Plasma Assisted Oxygen Decontaminant Generator and Sprayer

Abstract

An atomic oxygen generator/sprayer is invented. An array of three magnetized torches running at 60 Hz is used to generate non-thermal plasma; thus, the plasma effluent has relatively low temperature (touchable) and yet contains high energy electrons (>5 eV) capable to dissociate oxygen molecules to atomic oxygen. The emission spectroscopy of the torch indicates that the plasma effluent carries an abundance of reactive atomic oxygen (RAO), which can effectively kill all kind microbes. A cap holding three pairs of rectangular permanent magnets is used to spread torches laterally into fan shape, which extends to a width exceeding 100 mm. The flux of RAO exceeds 2×106 cm−2 sec−1; its flow speed exceeds 20 m/s and it reaches out more than 20 mm. This invention is suitable for applications such as sterilizing carpets, clothes, and bed sheets.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.