Patent · US Expired

Microwave plasma nozzle with enhanced plume stability and heating efficiency

US7164095B2 · kind B2 · utility

7Cited by
41References
38Claims
0Family size

Assignees

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 7, 2004
Grant dateJan 16, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 7, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH05H1/463
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

Systems and methods for generating relatively cool microwave plasma. The present invention provides a microwave plasma nozzle that includes a gas flow tube through which a gas flows, and a rod-shaped conductor that is disposed in the gas flow tube and has a tapered tip near the outlet of the gas flow tube. A portion of the rod-shaped conductor extends into a microwave cavity to receive microwaves passing in the cavity. These received microwaves are focused at the tapered tip to heat the gas into plasma. The microwave plasma nozzle also includes a vortex guide between the rod-shaped conductor and the gas flow tube imparting a helical shaped flow direction around the rod-shaped conductor to the gas flowing through the tube. The microwave plasma nozzle further includes a mechanism for electronically exciting the gas and a shielding mechanism for reducing a microwave power loss through the gas flow tube.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.