Induction device for generating a plasma
View Patent ↗A device for sustaining a plasma in a torch is provided. In certain examples, the device comprises a first electrode configured to couple to a power source and constructed and arranged to provide a loop current along a radial plane of the torch. In some examples, the radial plane of the torch is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the torch.
1. A device for generating a plasma in a torch having a longitudinal axis along which a flow of gas is introduced during operation of the torch and having a radial plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the torch, the device comprising a first electrode configured to couple to a power source and constructed and arranged to provide a loop current along the radial plane of the torch, in which the first electrode comprises a shape selected from the group consisting of a square shape and a rectangular planar shape, the device further comprising a second electrode configured to couple to the power source and constructed and arranged to provide a loop current along the radial plane of the torch, in which the second electrode comprises a shape selected from the group consisting of a square shape and a rectangular planar shape.
2. The device of claim 1 , in which each of the first and second electrodes comprises a plate comprising a symmetrical inner cross-section.
3. The device of claim 2 , in which the symmetrical inner cross-section is circular.
4. The device of claim 1 , further comprising at least one spacer separating the first electrode and the second electrode.
5. The device of claim 1 , in which the first electrode is configured to sustain a symmetrical plasma, or a substantially symmetrical plasma, in the torch.
6. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a radio frequency source in electrical communication with the first electrode.
7. The device of claim 6 , in which the radio frequency source is configured to provide radio frequencies of about 1 MHz to about 1000 MHz at a power of about 10 Watts to about 10,000 Watts.
8. The device of claim 6 , further comprising a second radio frequency source in electrical communication with the second electrode.
9. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a radio frequency source in electrical communication with the first electrode and the second electrode.
10. The device of claim 9 , in which the radio frequency source is configured to provide radio frequencies of about 1 MHz to about 1,000 MHz at a power of about 10 Watts to about 10,000 Watts.
11. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a grounding plate in electrical communication with the first electrode and the second electrode.
12. The device of claim 11 , in which the first electrode, the second electrode and the grounding plate are configured for use in an inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer.
13. The device of claim 11 , in which the first electrode, the second electrode and the grounding plate are configured for use in an inductively coupled plasma atomic absorption spectrometer.
14. The device of claim 11 , in which the first electrode, the second electrode and the grounding plate are configured for use in an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer.
15. A device comprising a torch body, a first electrode configured to couple to a power source and constructed and arranged to provide a loop current along a radial plane of the torch body, in which the first electrode comprises a shape selected from the group consisting of a square shape and a rectangular planar shape, the device further comprising a second electrode configured to couple to the power source and constructed and arranged to provide a loop current along the radial plane of the torch body, in which the second electrode comprises a shape selected from the group consisting of a square shape and a rectangular planar shape.
16. The device of claim 15 further comprising a radio frequency source coupled to the first and second electrodes.
17. The device of claim 15 in which the at least one of the first and second electrodes comprises a plate electrode.
18. A method of generating a plasma in a torch having a longitudinal axis and having a radial plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the torch, the method comprising: providing a gas flow along the longitudinal axis of the torch; igniting the gas flow in the torch; and providing a loop current along the radial plane to sustain a plasma in the torch using a first electrode and a second electrode, the first electrode configured to couple to a power source and constructed and arranged to provide the loop current along the radial plane of the torch, in which the first electrode comprises a shape selected from the group consisting of a square shape and a rectangular planar shape, and the second electrode configured to couple to the power source and constructed and arranged to provide a loop current along the radial plane of the torch, in which the second electrode comprises a shape selected from the group consisting of a square shape and a rectangular planar shape.
19. The method of claim 18 further comprising configuring the plasma to be a substantially symmetrical plasma.
20. A substantially symmetrical plasma produced by igniting a gas flow in a torch and providing a loop current along a radial plane substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the torch to sustain the substantially symmetrical plasma, wherein the loop current is provided using at least a first electrode and a second electrode, in which each of the first and second electrodes comprises a shape selected from the group consisting of a square shape and a rectangular planar shape.
21. The substantially symmetrical plasma of claim 20 , in which one of the first and second electrodes is a plate electrode.
22. The substantially symmetrical plasma of claim 20 , in which both the first and the second electrodes are plate electrodes.