Abstract: A low-loss electrode-printed structural dielectric barrier for a non-thermal plasma reactor and non-thermal plasma multi-cell stacks having low-loss electrodes. The low-loss electrode-printed structural dielectric barriers include a structural dielectric barrier having a first side and a second opposite side; a low-loss electrode pattern disposed on the second side of the structural dielectric barrier; the low-loss electrode pattern comprising first and second major electrode sections that are offset from any ribs, supports, ligaments, spacers, tines, or other structure that serves as a structural dielectric connection between dielectric barriers in a multi-cell stack, a connector disposed between and electrically connecting the first and second major electrode sections and offset relative to a centerline perpendicular to the rib orientation, and a bus path connector electrically connected to one of the major electrode sections and offset relative to the centerline.

Abstract: A method for preparing a non-thermal plasma reactor substrate includes disposing electrical vias on green stage first and second ceramic plates; filling the electrical vias with conductive material; and forming electrical contact via cover pads; disposing conductive material on the first ceramic plate to form an electrode plate having a main electrode portion and a terminal lead for electrically connecting the main electrode portion to the electrical vias; laminating the electrode plate and the second ceramic plate together, embedding the electrode therebetween; co-firing the plates to form a laminated co-fired embedded-conductor element; stacking a plurality of the laminated co-fired embedded-conductor elements to form a multi-cell stack, the filled electrical vias aligning in the stack to provide an electrical bus for connecting alternating elements in the stack; and disposing spacers with matching vias and via cover pads between adjacent pairs of elements to form exhaust gas passages.

Abstract: An edge-connected non-thermal plasma reactor includes an element having an edge-connected frame comprising a pair of dielectric edge connectors secured at opposite ends to a pair of outer dielectric plates. The dielectric edge connectors have a backplane and a plurality of tines protruding along one major surface of the backplane. The tines are spaced apart from one another at regular intervals so as to form pockets between adjacent tines. Alternating polarity electrode plates comprising a dielectric barrier plate having an electrode and terminal connection lead disposed on the dielectric barrier are arranged within the edge-connected frame so as to define the presence of a dielectric barrier next to a plasma cell, with the pockets engaging opposite ends of the electrode plates. Double and single dielectric edge-connected reactor elements are provided.

Abstract: Extruded element non-thermal plasma reactors having a single dielectric barrier layer include a first barrier layer of a pair of opposing dielectric barrier layers forming an exhaust channel therebetween, the first barrier layer provided with a first polarity conductor on an interior surface thereof The second barrier layer of the pair of opposing barrier layers is provided with a second polarity conductor on the exhaust channel exterior surface, whereby the second barrier layer provides the single dielectric barrier layer. The second polarity conductor serves as a conductor on the channel interior surface of the adjacent exhaust channel in repetitive fashion until a reactor element of the desired size is achieved. The reactors are free of dedicated conductive passages, providing increased active exhaust channel volume compared to comparable double dielectric barrier elements.

Abstract: A scaleable inter-digitized tine non-thermal plasma reactor element includes at least one pair of inter-digitized tine end connectors connected together defining gas passages between the tines. The prepared inter-digitized tine reactor element has a scaleable height, width, and length. Connectors are defined that enable efficient non-thermal reactor element fabrication for widely varying applications having various flow throughput and constituent reduction requirements.

Abstract: A fuel injector assembly is provided which includes a control valve actuated by a piezoelectric actuator acting through a hydraulic amplifier to facilitate pressurization of fluid fuel within the fuel injector assembly for dispersing the fuel into a combustion chamber. The piezoelectric actuator is excited by a variable voltage source to control the degree of displacement of the hydraulic amplifier to control the degree of fluid fuel dispersement by controlling the degree of displacement of the control valve. The configuration of the control valve may be such as to provide multi-step fluid fuel dispersing thereby providing a low fuel injection pressure and rate followed by a higher fuel injection pressure and rate. Multi-step fluid fuel dispersing may also be accomplished by varying the level of excitation voltage to the piezoelectric actuator.

Abstract: A non-thermal plasma reactor element is provided comprising a multi-cell stack prepared from a plurality of formed building blocks of dielectric material, the walls of the building blocks defining a cell having an exhaust passage for flowing gas to be treated therethrough. A conductive print forming an electrode and connector is disposed on at least one wall of each of the cells and outer insulative plates, disposed on opposite ends of the multi-cell stack, are provided to protect the conductive print. The non-thermal plasma reactor element includes cells defined by a single structural dielectric barrier comprising a “conductor-single structural dielectric barrier-exhaust passage-conductor” arrangement, wherein individual cells of the reactor element are defined by a single structural dielectric barrier.