Pluma

Group Work
Members: Tian Mai, Yue Wang, Yu Gan, Muchen Zhang, Zidong Xue.

18th May 2025 - 16th July 2025

A portable, outdoor microbial control device that uses only air and water to provide chemical-free, sustainable lab-grade sterilization across multiple scenarios.

Design Positioning:

Pluma is dedicated to delivering advanced microbial hygiene solutions for off-grid, outdoor, and mobile environments. In resource-constrained settings, Pluma converts minimal universal resources into a high-performance Plasma-Activated Water (PAW) mist. It makes hygiene easily controllable—ensuring safety and comfort for outdoor enthusiasts and families without releasing any waste into the natural ecosystem.

From carrying disinfectants to generating them on demand：Using only a minimal amount of water and light charging, Pluma leverages ambient air to generate a highly effective disinfecting mist in situ.
One medium, multiple use cases: A single disinfecting mist applicable across hard surfaces (cookware and utensils), soft textiles (odor-causing bacteria), and sensitive areas (skin and minor wounds).
From consumables to a regenerative system: Eliminates chemical residues and single-use packaging, transforming hygiene from a consumption-based model into a low-resource, waste-free system.

Prototype Iteration

We streamlined the internal architecture of the plasma generator through a simplified structural redesign, with each component fine-tuned and validated against comprehensive fluid simulation data.

Design Development

Our core focus was to merge ultimate convenience with reliable performance through an intuitive interaction loop. By integrating a rear inspection window, we allow users to visually monitor the plasma intensity in real time, transforming an invisible cleaning process into a reassuring, tangible experience.

Validation

To scientifically validate Pluma’s real-world efficacy, we conducted rigorous testing inside the microbiology laboratory. We verified the 30-second disinfection performance across various pathogen strains and refined the coverage area and cleaning performance of different spray nozzles.