Abstract: A constricting chamber having first and second ends, the chamber comprising: an interior surface formed between the first and second ends, disposed circumferentially around and defining an interior space and a longitudinal axis of the chamber; a frusto-conical surface disposed between the first and second ends and narrowing as it extends away from the first end and into the second end; an ejection port disposed at the second end and substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis; a cover disposed at the first end, substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and comprising a center substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis; an injection port disposed on the cover proximate the center, and configured to receive a reactive mixture into the chamber; and an annular supply portion disposed circumferentially around the longitudinal axis and comprising supply port(s) configured to supply conditioning fluid into the chamber in an annular formation along the interior surface.

Abstract: A method of producing a fixed-bed catalyst with nano-scale structure using a nano-powder production reactor and a filter, the method comprising: introducing a starting powder into the reactor, wherein the starting powder comprises catalyst material; the reactor nano-sizing the starting powder, thereby producing an output, wherein the output comprises a nano-powder entrained in a fluid stream, the nano-powder comprising a plurality of nano-particles, each nano-particle comprising the catalyst material; introducing the output from the reactor to the filter structure, wherein the filter structure is fluidly coupled to the reactor; the filter structure separating the nano-particles from the fluid stream, wherein the fluid stream flows through the filter structure, while the filter structure collects the nano-particles, thereby forming a structured collection of catalytic nano-particles on the filter structure; and removing the filter structure from the reactor, wherein the structured collection of catalytic nano-

Abstract: A system operating in an environment having an ambient pressure, the system comprising: a reactor configured to combine a plasma stream, powder particles and conditioning fluid to alter the powder particles and form a mixture stream; a supply chamber coupled to the reactor; a suction generator configured to generate a suction force at the outlet of the reactor; a fluid supply module configured to supply the conditioning fluid at an original pressure; and a pressure regulation module configured to: receive the conditioning fluid from the fluid supply module, reduce the pressure of the conditioning fluid from the original pressure to a selected pressure relative to the ambient pressure regardless of any changes in the suction force at the outlet of the reactor, and supply the conditioning fluid at the selected pressure to the supply chamber.

Abstract: A device for sampling of a mixture of ultrafine particles within a moving gas stream includes a suction generator, at least one sample collection element, and a conduit structure coupling the sample collection element with the suction generator. In some embodiments, the suction generator is configurable to separate by suction a portion of a gas stream containing a plurality of ultrafine particles, and to entrain with a motive fluid forming an output mixture. In some embodiments, a conduit is configured to accept a gas stream containing ultrafine particles and to channel it to the collection element.

Abstract: A method of forming a catalytic region on a porous structure having an exterior surface and a plurality of pores, the method comprising: forming a supercritical dispersion, wherein the supercritical dispersion comprises a plurality of particles dispersed in a supercritical fluid; exposing the porous structure to the supercritical dispersion; and depositing the plurality of particles from the supercritical dispersion onto the porous structure, wherein each one of the deposited plurality of particles is catalytic, thereby forming one or more catalytic regions on the porous structure. The method is particularly well suited for creating catalytic regions within pre-formed microporous structures.