Ionization voltage source

Claim 1

A voltage source adapted to apply voltage excitation to a gas-ionization electrode in a wave form resulting in the generation of copious amounts of ionized gas without, however, producing substantial amounts of undesirable chemical by-products, the time required to produce incipient dielectric breakdown resulting in said byproducts being greater than that required to effect ionization of the gas, said gas having a predetermined ionization potential, said source comprising: A means to produce a unipolar voltage wave having a steady state direct-current component which is below said ionization potential yet at a level serving to create an electric field conducive to subsequent gas-ionization; and B means to impose a gas-ionization component on the steady state component in the form of periodic surges which are separated by relatively long intervals, each surge being composed of at least one sharp unipolar pulse having a steep rise time and a fast slew rate, and having a high peak amplitude, the duration of the pulse relative to the incipient breakdown time being insufficient to break down the gas chemically, but the peak amplitude thereof being such as to effect intense ionization of the gas, the steady state component acting to prevent the electric field from collapsing completely in the interval between surges, thereby keeping the gas at a level approaching its ionization potential.

Claim 11

The method of ionizing a gas such as free air to produce a copious supply of ions without the concomitant production of undesirable chemical by-products such as ozone, the time required to produce incipient dielectric breakdown resulting in said by-products being greater than that required to effect ionization of the gas, said method comprising the steps of: A applying to an ionization electrode a unipolar voltage having a steady state component which is below the ionization potential of the gas yet serves to stress the gas to render it conducive to subsequent ionization; and B imposing on said steady state component an ionization component constituted by periodic surges separated by relatively long time intervals, each surge including at least one sharp unipolar pulse having a steep rise time and a fast slew rate, and having a peak amplitude inducing intense ionization of the gas, the pulse duration relative to the incipient breakdown time being insufficient to effect chemical breakdown of the gas.

Claim 12

The method of ionizing a gas such as free air to produce a copious supply of ions without the concomitant production of undesirable chemical by-products such as ozone, the time required to produce incipient dielectric breakdown resulting in said by-products being greater than that required to effect ionization of the gas, said method comprising the steps of: A applying to an ionization electrode a unipolar voltage having a steady state component which is below the ionization potential of the gas yet serves to stress the gas to render it conducive to subsequent ionization; and B imposing on said steady state component an ionization component constituted by periodic surges separated by relatively long time intervals, each surge including at least one sharp unipolar pulse having a steep rise time and a fast slew rate, and having a peak amplitude inducing intense ionization of the gas, the pulse duration relative to the incipient breakdown time being insufficient to effect chemical breakdown of the gas.