Methods and apparatus for redirecting ions generated from atmospheric pressure low temperature plasma

Abstract

Some embodiments are directed to a generator and separator assembly for generating ions via atmospheric pressure, low temperature plasma and separating the generated ions. The generator and separator assembly include a plasma generator for generating the generating atmospheric pressure, low temperature plasma that is configured to eject positively and negatively ions. A separator is disposed to receive the positively and negatively ions ejected from the plasma generator, and includes a first separator electrode; a second separator electrode spaced from the first separator electrode; and a separator power supply that supplies electric power in the form of at least one of different voltages and different polarities to the first and second electrodes ranging from 0 kV and 10 kV, such that the received positively charged ions are redirected in one direction and the received negatively charged ions are redirected to another direction different from the one direction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A plasma generator and separator assembly for generating ions via applying atmospheric pressure, low temperature plasma to a fluid and separating the generated ions, the generator, and separator assembly comprising:
 a plasma generator for generating the generating atmospheric pressure, low temperature plasma, the plasma generator including a first electrode covered at least in part with a first dielectric layer and a second electrode covered at least in part with a second dielectric layer and disposed such that a predetermined gap separates the first and second dielectric layers, the plasma generator also including a power supply configured to supply electrical power to the first and second electrodes at a predetermined voltage and frequency, such that, based on the predetermined gap between the first and second dielectric layers, atmospheric pressure, low temperature plasma is generated such that positively and negatively ions are ejected from the plasma generator; and   a separator disposed to receive the positively and negatively ions ejected from the plasma generator, the separator including:
 a first separator electrode; 
 a second separator electrode spaced from the first separator electrode; and 
 a separator power supply that supplies electric power in the form of at least one of different voltages and different polarities to the first and second separator electrodes ranging from 0 kV and 10 kV, such that the received positively charged ions are redirected in one direction and the received negatively charged ions are redirected to another direction different from the one direction. 
   
     
     
         2 . The generator and separator assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plasma generator is configured such that:
 the first electrode defines a planar bottom surface, the first electrode having a width and length that are each greater than a height extending in a height direction that is perpendicular to the planar bottom surface;   the second electrode defines a planar top surface, the second electrode having a width and length that are each greater than a height extending in the height direction that is perpendicular to the planar top surface, the second electrode opposing the first electrode such that the bottom surface of the first electrode faces the top surface of the second electrode;   the first dielectric layer is disposed on at least a part of the bottom surface of the first electrode, the first dielectric layer having a relative permittivity between 2 and 500, and a thickness of 3 mm or less;   the second dielectric layer is disposed on at least a part of the top surface of the second electrode, the second dielectric layer having a relative permittivity between 2 and 500, and a thickness of 3 mm or less; and   a spacer is provided and configured to support the first and second electrodes so as to define a predetermined gap between the first and second dielectric layers.   
     
     
         3 . The generator and separator assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the power supply of the plasma generator is configured to supply AC electrical power, and to be adjustable to provide desired AC voltages to generate stable atmospheric pressure, low temperature plasma. 
     
     
         4 . The generator and separator assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the power supply of the plasma generator includes an inverter that is configured to convert DC voltage to AC voltage and is configured to output AC20V-AC100V. 
     
     
         5 . The generator and separator assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the inverter is configured to output an applied voltage with a frequency ranging from 30 Hz-90 Hz. 
     
     
         6 . The generator and separator assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the power supply of the plasma generator includes a booster that receives the output of the inverter and boosts the received voltage at a rate of 150× at 2× intervals, ranging from 3 kV-15 kV. 
     
     
         7 . The generator and separator assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the first electrode of the plasma generator defines a top surface that is parallel to the bottom surface of the first electrode of the plasma generator, the plasma generator further including:
 a supplemental first dielectric layer that is disposed on at least a part of the top surface of the first electrode, the supplemental first dielectric layer having a relative permittivity between 2 and 500, and a thickness of 3 mm or less;   a third electrode that defines a planar bottom surface, the third electrode having a width and length that are each greater than a height extending in the height direction that is perpendicular to the planar bottom surface; and   a third dielectric layer that is disposed on at least a part of the bottom surface of the third electrode, the third dielectric layer having a relative permittivity between 2 and 500, and a thickness of 3 mm or less;   wherein the spacer is configured to support the third electrode so as to define a second predetermined gap between the supplemental first dielectric layer and the third dielectric layer, and the power supply configured to supply electrical power to all electrodes, including the third electrode, at the predetermined voltage and frequency, such that, based on the second predetermined gap between the supplemental first dielectric layer and the third dielectric layer, atmospheric pressure, low temperature plasma is generated.   
     
     
         8 . The generator and separator assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plasma generator is configured to have a front face that defines an entry opening allowing entry of the fluid into the predetermined gap, and an opposing rear face that defines an exit opening that allows the ejection of the positively and negatively charged ions, the front and rear faces being separated along a flow direction of the fluid. 
     
     
         9 . The generator and separator assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the separator is configured such that the first and second separator electrodes are spaced apart along the flow direction, the first and second separator electrodes each defining planar front and rear surfaces that extend in height and width directions that are perpendicular to the flow direction, each of the first and second separator electrodes also defining a thickness that extends parallel to the flow direction and that is smaller than both a height and a width of the planar front and rear surfaces. 
     
     
         10 . The generator and separator assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the first and second separator electrodes are spaced from the exit opening of the plasma generator in the flow direction. 
     
     
         11 . The generator and separator assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the separator includes a third separator electrode and is disposed between the first and second separator electrodes in the flow direction. 
     
     
         12 . The generator and separator assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the third separator electrode is generally U-shaped in cross-section, defining opposing sides that extend parallel to the flow direction and a center portion that extends between the sides in a direction perpendicular to the flow direction, the central portion defining parallel planar front and rear faces that are parallel to the front and rear faces of the first and second separator electrodes. 
     
     
         13 . The generator and separator assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the third separator electrode is configured to facilitate collection and impede transmission of positively charged ions ejected from the generator such as carbon. 
     
     
         14 . The generator and separator assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the first and second separator electrodes each include a carbon adhesion sheet at the planar front face. 
     
     
         15 . The generator and separator assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the separator is configured such that the first and second separator electrodes are spaced apart in a width direction of the plasma generator that is perpendicular to the flow direction. 
     
     
         16 . The generator and separator assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the first and second separator electrodes each define planar front and rear surfaces that each extend in a width direction that is parallel to the flow direction, such that a width of each of the planar front and rear faces of the first and second separator electrodes extends at least part of a distance separating the entry opening and the exit opening of the plasma generator in the flow direction. 
     
     
         17 . The generator and separator assembly of  claim 15 , wherein separator includes an elongated partition that extends along a direction of elongation parallel to the flow direction, the elongated partition being configured to constitute a physical barrier between opposing sides of an interior of the plasma generator, the elongated partition extending along the flow direction from an end of the first and second electrodes of the plasma generator to the exit opening of the plasma generator.