DEVICE FOR GENERATING PLASMA, SYSTEM FOR GENERATING PLASMA AND METHOD FOR GENERATING PLASMA

Abstract

A device for generating plasma (1) comprises a high voltage electrode (10) as well as at least one external electrode (11, 12), wherein the high voltage electrode (10) at least in one coordinate direction (34) is arranged between conductive material of at least one external electrode (11, 12). The high voltage electrode (10) is covered with a dielectric (21) at least one side facing an external electrode (11, 12). Between the respective external electrode (11, 12) and the high voltage electrode (10) over its longitudinal extension at least one spacer element (20) is present, which at least in the region of its arrangement electrically insulates the respective external electrode (11,12) from the high voltage electrode (10) and which positions the respective external electrode (11, 12) at a constant distance from the high voltage electrode (10), wherein the spacer element is a gas-permeable foil.

Claims

1. A device for generating plasma (1), in particular for generating an atmospheric pressure plasma (33) for the antimicrobial treatment of moist surfaces, comprising a high voltage electrode (10) as well as at least one external electrode (11, 12), wherein the high voltage electrode (10) is arranged at least in a coordinate direction (34) between conductive material of at least one external electrode (11, 12) and the high voltage electrode (10) is covered with a dielectric (21) at least on one side facing an external electrode (11, 12) of the device for generating plasma (1), and wherein between the respective external electrode (11, 12) and the high voltage electrode (10) over its longitudinal extension at least one spacer element (20) is present, which at least in the region of its arrangement electrically insulates the respective external electrode (11,12) from the high voltage electrode (10) and which positions the respective external electrode (11, 12) at a constant distance from the high voltage electrode (10), wherein the spacer element (20) is a gas-permeable foil.

2. The device for generating plasma according to claim 1, characterized in that the device for generating plasma (1) comprises a first external electrode (11) and a second external electrode (12), wherein the high voltage electrode (10) is arranged between the two external electrodes (11,12).

3. The device for generating plasma according to claim 1, characterized in that the high voltage electrode (10) is implemented as a wire.

4. The device for generating plasma according to claim 1, characterized in that the high voltage electrode (10) has a form of a meander or spiral-shaped course.

5. The device for generating plasma according to claim 1, characterized in that the high voltage electrode (10) is present as a mesh, weave, fabric or knitted fabric.

6. The device for generating plasma according to claim 1, characterized in that the external electrode (11, 12) is present as a mesh, weave, fabric or knitted fabric.

7. The device for generating plasma according to claim 1, characterized in that the external electrode (11 and 12) is configured as an electrically conductive foil, in particular as perforated and/or structured foil.

8. The device for generating plasma according to claim 1, characterized in that the device for generating plasma (1) has several spacer elements (20), which are designed as insulation pieces enclosing or covering the high voltage electrode (10) at least in sections.

9. The device for generating plasma according to claim 1, characterized in that the spacer element (20) is planar.

10. The device for generating plasma according to claim 9, characterized in that the spacer element (20) is a perforated and/or structured, gas-permeable foil of an electrical non-conductive elastomer.

11. The device for generating plasma according to claim 10, characterized in that the film has openings.

12. The device for generating plasma according to claim 1, characterized in that the spacer element (20) is configured as a mesh, weave, fabric or knitted fabric.

13. The device for generating plasma according to claim 1, characterized in that the device for generating plasma (1) has a power supply unit, which is configured to apply a low to high frequency high voltage between the external electrode and the high voltage electrode.

14. A system for generating plasma, in particular for the large-scale treatment of surfaces, comprising several devices for generating plasma (1) according to claim 1 as well as one or more power supply units, which can be or are electrically connected to the devices for generating plasma (1).

15. A method for generating plasma, in particular for generating a volume barrier discharge, in which a device for generating plasma according to claim 1 or a system for generating plasma according, in particular for the large-scale treatment of surfaces, comprising several devices for generating plasma (1) according to claim 1 is provided and an electrical high voltage is applied to the high voltage electrode and at least one external electrode.

Description

[0051] Further details and advantages of the present invention arise from the following description of exemplary embodiments in conjunction with the drawing.

[0052] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a planar device for generating plasma in round shape, wherein FIG. 1 shows the device for generating plasma in exploded view and FIG. 2 shows the device for generating plasma in assembled representation.

[0053] FIGS. 3 and 4 show a planar device for generating plasma in square shape, wherein FIG. 3 shows the device for generating plasma in exploded view and FIG. 4 shows the device for generating plasma in assembled representation.

[0054] FIGS. 5 and 6 show a schematic of a linear device for generating plasma, wherein FIG. 5 shows the device for generating plasma with a tubular external electrode and FIG. 6 shows the device for generating plasma with a spiral-shaped external electrode.

[0055] FIG. 7 shows a system for generating plasma with several devices for generating plasma in rectangular design.

[0056] FIG. 1 shows a first exemplary embodiment of a device for generating plasma 1 in exploded view. The device for generating plasma 1 comprises a high voltage electrode 10 enclosing an area 30. In both directions of the normals of this enclosed area 30 there is an external electrode 11, 12. The two external electrodes 11, 12 are connected to one another via an electrical connection 23. The high voltage electrode 10 is configured as wire in this example and is fed through the connection cable 22. The two external electrodes 11, 12 are configured in this example as metal fabric and grounded via the ground cable 24. For a volume dielectric barrier discharge the high voltage electrode 10 is sheathed with a dielectric 21. In order to ensure the necessary equidistant distance 32 for the volume dielectric barrier discharge between the high voltage electrode 10 covered with a dielectric 21 and the grounded external electrode 11, the high voltage electrode 10 is equipped with spacer elements 20, so-called spacers. Here, the spacer elements 20 are suitable silicone tube pieces, which however are only present at sections of the high voltage electrode 10 over its longitudinal extension, so that free sections 25 remain in between, in which the plasma is generated.

[0057] In the applicable state the device for generating plasma 1 is configured according to the representation in FIG. 2. In this connection, the spacer elements 20 define the distance between the grounded external electrodes 11, 12 and the high voltage electrode 10. The device for generating plasma 1 represented in 2 has two sides, which are configured by the two external electrodes 11, 12. Both sides are applicable for placement on a wound of a human tissue to be treated, wherein for better compatibility the device for generating plasma 1 with can be combined with a thin, gas-permeable wound dressing not shown here.

[0058] FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment in exploded view. As shown in the exemplary embodiment represented in FIGS. 1 and 2, here the planar high voltage electrode 10 is limited in each case by a planar external electrode 11, 12 in in both directions of the normals of the area 30 enclosed by the high voltage electrode 10. Furthermore, also in this exemplary embodiment the external electrodes 11, 12 implemented by a metal fabric. Both external electrodes 11, 12 are connected to one another through the electrical connection 23 and grounded via the ground cable 24.

[0059] In contrast to the exemplary embodiment represented in FIGS. 1 and 2 here the device for generating plasma 1 is implemented in a rectangular shape. That means the metal fabric of the two external electrodes 11, 12 has a rectangular design. The high voltage electrode 10 with the connection cable 22 has, in contrast to the exemplary embodiment represented in FIGS. 1 and 2, parallel sections 31, so that also the high voltage electrode 10 forms a rectangular shape. The necessary distance 32 for the dielectrically impeded volume discharge is also ensured here through spacer elements 20. The spacer elements 20 are suitable silicone tube pieces.

[0060] FIG. 4 shows the exemplary embodiment of the device for generating plasma 1 in the applicable shape.

[0061] The sectional view in FIG. 5 shows an example of a linear design of an inventive device for generating plasma. In FIG. 5 the wire-shaped high voltage electrode 10 is sheathed with a dielectric 21. The tubular external electrode 11 encloses the high voltage electrode 10 and is grounded via the ground cable 24. The necessary equidistant distance 32 for the dielectrically impeded volume discharge is given by the spacer elements 20. The atmospheric pressure plasma 33 generated for the dielectrically impeded volume discharge is located in the volume between the spacer elements 20, the grounded external electrode 11 and the dielectric 21. From the represented coordinate direction 34 it is obvious that the high voltage electrode 10 is arranged at least in the coordinate direction 34 between conductive material of the external electrode 11.

[0062] A further design of the linear device for generating plasma 1 is represented in FIG. 6. The linear high voltage electrode 10, which is sheathed with a dielectric 21, is enclosed by a spiral-shaped external electrode 11. This spiral-shaped external electrode 11 is grounded via the ground cable 24. Here too the equidistant distance 32 between the high voltage electrode 10 and the external electrode 11, which is necessary for the dielectrically impeded volume discharge, is to be maintained by spacer elements 20. The atmospheric pressure plasma 33 is generated in the spaces limited by the external electrode 11, the high voltage electrode 10 and the individual spacer elements 20.

[0063] The aforementioned exemplary embodiments relate to the design of an individual device for generating plasma 1. In FIG. 7 is a system for generating plasma can be seen, which has several devices for generating plasma, in particular for the large-scale treatment of surfaces.

[0064] In this system for generating plasma several devices for generating plasma 1 are in square shape in cascade connection with one another. The connection shown between the individual devices for generating plasma 1 for one thing lead to the high voltage, which is connected with the connection cable 22, and for another to a grounded connection, which is connected with the ground cable 24.

REFERENCE LIST

[0065] Device for generating plasma 1 [0066] High voltage electrode 10 [0067] First external electrode 11 [0068] Second external electrode 12 [0069] Spacer element 20 [0070] Dielectric 21 [0071] Connection cable 22 [0072] Electrical connection 23 [0073] Ground cable 24 [0074] Free section 25 [0075] Enclosed area 30 [0076] Parallel section 31 [0077] Distance 32 [0078] Atmospheric pressure plasma 33 [0079] Coordinate direction 34