A quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator for producing corona discharge plasma from is presented. The quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator has a folded cavity made of opposing concentric cavity members that are nested together to form a continuous cavity ending in a aperture. A center conductor with a tip is positioned in the cavity. The folded cavity advantageously permits the coaxial cavity resonator to resonate at a lower operating frequency than an unfolded quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator of the same length. Embodiments of the quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator use narrower apertures to reduce radiative losses, and include center conductors that are reactive load elements, such as helical coils. When a radio frequency (RF) oscillation is produced in the quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator, corona discharge plasma is formed at the tip of the center conductor. The corona discharge plasma can be used to ignite combustible materials in combustion chambers of combustion engines.

A plasma sterilization apparatus includes a voltage-applying unit that applies a voltage to a sterilization target having conductivity; a pair of electrodes that apply, in a discharged state, the voltage applied by the voltage-applying unit to the sterilization target via a dielectric; and a position changing unit that changes a relative position between the pair of electrodes and the sterilization target.

A plasma sterilization apparatus includes a voltage-applying unit that applies a voltage to a sterilization target having conductivity; a pair of electrodes that apply, in a discharged state, the voltage applied by the voltage-applying unit to the sterilization target via a dielectric; and a position changing unit that changes a relative position between the pair of electrodes and the sterilization target.

Apparatuses for converting a non-ionized gas stream into an ionized gas stream are disclosed. Disclosed apparatus include an ionizing wire electrode at least partially disposed within and stationary relative to a channel. A frame has plural support elements for supporting the ionizing wire. The frame is configured to make full rotations around the channel in a first rotation direction while applying tension to the ionizing wire. The support elements are configured to physically remove material from the ionizing wire while the support elements are moved along the wire by the frame rotation.

Apparatuses for converting a non-ionized gas stream into an ionized gas stream are disclosed. Disclosed apparatus include an ionizing wire electrode at least partially disposed within and stationary relative to a channel. A frame has plural support elements for supporting the ionizing wire. The frame is configured to make full rotations around the channel in a first rotation direction while applying tension to the ionizing wire. The support elements are configured to physically remove material from the ionizing wire while the support elements are moved along the wire by the frame rotation.

A discharge electrode E in an electrode chamber C is formed of a pair of electrode members 8 and 9 having lengths equal to or greater than a width of a film F. Also, the pair of electrode members 8 and 9 are disposed facing each other so as to sandwich a support member 4 there-between, which has nearly the same length as to electrode members; a gap is formed in a section in which the pair of electrode members 8 and 9 face each other; and this gap is open at a tip of the discharge electrode so as to serve as a gas pathway 15. Meanwhile, in the aforementioned support member 4, a plurality of gas guiding holes 5 are formed in a longitudinal direction thereof, and the gas guiding holes are in communication with a gas supplying system.

A device for ionising air includes a case, in which there are a blower, which includes a rotor to generate a pulsed airflow and an exhaust pipe to channel this flow; a device for producing ions, which includes a high-voltage electrical generator; an electrode connected to the generator and of which one free end, formed of a cluster of filaments made of conductive material, extends to the right of the exhaust pipe to release ions there by corona discharge. The device further includes a diffuser provided with a pipe which, in the extension of the exhaust pipe, delimits a compression chamber, with an expander which extends the pipe and includes a series of channels which extend form an inner face of the expander to an opposite outer face.

A device for ionising air includes a case, in which there are a blower, which includes a rotor to generate a pulsed airflow and an exhaust pipe to channel this flow; a device for producing ions, which includes a high-voltage electrical generator; an electrode connected to the generator and of which one free end, formed of a cluster of filaments made of conductive material, extends to the right of the exhaust pipe to release ions there by corona discharge. The device further includes a diffuser provided with a pipe which, in the extension of the exhaust pipe, delimits a compression chamber, with an expander which extends the pipe and includes a series of channels which extend form an inner face of the expander to an opposite outer face.

The present invention has an object to reduce a risk of performance degradation caused to an ion generating device that is being manufactured. An ion generating device (1) includes: a discharge electrode (21) for generating ions by electric discharge, the discharge electrode having (i) a mounting part (33a) for mounting the discharge electrode on the ion generating device and (ii) a brush part including a plurality of linear electrically conductive members, and the mounting part (33a) binding a base end part of the brush part so as to hold the base end part, the ion generating device further including: an insulating sealing member (41) with which to seal the base end part of the mounting part (33a); and a protective resin (29) with which to cover at least a brush base end surface (25t).

The present invention has an object to reduce a risk of performance degradation caused to an ion generating device that is being manufactured. An ion generating device (1) includes: a discharge electrode (21) for generating ions by electric discharge, the discharge electrode having (i) a mounting part (33a) for mounting the discharge electrode on the ion generating device and (ii) a brush part including a plurality of linear electrically conductive members, and the mounting part (33a) binding a base end part of the brush part so as to hold the base end part, the ion generating device further including: an insulating sealing member (41) with which to seal the base end part of the mounting part (33a); and a protective resin (29) with which to cover at least a brush base end surface (25t).