EP0579680A1

EP0579680A1 - Device for the production of defined ionised gases or ionisation products.

Info

Publication number: EP0579680A1
Application number: EP92908303A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Naum Goldstein
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Goldstein Naum
Priority date: 1991-04-12
Filing date: 1992-04-09
Publication date: 1994-01-26
Anticipated expiration: 2012-04-09
Also published as: JPH06506791A; AU1586292A; EP0579680B1; DE4112459A1; ATE121229T1; WO1992019030A1; IL101565A; IL101565A0; DE59201922D1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for the production of defined ionised gases or ionisation products. To provide such a device in which the production of harmful by-products is minimised, it is proposed that the device have the following features: a tubular hollow electrode connectable to the gas supply line as an external electrode (3); at least one internal electrode (6) which affects the entire hollow space of the external electrode (3) in the region of its arrangement; a potential difference at the internal electrode (6) and the external electrode (3) of 2 to 3 kV, whereby a potential difference of 1 kV at the most is possible between the internal and external electrodes; and a gas flow rate of under 100 ml/min/mm?2.

Description

Device for producing defined, ionized gases or ionization products

The invention relates to a device for generating defined, ionized gases or ionization products and their lossless transport.

Research into the biological activities of charged particles in air ions indicates a certain potential of their general biological, physiological and therapeutic effects. So far, it has been assumed that the biological effect of the air ions is achieved by regulating the membrane charge of the erythrocytes and acting on the central regulatory systems down to the brain and the glands of internal secretion. The use of air ions is known, for example, for diseases such as bronchial asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, hypertension, etc.

It is already known to produce and study oxygen anion radicals. However, the manufacturing processes are mostly unsuitable for therapeutic and physiological applications.

FR-PS 2 202 625 describes a method with which gaseous ions can be generated by a corona discharge. However, the large diameter of the supply tube creates a large volume flow. The consequence of this is that only relatively low oxygen anion radical generation can take place. In addition, due to the high flow rate, a relatively high voltage is required, which contains a comparatively large amount of harmful by-products, e.g. Generates ozone. In this process, nitrogen must therefore first be ionized, with which the oxygen is then subsequently ionized.

If ionized products are transported over long distances, there is often a high loss of ion concentration. The object of the invention is therefore to create a device for generating defined, ionized gases or ionization products, in particular oxygen anion radicals, in which the production of harmful by-products is minimized at the same time, and to transport them almost without loss.

The object is achieved by the characterizing part of claim 1. Further advantageous developments of the invention result from the subclaims and subclaims.

The resulting defined ionized gases or gaseous products have a previously unknown physiological effectiveness. This is attributed in particular to the relatively high concentration of oxygen anion radicals generated. No or only small amounts of by-products, e.g. Ozone.

Some preferred embodiments are described in detail in the description of the figures. All of the described and / or illustrated features, alone or in any combination, form the subject matter of the invention, regardless of how they are summarized in the claims or their relationship.

Show it

Figure 1 shows a device for generating ionized gases with a

Inner electrode;

Figure 2 shows a device for generating ionized gases with two

Internal electrodes;

Figure 3 shows a second embodiment of the device according to

Figure 2; FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the device according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 4a shows a top view of the device according to FIG. 4;

Figure 5 shows another embodiment of the device according to

Figure 1;

FIG. 6 shows a device for generating ionized gases with a composite hollow electrode and two internal electrodes;

Figure 7 shows another possible embodiment of the invention;

7a shows a view of the device according to FIG. 7 in the direction of the gas flow.

FIG. 1 shows a device according to the invention for generating defined, ionized gases or ionization products, in which a gas stream 1 to be ionized enters a tubular, cylindrical hollow electrode 3. A high voltage supplied by a voltage source 2 is applied to the one-piece hollow electrode 3. This high voltage energetically excites the gas molecules flowing through before they reach the area of the inner electrode 4. With the previous excitation, the corona voltage can be reduced to 2.5 to 4 kV, whereby the formation of by-products, e.g. Ozone, values that are essentially not higher than those found in nature.

The actual corona discharge takes place at the inner electrode 4. The outer electrode 3 and the inner electrode 4 are on the same or the inner electrode is at a lower, negative electrical potential. At least a portion of the inner electrode 4 is close to the gas outlet opening 9 of the outer electrode 3. In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1, the inner electrode 4 is formed in one piece and consists of a wire-shaped region 5 and a needle-shaped region 6, which lies close to the gas outlet opening 9, in order to keep the concentration loss of ionized gas molecules as small as possible. The size and shape of the inner electrode 4 is selected in relation to the inner region of the tubular outer electrode 3 so that it can ionize a large proportion of the gas molecules flowing through, so that defined ionization products are formed. The concentration and the qualitative composition can also be controlled via the flow rate of the gas molecules. The lower the flow velocity in the specified range, the higher the concentration of the ionized products, for example oxygen anion radicals. If the potential difference between the outer electrode 3 and the inner electrode 4 is negative, the inner electrode 4 is held by supports 7 made of insulating material. To protect against electric shock, the outer electrode is covered with an insulating touch protection 8.

FIGS. 2 and 3 describe a device for generating defined, ionized gases or ionization products, which consists of a tubular, cylindrical hollow electrode 3 and two internal electrodes each. One inner electrode 10 is arranged in each case in the gas inlet area, the other inner electrode 11, 12 is arranged in the gas outlet area. The input inner electrode 10 serves for additional pre-excitation of the gas molecules. As a result, the generation of defined ionization products can be achieved in a wide flow rate range of the gases, the formation of by-products still not exceeding the values occurring in nature. Due to the conical shape of the outer electrode 3 in FIG. 3, a different flow rate at the inner input electrode 10 and the output electrode 12 is achieved. The ratios of the input and output surfaces of the hollow electrode 3 according to FIG. 3 are in a range up to max. 10: 1. A ratio of 2: 1 and 3: 1 has proven to be particularly advantageous.

In the exemplary embodiments described above, the internal electrodes 4 are designed either as a metal tip or as a wire mesh. Instead of a wire mesh, of course, any equivalent embodiment can be selected. For example, it is conceivable to use a close-meshed metal mesh or a perforated metal foil as the inner electrode.

A further embodiment of the inner electrode as a wire mesh can be seen from FIGS. 4 and 4a. Here, the wire mesh is formed by arranging individual wires in several parallel planes shifted at an angle. The number of wires used is variable. In Figure 4, four wires (13 a, b, c, d) are used. Figure 4a shows a top view of the resulting shape of the wire mesh.

The diameter of the wire that forms the wire mesh is preferably in the range between 0.05 and 0.3 mm. The individual wires, which each form an electrode system, are advantageously arranged perpendicular to the gas stream 1.

FIG. 5 describes a further embodiment of the inner electrode 4.

The inner electrode consists of a base 14 and a cylindrical electrode body, which can have, for example, a round or pointed end. The base 14 is connected to the outer electrode 3 on the gas inlet side and has openings 16 through which the gas flow into the outer electrode 3 entry. There are electrically conductive metal particles 17 on the surface of the electrode body 15, which can be magnetically fixed to the inner electrode, for example. With a large number of metal particles, the high voltage can be further reduced while the concentration of the ionization products remains the same.

FIG. 6 designates a device for ionizing gases, in which the outer electrode 3 is not formed in one piece, but is divided into several electrode areas. In the exemplary embodiment, an outer electrode with three electrode regions 17, 18, 19 is used. The gas 1 to be ionized enters the outer electrode area 18 at the entrance area. This is connected to a voltage source U. The gas molecules excited in this way pass through a first grid-shaped or perforated inner electrode 21 and reach a second selection electrode area 19. A voltage U ₂ different from U _{1 is} applied to this. Before leaving the outer electrode 3, the gas mixture flows through a third outer electrode region 20. A second inner electrode 22 mounted on the output side is arranged in this region. The area 20 is supplied with a voltage U ₃ . All outer electrode regions 18, 19, 20 are separated from one another by insulation bodies 23. For example, Teflon is used as insulation material. In this variant, the pre-excitation of the gas can be further improved, for example by a higher negative potential with U ₁ > U ₂ > U ₃ or U ₂ > U ₃ .

In all exemplary embodiments, metal, in particular platinum, gold or copper, is preferably used as the electrode material. In order to further reduce the very small amount of ozone formed, cobalt-salt-coated or cobalt-alloyed electrodes, ie needles, grids, chips and inner surfaces, can also be used. Cobalt salts decompose ozone to oxygen. The devices of the type described above are preferably used for inhalation purposes. For this purpose, oxygen is preferably used as the gas. To generate a sufficient amount of

Oxygen anion radicals is, for example, an oxygen or

Air volume flow of less than 5 ml / min, preferably 1-3 ml / min is sufficient if a hollow electrode with a cross-sectional surface of 1 mm ² is used.

The device for ionizing gases according to the invention can also be used for sterilization.

Such a device is described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 7a.

A gas flow enters the tubular cylindrical external electrode 3 in the inlet area 24. On the side opposite the entry area, the outer electrode 3 is closed off by a wall 25. The outer electrode 3 is connected to a voltage source 3, which supplies a high voltage of 5 to 12 kV. A fibrous inner electrode 26 is attached at one end to a support 7 and at the other end to the wall 25. Carbon is preferably selected as the material of the inner electrode 26, so that only low ozone formation and metal emissions can arise at the high voltage used. In the area of the inner electrode

26, a plurality of holes 27 are arranged in the longitudinal region of the hollow electrode 3. The incoming gas is ionized on the inner electrode 26. The finished ionization product passes through the holes

27 out. The ratio of the diameter of the electrode to each hole is preferably between 1: 1.5 and 1: 4. Instead of a row of holes, an outlet slot or an outlet opening equivalent thereto can also be provided. The device is used, for example, for the sterilization of food and possibly packaging containers.

Another preferred area of application is the sterilization and sterile maintenance of medical and dental instruments, medical workplaces and hollow bodies, which e.g. be used in medicine.

Thus, e.g. Operating tables can be sterilized on site.

The device can also be used to sterilize the gas environment in the production of cosmetics.

Basically, the device for the sterilization of organic material that is impaired by the action of microorganisms in its useful properties can be used.

Because of the potential application risk, the use of pure oxygen for sterilization seems less suitable than nitrogen. In this case e.g. the use of air is the most economical solution (e.g. when sterilizing in refrigerators).

Furthermore, it is possible to provide a spray device (not shown) in the area of the gas outlet opening 9 or the outlet holes 27 of the outer electrode 3. Such a device is preferably used in sterilization cabinets. The sterilization effect can be increased further by the additional application, for example, of a hydrogen peroxide solution, which is mixed with the gas stream containing the ionization product with the aid of the spray device and whose concentration is preferably less than 3%. Reference list

1) gas flow

2) voltage source

3) outer electrode

4) Inner electrode

5) wire-shaped area of the inner electrode

6) needle-shaped area of the inner electrode

7) supports

8) insulating touch protection

9) Gas outlet opening

10) input electrode

11) output electrode (grid-shaped)

12) output electrode (needle-shaped)

13a

13b

13c wire-shaped inner electrode

13d

14) Base

15) Electrode body

16) opening

17) metal particles

18) Outside electrode area

19) "

20) "

21

Inner electrode

22

23) Insulation body

24) Electrode entry area

25) wall

26) Inner electrode

27) hole

Claims

Claims:

1. Device for producing defined ionized gases or ionization products,

characterized by the following features: a) a tubular hollow electrode which can be connected to a feed line for the gas as the outer electrode (3); b) at least one inner electrode (6, 10, 13 ad, 21) which influences the entire cavity of the outer electrode (3) in the region of their arrangement; c) a potential difference on the inner electrode (6, 10, 13a-d, 21) and outer electrode (3) of 2,000 to 3,000 volts, with a potential difference of max. 1,000 V is possible and d) a flow rate of the gases of less than 100 ml / min / mm ² .

2. Device for producing ionized gases or gas mixture, characterized by the following features: a) a tubular hollow electrode which can be connected to the supply line for the gas as the outer electrode (3); two internal electrodes (10, 11, 12) arranged one behind the other in the direction of flow of the gases, which influence the entire cavity of the external electrode in the region of their arrangement; c) a potential difference on the inner electrode (10, 11, 12) and outer electrode (3) of 2,000 to 3,000 volts, with a potential difference of max. 1,000 V is possible and d) a flow rate of the gases in the range of

Electrodes (10, 11, 12) up to 100 ml / min / mm ² .

3. Device for producing ionized gases or gas mixtures, characterized by the following features: a) a tubular hollow electrode which can be connected to the feed line for the gas as the outer electrode (3) and which has openings (27) on its lateral side and is closed on one side ; b) fibrous inner electrode (26) which is arranged in the region of the opening and in the longitudinal direction of the outer electrode in such a way that the gases flow past the inner electrode before exiting from the openings (27).

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3,

characterized,

that the tubular outer electrode (3) is integrally formed.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3,

characterized,

that the tubular outer electrode (3) is composed of several partial areas (18, 19, 20).

6. The device according to claim 5,

characterized,

that a voltage (U ₁ , U ₂ , U ₃ ) is present at each of the sections (18, 19, 20).

7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6,

characterized,

that the inner electrode is designed as a metal tip (6, 12).

8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6,

characterized,

that the inner electrode is designed as a wire mesh (10, 11, 13 a-d, 21, 22).

9. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6,

characterized,

that conductive metal particles (17) are fixed on the surface of the inner electrode (15).

10. The device according to one of claims 1 to 9,

characterized,

that the tubular outer electrode (3) and the inner electrodes (4,

10, 11, 12, 13a-d, 15, 21, 22) consist of cobalt-salt-coated or cobalt-alloyed material.

11. The device according to one of claims 1 to 10,

characterized,

that a spray device is provided in the area of action of the ionization products, which lies in the outlet area of the outer electrode (3), by means of which a liquid can be added to the ionized gas.