Abstract: Apparatus and method for cleaning air. An air cleaner includes a housing that defines an airflow pathway and a catalytic reactor having a catalyst secured on a porous substrate that is disposed transverse to the airflow pathway. Preferably, the catalyst includes a light activated oxidizing photocatalyst or a thermally activated oxidizing catalyst. A photocatalytic reactor will include a light source directed at a light activated oxidizing photocatalyst, such as TiO2 particles or a binary oxide particle species, which is disposed on the porous substrate. Most preferably, a metal catalyst is disposed on the photocatalyst particles at a concentration or loading between about 0.01 wt % and about 5 wt %. The air cleaner may further comprise an adsorption matrix upstream of the catalytic reactor, optionally in combination with a heater. A particulate filter and/or an electrostatic precipitator may also be disposed upstream of the adsorption matrix and the catalytic reactor.

Abstract: Hydrogen gas production includes supplying a hydrocarbon fluid to a gap between a pair of electrodes, applying a voltage across the electrodes to induce an electrical arc, wherein the electrical arc contacts the hydrocarbon to form a plasma and produces a gaseous product comprising hydrogen gas and a solid product comprising carbon, and dynamically adjusting the gap length to control at least one parameter of the plasma. Preferably, the gap length is decreased during plasma initiation or reformation and increased to increase the hydrogen gas production rate. The method preferably includes dynamically adjusting the spatial separation of the electrodes and rotating at least one electrode while generating hydrogen gas to reduce adherence of solids to the electrodes. Furthermore, the polarity of the electrodes may be periodically reversed, primarily to reduce adherence of solids.

Abstract: A debris collecting apparatus includes a debris conduit (2) one end of which is an operating end (4) and the other end of which is a collecting end with a collecting bag (6) attached thereto. An impeller (8) discharges air into a straight part of the conduit. A switch arrangement is provided to switch the air flow between first "vacuum" flow in which air discharged from the impeller induces an air flow in the debris conduit (2) from the operating end (4) to the collecting end and a second "blowing" flow in which air is discharged from the impeller through the operating end.