICHIMURA
Original assignee: Fukikoshi Hirofumi; Takasuga Kiyoshi; Hirofumi Kajiwara; Ichimura Takemi
Priority date: 2011-10-07
Filing date: 2012-10-03
Publication date: 2013-04-11
Also published as: JP2014532265A

Abstract

An apparatus for generating a flame from a liquid having water as a main constituent, comprising a base unit and a tip unit; a cathode having an outer circumferential part on which is formed a spiral-shaped groove turning counter-clockwise from the base unit toward the tip unit; a gas supply means for the cathode that supplies the liquid in a gaseous state flowing in a direction from the base unit toward the tip unit, following the outer circumferential part on which is formed the spiral-shaped groove; and an anode having one surface arranged facing a cathode tip part, and generating, through a difference in potential applied between the one surface and the cathode, an electrical discharge between the one surface and the cathode tip part, thereby igniting the gas flowing from the base unit to the tip unit, while discharging via a through-hole the flame from the ignition.

Description

A PLASMA GENERATING METHOD AND SYSTEM

The present invention relates generally to the design of a plasma generating system and method and more particularly, to the design of an apparatus for generating a flame from a liquid having water as a main constituent a method for generating plasma from the liquid.

It is well known in the art to use oxyhydrogen (sometimes referred to as Brown's Gas after its inventor, Yull Brown), which is a mixture of hydrogen (H₂) and oxygen (O₂) gases, typically in a 2:1 molar ratio, which is the same proportion as in water for various applications such as in welding, fusing and for sublimating (vaporizing) tungsten. Brown's Gas involves a process of producing the above-stated "gas" from ordinary water. This "gas" is a completely safe, stoichiometric hydrogen and oxygen having the unusual property of its flame being a set of implosions, rather than a set of explosions (as in ordinary flames). Thus, theoretically, there may be no temperature limit to its flame. For example, when in contact with only the surrounding air, this flame was measured to have a temperature of 264 - 269 degrees Fahrenheit. However, when the flame was applied to a tungsten wire, the temperature was measured to be nearly 6000 degrees Celsius.

Also well known in the art is the use of plasma treatments for applications such as cutting and welding. U.S. Patent No. 5,609,777 discloses an example of an electric-arc plasma steam torch which uses steam as a working medium.

[Patent document 1] U.S. Patent No. 5,609,777

However, there have been no technologies until now to safely and simply generate flames from ordinary water or water mixtures, for the above-mentioned industrial uses as well as for many other applications such as an in electric power generation. In particular, there have been no developments that efficiently and simply use ordinary water and ordinary materials to generate plasma for various applications, such as in the above-mentioned industrial uses or for radioactive waste treatments, etc. In relation to extremely high temperatures, there have also been no developments in thermionic energy conversion techniques to generate power from ordinary water.

In thermionic energy conversion, a hot electrode thermionically emits electrons over a potential energy barrier to a cooler electrode. That is, electrons are emitted from materials at high temperatures, in order to directly produce electric power from heat. One of the challenges facing thermionic conversion technologies is the exceptionally high temperatures required, in order to overcome the barriers (work functions) that limit electron emission currents. Thus, thermionic reactors, until now, have been used mostly in space, for electric power generation.

The present invention in its preferred embodiment provides a novel apparatus and method for generating a flame or plasma from a liquid having water as a main constituent, and for accomplishing this result in a highly simple and safe manner. Furthermore, the apparatus and method require the use of inexpensive, ordinary materials, relatively low inputs of electrical energy and pose little environmental harm. Even further, the plasma (flame) generation may be achieved using the natural features of fundamental particles, to function as a plasma generating method and system. This energy generation may also be used in thermionic energy conversion, to inexpensively and safely produce electric power in a safe and simple manner.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for generating a flame from a liquid having water as a main constituent, comprising: a cathode having a base portion and a tip portion, and having an outer circumferential part extending between said base portion and said tip portion, on which is formed a spiral-shaped groove that turns counter-clockwise from said base portion toward said tip portion; a gas supply means with regard to said cathode, that supplies said liquid in a gaseous state flowing in a direction from said base portion toward said tip portion, following the outer circumferential part on which is formed said spiral-shaped groove; and an anode having one surface and an other surface, the one surface being arranged facing the tip potion of the cathode, and generating, through a difference in potential applied between the anode and the cathode, an electrical discharge between the one surface and the tip potion of the cathode, and through said electrical discharge, igniting said gas flowing from said base portion to the tip portion, following the outer circumferential part on which is formed said spiral-shaped groove, while having a through hole for discharging the flame produced through said ignition to said other surface side.

It is embodied in another mode of the invention a plasma generation method using an apparatus to generate plasma from a liquid having water as a main constituent, wherein said apparatus has a cathode having a base portion and a tip portion, and having an outer circumferential part extending between said base portion and said tip portion, on which is formed a spiral-shaped groove that turns counter-clockwise from said base portion to the tip portion, and an anode having one surface and an other surface, said one surface arranged to face the tip potion of the cathode, and said anode having a through-hole penetrating from said one surface to said other surface, the method comprising: (1) generating, through a difference in potential applied between said cathode and the anode, an electrical discharge between the tip portion of said cathode and the anode; (2) supplying said liquid onto the outer circumferential part of the cathode in a gaseous state flowing in a direction from said base portion toward said tip portion, following the outer circumferential part on which is formed said spiral-shaped groove; and (3) causing said gas flowing in the direction from said base portion toward the tip portion following the outer circumferential part of said cathode, to rotate counter-clockwise from said base portion toward the tip portion, around the cathode via the spiral-shaped groove formed on the outer circumferential part of said cathode, and then turning the said gas into plasma through the electrical discharge between the tip potion of the cathode and said anode, and discharging the plasma to the other surface side of said anode via the thorough hole.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

Fig. 1 shows a side cross-sectional view of an apparatus for generating a flame (plasma) from a liquid, embodying the principles of the present invention; Fig. 2 shows an enlarged, side, cross-sectional view of a flame discharge portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows the view of Fig. 2, with a cathode in an initial adjacent position with a tip unit; Fig. 4 shows the view of Fig. 2, with the cathode and the tip unit in a spaced position where the electric-discharge is stabilized; Fig. 5A-5E show elevation views of the top, left side, bottom, right side, front and back, respectively, of a cathode of the present invention; Fig. 6 shows a left/rear/top perspective view of the cathode shown in Figs. 5A-5E; and Fig. 7 shows a side, partially cross-sectional view of the cathode shown in Figs. 5A-5E. Fig. 8 shows a schematic construction of a thermionic convertor.

In the following, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying, exemplary diagrams. Figs. 1-7 relate to one embodiment of the present invention, wherein, referring generally to Fig. 1, an apparatus 1 for generating a flame from a liquid comprises a tip unit 2 and a base unit 3 which is a cylindrically-shaped chamber that houses a liquid holding area 4 for containing the working liquid. The apparatus 1 is connected via a cable to a power source block (not shown) having on/off and operational mode switches and a digital voltage indicator, with the block being connected to a standard electrical outlet. The area 4 may be filled with a liquid-absorbing material 5 such as glass wool and the like. The liquid typically has water as a main ingredient/constituent and may include, but is not limited to, various mixtures including mixtures of water and alcohol. It is anticipated by the invention that certain solids may also be used as this working substance.

Arranged co-axially within the base unit 3 is an electrically-insulated tube 6 made of quartz or other electrically-insulating material as is commonly known in the art. In the present exemplary embodiment, a PYREX(R) tube or similar glassware tube as known in the art is used as this electrically-insulated tube 6. Arranged within this tube 6 is a rod-shaped cathode holder 7 arranged to be axially movable within the tube 6 in either a step-wise or non-stepping manner.

At a tip unit end 7a of the cathode holder 7 is arranged a cathode 8, attached to the tip unit end 7a of the cathode holder 7 via a screw and thread or other detachable means. An opposite end of the cathode holder 7 extends outwardly of the base unit 3 through a suitable opening and a boss or knob is disposed at the protruded tip, for a user to easily grasp and axially move the cathode holder 7 and cathode 8 within the electrically-insulated tube 6.

As shown in the enlarged view of Fig. 2, the cathode 8 extends from the base unit 3 toward the tip unit 2 and comprises a cylinder-like outer circumferential part 9. As shown in the various elevation and perspective views of Figs. 5A-5E and Fig. 6, this outer circumferential part 9 has formed on its external surface a spiral-shaped groove 10 turning in counter-clockwise direction viewed from the base unit 3 side in a direction from the base unit 3 toward the tip unit 2.

In the present embodiment, this spiral-shaped groove 10 extends along the exterior surface of the outer circumferential part 9 in a helical shape, coiled around a central longitudinal axis X of the cathode 8, as shown at Fig. 5A. To further describe a possible design of the spiral-shaped groove 10, as shown in Fig. 6, one can envision a tangent line D, D' to a point P, P' along the helical curves of the spiral-shaped groove 10. One may also envision a surface line S, running in a direction parallel to the central axis X, that intersects the tangent line D, D' at the point P, P'. In the present invention, it may be preferable for an obtuse angle A formed between the tangent line D, D' and the surface line S to be equal to or greater than 100 degrees and equal to or less than 135 degrees, more preferably, equal to or greater than 100 degrees and equal to or less than 130 degrees. In the present invention, it may also be preferable for this angle A to generally be equal to a bond angle of at least one of the molecules that constitute the liquid in the liquid holding area 4. However, other modifications and variations as could be envisioned by one skilled in the art are also considered to be within the scope of the present invention.

As shown in detail in the partially cross-sectional view of Fig. 7, the outer circumferential part 9 of the cathode 8 may be made of copper and comprises a core T made of high-temperature-tolerant materials selected from the group consisting of tungsten, hafnium, thorium, lanthanum and those chemical compounds are arranged at a tip unit side 8a of the cathode. It is to be understood that other suitable metal materials as known in the art may be used for the cathode 8. Referring back to Fig. 2, the cathode is disposed such that a base unit side 8b of the cathode 8 is inserted into the tip unit end 6a of the electrically-insulated tube 6, such that the outer circumference part 9 at the base unit side 8b of the cathode 8 faces an inner surface of an the tip unit end 6a of the electrically-insulated tube 6. As an example, the cathode 8 of the present embodiment is arranged such that at least 50% of the external span of the outer circumference part 9 is arranged to face the inner surface of the electrically-insulated tube 6.

At the tip unit 2 of the present apparatus 1 is arranged a generally dome-shaped anode 11 co-axially positioned with the cathode holder 7 and cathode 8, having an internal surface 12 facing a tip part 13 of the cathode 8 to form a discharge enclosure 11a, that communicates with a centrally-located through-hole 14 in the anode 11, through which a flame can be discharged toward an anode external surface 15 side. The anode 11 may be made of copper and supplied with voltage from the power source block, so as to enable a difference in electric potential between the internal surface 12 and the cathode tip part 13.

Referring back to Fig. 1, a majority of the exterior length of the electrically-insulated tube 6 is further encompassed by a heat conducting tube 16 made of an appropriately heat conducting material, which extends through the above-mentioned liquid holding area 4 and contacts the liquid absorbing material 5. The liquid holding area 4 has a hole closeable by a plug 17 for allowing the filling of the liquid holding area 4 from outside of the apparatus 1, with the working liquid, which is absorbed by and contained within the liquid-absorbing material 5. The liquid holding area 4 further communicates through gas passageways 18 with a gas holding area 19 disposed within the interior chamber of the base unit 3, for containing the working liquid that has been converted to a gaseous state. The gas holding area 19 is further arranged to communicate with the interior of a base unit 6b side of the electrically-insulated tube 6, such that a further passageway is formed between the gas holding area 19 and the interior of the electrically-insulated tube 6, to which the outer circumferential part 9 of the cathode 8 exposes. As an example, in the present embodiment, the cross-sectional area of this gas passageway at the base unit end 6b of the electrically-insulated tube 6 is equal to greater than three times the cross-sectional area of the gas passageway at the other end 6a between the inner surface of the electrically-insulated tube 6 and the outer circumferential part 9.

In operation, the liquid holding area 4 is filled through opening the plug 17 with a liquid, having water as a main constituent. After closing the plug 17, voltage may be applied to the anode 11 and cathode 8, with the cathode 8 in generally a starting position as shown in Fig. 2 (for example, an initial applied voltage may be 200-350 V). Then, the cathode 8 is moved via the cathode holder 7 within the electrically-insulated tube 6, in a direction B as shown in Fig. 3, so that the cathode tip part 13 contacts the internal surface 12 of the anode 11. Almost immediately afterward, the cathode 8 may then be moved in direction C as shown in Fig. 4, to return to its starting position, thereby generating an electrical discharge 20 as a result of the difference in potential in the gap between the internal surface 12 and the core T. The above-described movements of the cathode 8 may be repeated, at different speeds and/or intervals, as necessary to generate the electrical discharge 20, which in the present embodiment may take the form of an arc discharge, and to adjust the gap and the size of the electrical discharge 20. The applied voltage will likely vary during the above-described operational process, as would be shown on the digital indicator at the power source block.

On the other hand, the heat conducting tube is heated by applying electric power or directly applying heat to the heat conducting tube. By this, the liquid contained within the liquid holding area 4 is heated, causing the liquid to transition to a gaseous state. The resulting gas passes through the gas passageways 18 to the gas holding area 19, from which it travels through the electrically-insulated tube 6 in the space between the tube 6 and the cathode holder 7, from the base unit side end 6b toward the cathode 8. Thus, this arrangement basically functions as an efficient gas generating unit for a gas supply means. It is to be understood that this gas may be, but is not limited to, steam gas or mixed gases (such as a mixture of hydrogen (H₂) and oxygen (O₂) gases in a 2:1 molar ratio as in the above-described Brown's Gas).

As described above, the gas essentially flows from one end 6b to the other end 6a of the electrically-insulated tube 6 in a direction from the base unit 3 toward the tip unit 2. The gas flows between the outer circumferential part 9 of the cathode 8 and the inner surface of the electrically-insulated tube 6, following the outer circumferential part 9 of the cathode 8 in a direction from the base unit side 8b to the tip unit side 8a, and also following the surface of the outer circumferential part 9 which, as described above, has the spiral-shaped groove turning counter-clockwise in a direction from the base unit 3 to the tip unit 2. Thus, due to the grooves, the gas is also caused to rotate counter-clockwise around the cathode 8 as it flows in the above-described direction.

Upon reaching the discharge chamber 11a, the gas is then ignited by the electrical discharge 20, resulting in flames (plasma), which is discharged through the through-hole 14, toward the external surface 15 side of the anode 11 and to the outside of the apparatus 1. Depending on the conditions, it is anticipated by the present invention that the gas is turned into plasma via the electrical discharge 20, and that the rotation of the gas in a counter-clockwise direction from the base unit side 8b to the tip unit side 8a via the spiral-shaped groove 10 on the outer circumferential part 9, may cause the gas to turn into elementary particles, thereby transitioning into plasma. The discharged flames may be adjusted, depending on the specific materials and their dimensions as used in the apparatus as well as other factors, by adjusting the current at the power source block and by adjusting the gap between the anode internal surface 12 and the cathode tip part 13 to change the electrical potential difference. It may take a period of time (40-90 seconds, as an example) and adjustments in order for the discharged flame to reach a desired or optimal state.

The discharged flame (plasma) may appear to be the result of combustion of Brown's Gas. In the present invention, it is likely that as the supplied gas rotates counter-clockwise around the outer circumferential part 9, the water molecules are disassembled into hydrogen (H) and oxygen (O) atoms, and the resultant gaseous mixture (Brown's Gas or an equivalent gaseous mixture) is ignited by the arc discharge 20. That is, because the stabilization of the plasma due at least in part to the angle A of the spiral-shaped groove 10 (100 degrees - 135 degrees including the bond angle of the water molecules 104 degrees), part and/or all of the water molecules absorb the electric energy and are disassembled into H and O atoms as the water molecules travel around the outer circumferential part 9 (a part and/or all of the gas may already be Brown's Gas during this rotation) in a counter-clockwise direction. Thus, the molecules may be disassembled into discrete elementary particles. The arc discharge 20 then ignites the resulting gaseous mixture. Along with the disassembling of all or part of the water molecules during their travel along the grooves 10 of the outer circumferential part 9, the electrons of the H atoms and O atoms may be ionized, resulting in the transition of the gas into plasma. Arc spot arises from the spiral-shaped groove 10 when the arc discharge starts. This arc is subjected to the action of Lorentz force and moves to the tip unit in the counter-clockwise direction. The spiral-shaped groove 10 stably guides the arc to the tip unit (135 degrees-90 degrees =45 degrees: the arc moves slantwise 45 degrees to the top of the cathode) and stabilizes the plasma.

When referring to the discharged flame as plasma, the above-described process can be viewed as follows: using only approximately 1.3 kW of inputted electric power, water can be turned into steam, the water molecules may then be disassembled, and the plasma state may then be achieved. It is understood that some kind of elementary particles reaction may be occurring within the plasma (no fusion reaction should occur, however), and energy conversion may be taking place. Through the flow in the counter-clockwise, spiral direction, electrical energy is absorbed and the disassembly into atoms and quanta occurs. It is quite possible that in such a plasma generation, electrons are being annihilated, resulting in the discharge of heat and light.

Accordingly, with the use of a simple groove in an electrode made of copper, H and O atoms become separated, atomic nuclei and electrons may be disassembled. It should be noted that various countries have nuclear fusion apparatuses that require expensive electrodes. However, the present invention achieves the above-described results using an anode and cathode made basically of copper.

To further explain the arrangement of the apparatus 1 of the present invention, as shown in Fig. 8, the apparatus 1 is arranged to heat one of the electrodes (emitter E and collector F), wherein the emitter is made of tungsten. When the emitter E is exposed to the plasma (flame) of the present invention, electrons are released from the emitter, and the released electrons travel to the collector. This results in the flow of electrons and current flow. Therefore, a thermionic conversion is occurring. Also, the temperature of the emitter heated by the plasma of the present invention becomes very high, so the efficiency of thermionic conversion is expected to be high.

Due to Brown's Gas having the ability to reach temperatures as high as 6000 degrees Celsius that can vaporize even tungsten materials (as mentioned above), thermionic electron emission becomes possible and efficient (the direct production of electric power from heat). The plasma of the present invention, shows 10,000 degrees Celsius in the center of the flame.

Again, such results are achieved simply and safely, using a relatively very small input of electric power into the present apparatus. With the present invention, it may become possible to efficiently and simply use ordinary water and ordinary materials to generate plasma for a variety of applications, such as for radioactive waste treatments. It is known in the art that when a plasma (flame) is directly applied to radioactive wastes, the radioactivity characteristics are reduced or in some cases, such wastes may be converted to relatively harmless materials having no radioactive emissions. It is believed that the high temperature, plasma processing may cause conversions within the waste matter at the atomic level, resulting in reduced radiological characteristics. Thus, the present invention may allow safe and simple solutions to the existing serious and hazardous problems relating to radioactive waste handling and disposal, as well as for other applications.

The foregoing description of the embodiments of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments of the invention to the form disclosed, and obviously, many modifications and variations are possible.

As an example, as stated above, the original working substance may be a solid as well as a liquid. It is anticipated by the invention that the apparatus may cause the transition of a solid directly to a steam gas, which is then supplied to the cathode as described above. Alternatively, the apparatus may utilize the following transformations within it: solid -> liquid -> gas in order to supply the resulting gas to the cathode.

Such modifications and variations that may be apparent to a person skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined by the accompanying claims.

Claims

An apparatus for generating a flame from a liquid having water as a main constituent, comprising:
a cathode having a base portion and a tip portion, and having an outer circumferential part extending between said base portion and said tip portion, on which is formed a spiral-shaped groove that turns counter-clockwise from said base portion toward said tip portion;
a gas supply means with regard to said cathode, that supplies said liquid in a gaseous state flowing in a direction from said base portion toward said tip portion, following the outer circumferential part on which is formed said spiral-shaped groove;
and an anode having one surface and an other surface, the one surface being arranged facing the tip potion of the cathode, and generating, through a difference in potential applied between the anode and the cathode, an electrical discharge between the one surface and the tip potion of the cathode, and through said electrical discharge, igniting said gas flowing from said base portion to the tip portion, following the outer circumferential part on which is formed said spiral-shaped groove, while having a through hole for discharging the flame produced through said ignition to said other surface side.
The apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the gas supply means has a gas generating unit for heating said liquid having water as a main constituent and generating steam;
and further comprising an electrically-insulated tube having one end and an other end, wherein the one end is connected to said gas generating unit, and wherein the base portion side of said cathode is inserted into the other end side of the electrically-insulated tube, so that said outer circumferential part of the base portion side of said cathode faces an inner surface of the other end of said electrically-insulated tube,
and said gas supply means, through causing the steam generated via the gas generating unit to flow from the one end to the other end of the electrically-insulated tube, supplies to said cathode said liquid in the gaseous state.
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said spiral-shaped groove forms a helical curve, and wherein an obtuse angle is formed between a tangent line to a point at said helical curve, and a surface line intersecting said tangent line at said point and extending in a direction parallel to a central axis of said cathode, said obtuse angle being equal to or greater than 100 degrees and equal to or less than 135 degrees.
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said spiral-shaped groove forms a helical curve, and wherein an obtuse angle is formed between a tangent line to a point at said helical curve, and a surface line intersecting said tangent line at said point and extending in a direction parallel to a central axis of said cathode, said obtuse angle being generally equal to a bond angle of at least one molecule out of the molecules constituting said liquid.
The apparatus according to claim 2,
wherein a cross-sectional area of a duct for said gas at the one end of said electrically-insulated tube is equal to or greater than three times the cross-sectional area of a passageway for said gas formed between the inner surface at the other end of said electrically-insulated tube and the outer circumferential part of said cathode.
The apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein a span of at least 50% of the outer circumferential part of said cathode faces the inner surface of said electrically-insulated tube.
A plasma generation method using an apparatus to generate plasma from a liquid having water as a main constituent, wherein said apparatus has a cathode having a base portion and a tip portion, and having an outer circumferential part extending between said base portion and said tip portion, on which is formed a spiral-shaped groove that turns counter-clockwise from said base portion to the tip portion, and an anode having one surface and an other surface, said one surface arranged to face the tip potion of the cathode, and said anode having a through-hole penetrating from said one surface to said other surface, the method comprising:
(1) generating, through a difference in potential applied between said cathode and the anode, an electrical discharge between the tip portion of said cathode and the anode;
(2) supplying said liquid onto the outer circumferential part of the cathode in a gaseous state flowing in a direction from said base portion toward said tip portion, following the outer circumferential part on which is formed said spiral-shaped groove; and
(3) causing said gas flowing in the direction from said base portion toward the tip portion following the outer circumferential part of said cathode, to rotate counter-clockwise from said base portion toward the tip portion, around the cathode via the spiral-shaped groove formed on the outer circumferential part of said cathode, and then turning the said gas into plasma through the electrical discharge between the tip potion of the cathode and said anode, and discharging the plasma to the other surface side of said anode via the thorough hole.
The plasma generation method according to claim 7 further comprising:
at step (3), causing said gas, flowing from said base portion to the tip portion following the outer circumferential part of said cathode, through making the gas rotate counter-clockwise around the cathode from said base portion toward the tip portion via the spiral-shaped groove formed on the outer circumferential part of said cathode, to turn into elementary particles.