Plasma generator using spiral conductors

• US 9,497,846 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2014
• Issued: 11/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: National Institute of Aerospace Asscoiates, United States Of America As Represented By The Administrator Of The National Aeronautics And Space Administration
• Original Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Administrator Of The National Aeronautics And Space Administration
• Inventors: Szatkowski, George N., Dudley, Kenneth L., Ticatch, Larry A., Smith, Laura J., Koppen, Sandra V., Nguyen, Truong X., Ely, Jay J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Taningco, Alexander H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kim, Seokjin
• Application Number:
  US14/520,679
• Publication Number:
  US 20150115798A1
• Time in Patent Office: 755 Days
• Field of Search: 31511121-11171
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 1/2406 using dielectric barrier discharges, i.e. with a dielectric interposed between the electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 1/246 the plasma being activated using external electrodes H05H1/245 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 1/46 using applied electromagnetic fields, e.g. high frequency or microwave energy H05H1/26 takes precedence

Abstract

A plasma generator includes a pair of identical spiraled electrical conductors separated by dielectric material. Both spiraled conductors have inductance and capacitance wherein, in the presence of a time-varying electromagnetic field, the spiraled conductors resonate to generate a harmonic electromagnetic field response. The spiraled conductors lie in parallel planes and partially overlap one another in a direction perpendicular to the parallel planes. The geometric centers of the spiraled conductors define endpoints of a line that is non-perpendicular with respect to the parallel planes. A voltage source coupled across the spiraled conductors applies a voltage sufficient to generate a plasma in at least a portion of the dielectric material.

Claims

1. A plasma generator, comprising:

a first electrical conductor having first and second ends, said first electrical conductor shaped to form a first spiral between said first and second ends thereof, said first spiral lying in a first plane, said first spiral having a geometric center, said first electrical conductor so-shaped having inductance and capacitance wherein, in the presence of a time-varying electromagnetic field, said first electrical conductor so-shaped resonates to generate a harmonic electromagnetic field response;

a second electrical conductor having first and second ends, said second electrical conductor shaped to form a second spiral between said first and second ends thereof, said second spiral being identical to said first spiral and lying in a second plane parallel to said first plane, said second spiral having a geometric center, said second electrical conductor so-shaped having inductance and capacitance wherein, in the presence of a time-varying electromagnetic field, said second electrical conductor so-shaped resonates to generate a harmonic electromagnetic field response;

said first spiral and said second spiral partially overlapping one another in a direction perpendicular to said first plane and said second plane;

said geometric center of said first spiral and said geometric center of said second spiral defining endpoints of a line, wherein said line is non-perpendicular with respect to said first plane and said second plane;

dielectric material disposed between said first electrical conductor and said second electrical conductor; and

a voltage source coupled across said first electrical conductor and said second electrical conductor for applying a voltage sufficient to generate a plasma in at least a portion of said dielectric material.

2. The plasma generator of claim 1, wherein said dielectric material comprises at least one of a solid, a liquid, and a gas.

3. The plasma generator of claim 1, wherein said first electrical conductor, said second electrical conductor, and said dielectric material are maintained in a fixed relationship.

4. The plasma generator of claim 1, wherein said first electrical conductor and said second electrical conductor are maintained in a fixed relationship.

5. The plasma generator of claim 1, wherein said first spiral and said second spiral are based on a regular geometric shape.

6. The plasma generator of claim 1, wherein said first spiral defines a contiguous gap between spiral portions of said first electrical conductor, and wherein widths of said first electrical conductor and said contiguous gap are constant and equal.

7. The plasma generator of claim 1, wherein said second spiral defines a contiguous gap between spiral portions of said second electrical conductor, and wherein widths of said second electrical conductor and said contiguous gap are constant and equal.

8. The plasma generator of claim 1, wherein said first spiral defines a first contiguous gap between spiral portions of said first electrical conductor, wherein said second spiral defines a second contiguous gap between spiral portions of said second electrical conductor, and wherein widths of said first electrical conductor, said first contiguous gap, said second electrical conductor, and said second contiguous gap are constant and equal.

9. The plasma generator of claim 1, wherein said first electrical conductor, said second electrical conductor, and said dielectric material comprise a one-piece structure.

10. The plasma generator of claim 1, wherein said voltage source is controllable.

11. A plasma generator, comprising:

a first electrical conductor arranged in a first spiral pattern with a first contiguous gap being defined between adjacent portions of said first electrical conductor wherein widths of said first electrical conductor and said first contiguous gap are constant and equal, said first electrical conductor lying in a first plane, said first electrical conductor so-arranged having inductance and capacitance wherein, in the presence of a time-varying electromagnetic field, said first electrical conductor so-arranged resonates to generate a harmonic electromagnetic field response;

a second electrical conductor arranged in a second spiral pattern identical to said first spiral pattern wherein a second contiguous gap is defined between adjacent portions of said second electrical conductor and wherein widths of said second electrical conductor and said second contiguous gap are constant and equal, said second electrical conductor lying in a second plane parallel to said first plane, said second electrical conductor so-arranged having inductance and capacitance wherein, in the presence of a time-varying electromagnetic field, said second electrical conductor so-arranged resonates to generate a harmonic electromagnetic field response;

said first spiral pattern and said second spiral pattern partially overlapping one another wherein, in a direction perpendicular to said first plane and said second plane, portions of said first electrical conductor overlap portions of said second contiguous gap and wherein portions of said second electrical conductor overlap portions of said first contiguous gap;

dielectric material disposed between said first electrical conductor and said second electrical conductor; and

a voltage source coupled across said first electrical conductor and said second electrical conductor for applying a voltage sufficient to generate a plasma in said dielectric material.

12. The plasma generator of claim 11, wherein said dielectric material comprises at least one of a solid, a liquid, and a gas.

13. The plasma generator of claim 11, wherein said first electrical conductor, said second electrical conductor, and said dielectric material are maintained in a fixed relationship.

14. The plasma generator of claim 11, wherein said first electrical conductor and said second electrical conductor are maintained in a fixed relationship.

15. The plasma generator of claim 11, wherein said first spiral pattern and said second spiral pattern are based on a regular geometric shape.

16. The plasma generator of claim 11, wherein said first electrical conductor, said second electrical conductor, and said dielectric material comprise a one-piece structure.

17. The plasma generator of claim 11, wherein said voltage source is controllable.

18. The plasma generator of claim 11, wherein said first electrical conductor, said second electrical conductor, and said dielectric material are maintained in a fixed relationship within a one-piece structure.

19. A plasma generator, comprising:

a pair of identical spiraled electrical conductors, each of said spiraled electrical conductors having inductance and capacitance wherein, in the presence of a time-varying electromagnetic field, each of said spiraled electrical conductors resonates to generate a harmonic electromagnetic field response, said spiraled electrical conductors residing in parallel planes and partially overlapping one another in a direction perpendicular to said parallel planes, each of said spiraled electrical conductors having a geometric center wherein each said geometric center defines an endpoint of a line that is non-perpendicular with respect to said parallel planes;

dielectric material disposed between said spiraled electrical conductors; and

a voltage source coupled across said spiraled electrical conductors for applying a voltage sufficient to generate a plasma in at least a portion of said dielectric material.

20. The plasma generator of claim 19, wherein said dielectric material comprises at least one of a solid, a liquid, and a gas.

21. The plasma generator of claim 19, wherein said spiraled electrical conductors and said dielectric material are maintained in a fixed relationship.

22. The plasma generator of claim 19, wherein said spiraled electrical conductors are maintained in a fixed relationship.

23. The plasma generator of claim 19, wherein said spiraled electrical conductors are based on a regular geometric shape.

24. The plasma generator of claim 19, wherein each of said spiraled electrical conductors is defined by a contiguous gap between spiral portions of an electrical conductor, wherein said widths of said electrical conductor and said contiguous gap are constant and equal.

25. The plasma generator of claim 19, wherein said spiraled electrical conductors and said dielectric material comprise a one-piece structure.

26. The plasma generator of claim 19, wherein said voltage source is controllable.