Abstract: Devices and methods for generating a plasma in a liquid are provided. A low-dielectric material can be placed in contact with the liquid to form an interface a distance from an anode. A voltage can be applied across the anode and a cathode submerged in the liquid to produce the plasma. A variety of devices are provided, including for continuous operation. The devices and methods can be used to generate a plasma in a variety of liquids, for example for water treatment, hydrocarbon reformation, or synthesis of nanomaterial.

Abstract: Systems and methods configured to produce electrical discharges in compositions, such as those, for example, configured to produce electrical discharges in compositions that comprise mixtures of materials, such as a mixture of a material having a high dielectric constant and a material having a low dielectric constant (e.g., a composition of a liquid having a high dielectric constant and a liquid having a low dielectric constant, a composition of a solid having a high dielectric constant and a liquid having a low dielectric constant, and similar compositions), and further systems and methods configured to produce materials, such as through material modification and/or material synthesis, in part, resulting from producing electrical discharges in compositions.

Abstract: Devices and methods for generating a plasma in a liquid are provided. A low-dielectric material can be placed in contact with the liquid to form an interface a distance from an anode. A voltage can be applied across the anode and a cathode submerged in the liquid to produce the plasma. A variety of devices are provided, including for continuous operation. The devices and methods can be used to generate a plasma in a variety of liquids, for example for water treatment, hydrocarbon reformation, or synthesis of nanomaterial.

Abstract: Methods for the reformation of gaseous hydrocarbons are provided. The methods can include forming a bubble containing the gaseous hydrocarbon in a liquid. The bubble can be generated to pass in a gap between a pair of electrodes, whereby an electrical discharge is generated in the bubble at the gap between the electrodes. The electrodes can be a metal or metal alloy with a high melting point so they can sustain high voltages of up to about 200 kilovolts. The gaseous hydrocarbon can be combined with an additive gas such as molecular oxygen or carbon dioxide. The reformation of the gaseous hydrocarbon can produce mixtures containing one or more of H2, CO, H2O, CO2, and a lower hydrocarbon such as ethane or ethylene. The reformation of the gaseous hydrocarbon can produce low amounts of CO2 and H2O, e.g. about 15 mol-% or less.

Abstract: Plasma devices for hydrocarbon reformation are provided. Methods of using the devices for hydrocarbon reformation are also provided. The devices can include a liquid container to receive a hydrocarbon source, and a plasma torch configured to be submerged in the liquid. The plasma plume from the plasma torch can cause reformation of the hydrocarbon. The device can use a variety of plasma torches that can be arranged in a variety of positions in the liquid container. The devices can be used for the reformation of gaseous hydrocarbons and/or liquid hydrocarbons. The reformation can produce methane, lower hydrocarbons, higher hydrocarbons, hydrogen gas, water, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A system for controlling flame instability. The system may include a nozzle coupled to a fuel supply line, an insulation housing coupled to the nozzle, a combustor coupled to the nozzle via the insulation housing, where the combustor is grounded, a pressure sensor coupled to the combustor and configured to detect pressure in the combustor, and an instability controlling assembly coupled to the pressure sensor and to an alternating current power supply. The instability controlling assembly can control flame instability of a flame in the system based on pressure detected by the pressure sensor by applying a voltage from the alternating current power supply to the system to create an electric field.

Abstract: Systems and methods configured to produce electrical discharges in compositions, such as those, for example, configured to produce electrical discharges in compositions that comprise mixtures of materials, such as a mixture of a material having a high dielectric constant and a material having a low dielectric constant (e.g., a composition of a liquid having a high dielectric constant and a liquid having a low dielectric constant, a composition of a solid having a high dielectric constant and a liquid having a low dielectric constant, and similar compositions), and further systems and methods configured to produce materials, such as through material modification and/or material synthesis, in part, resulting from producing electrical discharges in compositions.

Abstract: The present invention provides a plasma reactor for abating hazardous materials generated in a low-pressure process during a process of manufacturing a display or a semiconductor. A plasma reactor for abating hazardous materials according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: a first ground electrode and a second ground electrode disposed at a distance from each other; a dielectric fixed between the first ground electrode and the second ground electrode; and at least one driving electrode disposed on an outer surface of the dielectric, being spaced apart from the first ground electrode and the second ground electrode and connected to an AC power supply unit to receive a driving voltage therefrom.

Abstract: A plasma scrubber that forms a high temperature atmosphere in a reactor to effectively decompose and remove a non-biodegradable gas and reduce power consumption is disclosed. The plasma scrubber includes: a first reactor to which a non-biodegradable gas is supplied; an electrode installed in the first reactor and protruding in the flow direction of the non-biodegradable gas to generate plasma in the non-biodegradable gas supplied between the electrode and the first reactor by a discharge reaction in the first reactor; a second reactor connected to the first reactor to form continuous arc jets by anchoring the plasma to the electrode; and a third reactor connected to the second reactor to decompose the non-biodegradable gas by forming a reaction section of high temperature that contains electrons and chemical species of high reactivity in the second reactor and thereby increasing the stay time and reactivity of the non-biodegradable gas.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a plasma reaction apparatus and a plasma reaction method using the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to a plasma reaction apparatus which is applied to the reforming of fuel by generating rotating arc plasma and using the rotating arc being generated, the chemical treatment of a persistent gas, and the apparatus for decreasing NOx by an occlusion catalyst, and a plasma reaction method using the same. For this purpose, a raw material for a reaction is allowed to flow through an inflow hole in a swirl structure so that the raw material forms a rotating flow to progress. Accordingly, the raw material is sufficiently reacted in a plasma reaction space of a restrictive volume, and a high temperature plasma reaction is more promptly performed.

Abstract: A plasma reaction apparatus and method applied to reformation of fuel by generating and using rotating arc plasma in a furnace, the chemical treatment of a persistent gas, and the apparatus for decreasing NOx by an occlusion catalyst. A raw material for a reaction is allowed to flow into the furnace through a hole, causing it to flow within the furnace in a continuous swirl. Furthermore, an expanded plasma reaction zone is provided by a wide area chamber which is formed on an upper part of the furnace and has a greater width than that of a lower part of the furnace, and thus a plasma being generated can be expanded by the expanded plasma zone and delayed from flowing out of the furnace by corners of the wide area chamber that is spaced from a plasma inducing electrode therein.

Abstract: A plasma reaction apparatus and method applied to reformation of fuel by generating and using rotating arc plasma in a furnace, the chemical treatment of a persistent gas, and the apparatus for decreasing NOx by an occlusion catalyst. A raw material for a reaction is allowed to flow into the furnace through a hole, causing it to flow within the furnace in a continuous swirl. Furthermore, an expanded plasma reaction zone is provided by a wide area chamber which is formed on an upper part of the furnace and has a greater width than that of a lower part of the furnace, and thus a plasma being generated can be expanded by the expanded plasma zone and delayed from flowing out of the furnace by corners of the wide area chamber that is spaced from a plasma inducing electrode therein.

Abstract: A reduction system for particulate materials in exhaust gas, which is connected to a tailpipe of an engine that burns a hydrocarbon-based fuel supplied from a fuel storage tank, and collects and removes particulate materials within the exhaust gas, may include a plasma reactor having a gas inlet and an outlet, and a DPF (diesel particulate filter) trap having a filter. The tailpipe of the engine may communicate with the gas inlet of the plasma reactor, and the outlet of the plasma reactor may communicate with the DPF trap. The exhaust gas exhausted from the engine may be transferred to the DPF trap after being heated while passing through the plasma reactor.

Abstract: A plasma burner and a diesel particulate filter (DPF) trap that can effectively oxidize and remove a particulate material (PM) within an exhaust gas by preheating fuel and mixing the fuel with the exhaust gas are provided. The DPF includes: a filter that is connected to an exhaust conduit at a side opposite to that of an engine; a plasma burner that is provided within the exhaust conduit between the engine and the filter, and that includes a fuel inlet that supplies fuel and a flame vent that projects a flame by a plasma discharge, and that heats exhaust gas; and a fuel inflow conduit that connects the fuel inlet and a fuel tank.

Abstract: The present invention provides a plasma reactor for abating hazardous materials generated in a low-pressure process during a process of manufacturing a display or a semiconductor. A plasma reactor for abating hazardous materials according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: a first ground electrode and a second ground electrode disposed at a distance from each other; a dielectric fixed between the first ground electrode and the second ground electrode; and at least one driving electrode disposed on an outer surface of the dielectric, being spaced apart from the first ground electrode and the second ground electrode and connected to an AC power supply unit to receive a driving voltage therefrom.

Abstract: A plasma scrubber that forms a high temperature atmosphere in a reactor to effectively decompose and remove a non-biodegradable gas and reduce power consumption is disclosed. The plasma scrubber includes: a first reactor to which a non-biodegradable gas is supplied; an electrode installed in the first reactor and protruding in the flow direction of the non-biodegradable gas to generate plasma in the non-biodegradable gas supplied between the electrode and the first reactor by a discharge reaction in the first reactor; a second reactor connected to the first reactor to form continuous arc jets by anchoring the plasma to the electrode; and a third reactor connected to the second reactor to decompose the non-biodegradable gas by forming a reaction section of high temperature that contains electrons and chemical species of high reactivity in the second reactor and thereby increasing the stay time and reactivity of the non-biodegradable gas.

Abstract: A plasma burner and a diesel particulate filter (DPF) trap that can effectively oxidize and remove a particulate material (PM) within an exhaust gas by preheating fuel and mixing the fuel with the exhaust gas are provided. The DPF includes: a filter that is connected to an exhaust conduit at a side opposite to that of an engine; a plasma burner that is provided within the exhaust conduit between the engine and the filter, and that includes a fuel inlet that supplies fuel and a flame vent that projects a flame by a plasma discharge, and that heats exhaust gas; and a fuel inflow conduit that connects the fuel inlet and a fuel tank.

Abstract: A reduction system for particulate materials in exhaust gas, which is connected to a tailpipe of an engine that burns a hydrocarbon-based fuel supplied from a fuel storage tank, and collects and removes particulate materials within the exhaust gas, may include a plasma reactor having a gas inlet and an outlet, and a DPF (diesel particulate filter) trap having a filter. The tailpipe of the engine may communicate with the gas inlet of the plasma reactor, and the outlet of the plasma reactor may communicate with the DPF trap. The exhaust gas exhausted from the engine may be transferred to the DPF trap after being heated while passing through the plasma reactor.

Abstract: Disclosed are a reactor and a method for processing hazardous gas, capable of improving a removing rate of the hazardous gas and the selectivity of a reacting process using a dielectric heat produced by a non-thermal plasma and a catalyst at a process of decomposing the hazardous gas. The reactor comprises a body having an inlet and an outlet; a plurality of planar electrodes arranged parallel in the body and spaced apart from each other at a certain interval, in which the plurality of planar electrodes are alternately connected to an alternating current power, and a ground such that every other planar electrode is connected to the alternating current power and the remaining planar electrodes are connected to the ground; and a power supply unit for applying a voltage of an alternating current frequency to the planar electrodes.