Frequency chirp resonant optimal plasma ignition method
AssigneeAtmospheric Plasma Solutions, Inc.
InventorTerrence E. Rogers
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for plasma ignition and maintenance of an atmospheric pressure plasma. The system has a variable frequency alternating current (AC) power source, a transformer, a cable connected to a secondary winding of the transformer, a programmed microprocessor for control of power to the atmospheric pressure plasma. The microprocessor is configured to a) at pre-ignition, power the AC power source at an operational frequency fop higher than the resonant frequency fr, b) decrease the operational frequency fop of the AC power source until there is plasma ignition, and c) after the plasma ignition, further decrease the operational frequency fop of the AC power source to a frequency lower than the resonant frequency fr.
Claims20
A system for plasma ignition and maintenance of an atmospheric pressure plasma, the system comprising:
- a variable frequency alternating current (AC) power source;
- a transformer having
- a magnetic core,
- a primary winding on a primary side of the magnetic core, and
- a secondary winding on a secondary side of the magnetic core;
- a cable connected to the secondary winding to output power from the transformer, and the cable having a capacitance to ground;
- and
- a programmed microprocessor for control of power to the atmospheric pressure plasma,
- wherein
- the primary winding is connectable to the AC power source,
- the cable is connectable to an electrode powering the atmospheric pressure plasma, the secondary winding and the cable are resonant at a resonant frequency fr when no plasma is present, and
- the programmed microprocessor is configured to
- a) at pre-ignition, power the AC power source at an operational frequency fop higher than the resonant frequency fr, and
- b) decrease the operational frequency fop of the AC power source until there is plasma ignition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.