U.S. patent application number 10/395045 was filed with the patent office on 2004-09-23 for combustion enhancement with silent discharge plasma.
This patent application is currently assigned to THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA. Invention is credited to Coates, Don M., Platts, David, Rosocha, Louis A..
Application Number | 20040185396 10/395045 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32988531 |
Filed Date | 2004-09-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040185396 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rosocha, Louis A. ; et
al. |
September 23, 2004 |
Combustion enhancement with silent discharge plasma
Abstract
A device that uses electrical discharges/nonthermal plasmas in a
gaseous medium to activate a fuel or fuel-oxidizer mixture to
promote more effective and efficient combustion, in which a
dielectric barrier discharge or silent discharge plasma is used to
break up larger organic molecules (the fuel) into smaller ones that
are more easily and completely combusted. The discharge also
creates free radicals that promote more efficient combustion. The
device is a cylindrical, coaxial (cylinder in a cylinder)
dielectric barrier discharge/silent discharge plasma reactor. It
includes two conducting electrodes, one or both of which are
covered by a dielectric material. The electrodes are separated by a
thin, gas-containing space. A high voltage is applied to the
electrodes to create electric discharge streamers in the gas. The
discharges are the source of the nonthermal plasma.
Inventors: |
Rosocha, Louis A.; (Los
Alamos, NM) ; Coates, Don M.; (Santa Fe, NM) ;
Platts, David; (Los Alamos, NM) |
Correspondence
Address: |
JOHN P. O'BANION
O'BANION & RITCHEY LLP
400 CAPITOL MALL SUITE 1550
SACRAMENTO
CA
95814
US
|
Assignee: |
THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF
CALIFORNIA
|
Family ID: |
32988531 |
Appl. No.: |
10/395045 |
Filed: |
March 21, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
431/2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02T 10/12 20130101;
F02M 27/042 20130101; Y02T 10/126 20130101; F02B 51/06 20130101;
F23C 99/001 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
431/002 |
International
Class: |
F23B 001/00 |
Goverment Interests
[0001] This invention was made with Government support under
Contract No. W-7405-ENG-36, awarded by the Department of Energy.
The Government has certain rights in this invention.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A device for processing combustible gases, comprising: a high
voltage electrode; a ground electrode slightly spaced from the high
voltage electrode; a dielectric layer disposed adjacent to the high
voltage electrode between the high voltage electrode and the ground
electrode; a gas modification passage established within the
housing between the dielectric layer and the ground electrode; and
a process gas supply providing a process gas to the gas
modification passage.
2. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein the high voltage
electrode is energizable to create nonthermal electrical
microdischarges between the high voltage electrode and the ground
electrode across the dielectric layer.
3. A device as recited in claim 2, wherein the process gas flows
through the nonthermal electrical microdischarges.
4. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein the high voltage
electrode is cylindrical.
5. A device as recited in claim 4, wherein the ground electrode is
established by a metal oxidizer gas supply tube disposed within the
high voltage electrode.
5. A device as recited in claim 4, wherein the ground electrode is
established solid metal cylinder disposed within the high voltage
electrode.
7. A device as recited in claim 5, wherein the dielectric layer is
established by a cylindrical dielectric tube, the dielectric tube
being circumscribed by the high voltage electrode.
8. A device as recited in claim 7, wherein the high voltage
electrode, the dielectric tube, and the oxidizer gas supply tube
are concentric to each other.
9. A device as recited in claim 8, wherein the gas modification
passage is established between the dielectric tube and the oxidizer
gas supply tube.
10. A device as recited in claim 9, further comprising: a
cylindrical dielectric tube circumscribing the oxidizer gas supply
tube.
11. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein the high voltage
electrode is a metal rectangular plate.
12. A device as recited in claim 11, wherein the ground electrode
is a rectangular plate made from a metal, the ground electrode
being slightly spaced from the high voltage electrode.
13. A device as recited in claim 12, wherein the dielectric layer
is a rectangular plate made from a dielectric material.
14. A device as recited in claim 13, wherein the dielectric layer
is a first dielectric layer and the device further comprises: a
second dielectric layer, the second dielectric layer being a
rectangular plate, the gas modification passage being established
between the first dielectric layer and the second dielectric
layer.
15. A device for processing combustible gases, comprising: a gas
modification passage; means for supplying a process gas to the gas
modification passage; and means for creating nonthermal electrical
microdischarge at least partially along the length of the gas
modification passage, the process gas flowing through the
nonthermal electrical microdischarge.
16. A device as recited in claim 15, wherein the means for creating
nonthermal electrical microdischarge comprises: at least one high
voltage electrode; at least one ground electrode slightly spaced
from the high voltage electrode; and at least one dielectric layer
disposed between the high voltage electrode and the ground
electrode, the dielectric layer being adjacent to one of: the high
voltage electrode or the ground electrode.
17. A device as recited in claim 16, wherein the gas modification
passage is established between the high voltage electrode and the
ground electrode at least partially along the length of the
dielectric layer.
18. A device as recited in claim 17, wherein the high voltage
electrode is energizable to create nonthermal electrical
microdischarges between the high voltage electrode and the ground
electrode across the dielectric layer.
19. A device for processing combustible gases, comprising: a
cylindrical housing; a metal oxidizer gas supply tube disposed
within the housing, the oxidizer gas supply tube being electrically
grounded; a first dielectric tube disposed within the housing
around the oxidizer gas supply tube; a gas modification passage
established between the oxidizer gas supply tube and the first
dielectric tube; and a metal high voltage electrode circumscribing
the first dielectric tube, the high voltage electrode being
energizable to create nonthermal electrical microdischarges between
the high voltage electrode and the oxidizer gas supply tube at
least partially along the length of the gas modification
passage.
20. A device as recited in claim 19, further comprising: a process
gas supply in fluid communication with the gas modification
passage, the process gas supply providing process gas to the gas
modification passage.
21. A device as recited in claim 20, further comprising: a
combustion chamber in fluid communication with the gas modification
passage, the gas modification passage providing a modified gas to
the combustion chamber.
22. A device as recited in claim 21, further comprising: an air
supply in fluid communication with: the gas modification passage or
the combustion chamber.
23. A device as recited in claim 19, wherein the high voltage
electrode is a metal cylinder.
24. A device as recited in claim 19, wherein the high voltage
electrode is a wire wound around the first dielectric tube.
25. A device as recited in claim 19, further comprising: a second
dielectric tube circumscribing the oxidizer gas supply tube, the
gas modification passage being established between the first
dielectric tube and the second dielectric tube.
26. A device for processing combustible gases, comprising: a
rectangular box-shaped housing; a metal, rectangular, plate-shaped
ground electrode disposed within the housing; a rectangular,
plate-shaped first dielectric layer slightly spaced from the ground
electrode; a gas modification passage established between the
ground electrode and the dielectric layer; and a metal,
rectangular, plate-shaped high voltage electrode adjacent to the
dielectric layer, the high voltage electrode being energizable to
create nonthermal electrical microdischarge between the high
voltage electrode and the ground electrode at least partially along
the length of the gas modification passage.
27. A device as recited in claim 26, further comprising: a process
gas supply in fluid communication with the gas modification
passage, the process gas supply providing process gas to the gas
modification passage.
28. A device as recited in claim 27, further comprising: a
combustion chamber in fluid communication with the gas modification
passage, the gas modification passage providing a modified gas to
the combustion chamber.
29. A device as recited in claim 28, further comprising: an air
supply in fluid communication with: the gas modification passage or
the combustion chamber.
30. A device as recited in claim 19, further comprising: a
rectangular, plate-shaped second dielectric layer adjacent to the
ground electrode, the gas modification passage being established
between the first dielectric layer and the second dielectric
layer.
31. A method for processing combustible gases, comprising:
establishing a gas modification passage, the gas modification
passage defining a length; creating nonthermal electrical
microdischarges at least partially along the length of the gas
modification passage; and providing a process gas to the gas
modification passage such that the process gas flows through the
nonthermal electrical microdischarges.
32. A method as recited in claim 31, further comprising: providing
a modified process gas to a combustion chamber, the modified
process gas resulting from the flow of process gas through the
nonthermal electrical microdischarge.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0002] Not Applicable
INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT
DISC
[0003] Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] 1. Field of the Invention
[0005] This invention pertains generally to devices for processing
combustible gases, and more particularly to non-thermal plasma
reactors.
[0006] 2. Description of Related Art
[0007] To operate fossil-fueled motor vehicles and other
combustion-related engines or machinery under higher efficiency and
reduced pollution output conditions in the future, it is desirable
to have clean-burning, energy-efficient fuel usage. Higher-order
hydrocarbons can be broken up, activated, or exposed to active
species to achieve greater combustion efficiency. One example of a
particular application is the deployment of a controlled-detonation
gas-turbine engine (e.g., an aircraft engine).
[0008] Prior-art plasma combustion-enhancement reactors use thermal
arcs or microwave radiation to activate fuel or a fuel-oxidizer
mixture. These devices are inefficient, tend to consume copious
amounts of energy, and have low active species/free radical
yields.
[0009] The present invention has recognized these prior art
drawbacks, and has provided the below-disclosed solutions to one or
more of the prior art deficiencies.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The present invention is a device that employs electrical
discharges/nonthermal plasmas in a gaseous medium to activate or
convert a fuel or a fuel-oxidizer mixture to promote more effective
and efficient combustion. In nonthermal plasmas, the electrons are
"hot", while the ions and neutral species are "cold"--which results
in little waste enthalpy being deposited in a process gas stream.
This is in direct contrast to thermal plasmas, where the electron,
ion, and neutral-species energies are in thermal equilibrium (or
"hot") and considerable waste heat is deposited in the process gas.
The present invention utilizes a type of electrical discharge
called a silent discharge plasma (SDP), or a dielectric barrier
discharge (DBD), to break up large organic fuel molecules into
smaller molecules that are more easily and completely combusted and
to create highly reactive free-radical chemical species that can
promote more efficient combustion by their strong oxidizing power
or by their ability to promote combustion-sustaining chain
reactions or chain reactions that further generate active
species.
[0011] In the present invention, a SDP/DBD reactor is applied to
gas streams containing organic fuels or fuel/oxidizer mixtures.
[0012] In one aspect of the present invention, a device for
processing combustible gases includes a high voltage electrode and
a ground electrode that is slightly spaced from the high voltage
electrode. A dielectric layer is disposed adjacent to the high
voltage electrode between the high voltage electrode and the ground
electrode. A gas modification passage is established within the
housing between the dielectric layer and the ground electrode.
Moreover, a process gas supply provides a process gas to the gas
modification passage. The high voltage electrode can be energizable
to create nonthermal electrical microdischarges between the high
voltage electrode and the ground electrode across the dielectric
layer.
[0013] In another aspect of the present invention, a device for
processing combustible gases includes a gas modification passage.
Moreover, the device includes means for supplying a process gas to
the gas modification passage and means for creating nonthermal
electrical microdischarges along the length of the gas modification
passage. The process gas flows through the nonthermal electrical
microdischarge.
[0014] In yet another aspect of the present invention, a device for
processing combustible gases includes a cylindrical housing. A
metal oxidizer gas supply tube is disposed within the housing. The
oxidizer gas supply tube is electrically grounded. Moreover, a
first dielectric tube is disposed within the housing around the
oxidizer gas supply tube and a gas modification passage is
established between the oxidizer gas supply tube and the first
dielectric tube. A metal high voltage electrode circumscribes the
first dielectric tube. The high voltage electrode is energizable to
create nonthermal electrical microdischarges between the high
voltage electrode and the oxidizer gas supply tube along the length
of the gas modification passage.
[0015] In still another aspect of the present invention, a device
for processing combustible gases includes a rectangular box-shaped
housing in which a metal, rectangular, plate-shaped ground
electrode is disposed. A rectangular, plate-shaped dielectric layer
is slightly spaced from the ground electrode and a gas modification
passage is established between the ground electrode and the
dielectric layer. In this aspect, a metal, rectangular,
plate-shaped high voltage electrode is disposed within the housing
adjacent to the dielectric layer. The high voltage electrode is
energizable to create nonthermal electrical microdischarges between
the high voltage electrode and the ground electrode along the
length of the gas modification passage.
[0016] In yet still another aspect of the present invention, a
method for processing combustible gases includes establishing a gas
modification passage that defines a length. Nonthermal electrical
microdischarge is created along the length of the gas modification
passage. Additionally, a process gas is provided to the gas
modification passage such that the process gas flows through the
nonthermal electrical microdischarge.
[0017] An object of the present invention is to provide a device
that can be used to convert or activate either fuel or fuel-air
mixtures.
[0018] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
device that can be used to convert or activate a relatively larger
volume of fuel or fuel-air mixture.
[0019] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
device that can be used in supersonic combustion applications, as
well as conventional internal-combustion engine applications.
[0020] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
device that can be meshed with internal-combustion engine
fuel-injector systems in order to provide a higher proportion of
optimally-atomized and activated fuel into a combustion
chamber.
[0021] Further aspects of the invention will be brought out in the
following portions of the specification, wherein the detailed
description is for the purpose of fully disclosing preferred
embodiments of the invention without placing limitations
thereon.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)
[0022] The invention will be more fully understood by reference to
the following drawings which are for illustrative purposes
only:
[0023] FIG. 1 is a side plan view of a first embodiment of a silent
discharge plasma reactor.
[0024] FIG. 2 is an end view of the first embodiment of the SDP
reactor.
[0025] FIG. 3 is a cross-section view of the first embodiment of
the SDP reactor taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2.
[0026] FIG. 4 is a cross-section view of a second embodiment of a
SDP reactor.
[0027] FIG. 5 is a cross-section view of a third embodiment of a
SDP/DBD reactor.
[0028] FIG. 6 is a cross-section view of a fourth embodiment of a
SDP/DBD reactor.
[0029] FIG. 7 is a side plan view of a fifth embodiment of a
SDP/DBD reactor.
[0030] FIG. 8 is a cross-section view of the fifth embodiment of
the SDP/DBD reactor taken along line 8-8 in FIG. 7.
[0031] FIG. 9 is a cross-section view of a sixth embodiment of a
SDP/DBD reactor.
[0032] FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a non-limiting, exemplary
combustion system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0033] Referring more specifically to the drawings, for
illustrative purposes the present invention is embodied in the
apparatus generally shown in FIG. 1 through FIG. 10. It will be
appreciated that each apparatus may vary as to configuration and as
to details of the parts, and that the method may vary as to the
specific steps and sequence, without departing from the basic
concepts as disclosed herein.
[0034] FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 show a first embodiment of a silent
discharge plasma/dielectric-barrier discharge (SDP/DBD) reactor
according to the present invention, generally designated 10. As
shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the reactor 10 includes a generally
cylindrical housing 12 disposed between a generally disk-shaped
inlet end cap 14 and a generally disk-shaped outlet end cap 16.
FIGS. 1 and 2 show that the end caps 14, 16 can be removably
engaged with the housing 10 using plural nuts 18 and plural bolts
20, but it can be appreciated that any other fastening means well
known in the art can be used.
[0035] FIG. 3 shows that the reactor 10 includes a metal, generally
cylindrical high-voltage (HV) electrode 22 disposed within the
housing 12 between the end caps 14, 16. In a preferred embodiment,
the HV electrode 22 is connected to an alternating current (AC)
source or a pulsed direct current (DC) source. Moreover, a
generally cylindrical, dielectric tube 24 is disposed within the HV
electrode 22 such that the HV electrode 22 closely surrounds the
dielectric tube 24. Preferably, the dielectric tube 24 is made from
a dielectric material, e.g., glass, ceramic, etc. As shown in FIG.
3, a metal, generally cylindrical oxidizer gas supply tube 26 is
disposed within the dielectric tube 24. It is to be understood that
the oxidizer gas supply tube 26 is electrically grounded. It is to
be understood that the electrode 22 and the tubes 24, 26 are
concentric to each other and are centered on a central axis 28
established by the reactor 10.
[0036] FIG. 3 shows that a gas modification passage 30 is
established between the oxidizer gas supply tube 26 and the
dielectric tube 24. Also, an oxidizer gas supply passage 32 is
established within the oxidizer gas supply tube 26. Moreover, one
end of the oxidizer gas supply tube 26 establishes an oxidizer gas
inlet 34 and the other end of the oxidizer gas supply tube 26
establishes an oxidizer gas outlet 36. As shown, a modified process
gas outlet 38 is established by the outlet end cap 16 and leads
from the gas modification passage 30. FIG. 3 further shows that a
first "O" ring 40 and a second "O" ring 42 can be used to seal the
ends of the dielectric tube 24, e.g., by placing the first "O" ring
40 between the dielectric tube 24 and the inlet end cap 14 and by
placing the second "O" ring 42 between the dielectric tube 24 and
the outlet end cap 16.
[0037] FIG. 3 further shows that a first "O" ring groove 44 is
established in the inlet end cap 14 such that it circumscribes the
oxidizer gas supply tube 26 and a third "O" ring 46 is inserted
therein to seal the inlet end cap 14 and prevent modified gas from
escaping from the reactor 10 at the interface between the oxidizer
gas supply tube 26 and the inlet end cap 14.
[0038] It is to be understood that when the HV electrode 22 is
energized, nonthermal electrical microdischarges occurs between the
dielectric tube 24 and the metal oxidizer gas supply tube 26 which
is electrically grounded. The nonthermal electrical microdischarges
occur within the gas modification passage 30 and the width of the
gas modification passage 30 defines a discharge gap 48.
[0039] Preferably, the discharge gap 48 is between one and several
millimeters (e.g., 1-10 mm).
[0040] It is to be understood that as the process gas, e.g., a fuel
or a fuel-air mixture, flows through the gas modification passage
30 within the SDP/DBD reactor 10, the nonthermal electrical
microdischarges between the HV electrode 22 and the grounded
oxidizer gas supply tube 26 across the dielectric tube 24, can
generate highly reactive chemical species, e.g., free radicals, in
the process gas to yield a modified process gas. The modified
process gas can then be fed to an internal combustion engine,
furnace, or any other combustion device. The reactive species
generated within the gas modification passage 30 can break up large
organic fuel molecules into smaller ones that are more easily and
completely combusted and can create highly reactive free-radical
chemical species that can promote more efficient combustion by
their strong oxidizing power or by their ability to promote
combustion-sustaining chain reactions or chain reactions that
further generate active species.
[0041] Accordingly, the present invention can be used to "convert"
combustible fuels. In other words, the present invention can be
used to create fragmented, more easily combustible compounds having
smaller molecules. Additionally, the present invention can be used
to "activate" combustible fuels, i.e., it can be used to create
highly reactive free-radical species that are strong oxidizers or
combustion chain carriers, which tend to increase combustion
efficiency.
[0042] FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of a SDP/DBD reactor
according to the present invention, generally designated 100. As
shown in FIG. 4, the reactor 100 is similar in every aspect to the
reactor shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 except for the following
modifications. First, a wire 102 is wound around the dielectric
tube 24 to establish a HV electrode instead of using HV electrode
22. In addition, the oxidizer gas supply tube 104 shown in FIG. 4
is a tube that is formed with at least one oxidizer outlet 106 to
allow oxidizer gas to flow through the reactor 100. As shown,
oxidizer gas outlet 106 is formed laterally along the oxidizer gas
supply tube 104 and connects the oxidizer gas supply passage 34 to
the gas modification passage 30. Moreover, a plug 108 is installed
at the end of the oxidizer gas supply tube 104.
[0043] FIG. 5 shows a third embodiment of a SDP/DBD reactor
according to the present invention, generally designated 150. As
shown in FIG. 5, the reactor 150 is similar in every aspect to the
reactor shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 except for the following
modifications. First, the oxidizer gas supply tube 152 shown in
FIG. 5 is a tube that is formed with at least one oxidizer outlet
154 to allow oxidizer gas to flow through the reactor 150. Second,
a second dielectric tube 156 circumscribes the oxidizer gas supply
tube 152. Accordingly, a gas modification passage 158 is
established between the dielectric tubes 24, 156 and nonthermal
electrical microdischarges occur between the HV electrode 22 and
the grounded oxidizer gas supply tube 152 across the dielectric
tubes 24, 156. Moreover, a plug 160 is installed the end of the
oxidizer gas supply tube 152.
[0044] FIG. 6 shows a fourth embodiment of a SDP/DBD reactor
according to the present invention, generally designated 170. As
shown in FIG. 6, the reactor 170 is similar in every aspect to the
reactor shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 except for the following
modifications. First, a solid cylindrical ground electrode 172 is
disposed within the dielectric tube 24 which, in turn, is disposed
within the cylindrical HV electrode 22. The gas modification
passage 30 is established between the dielectric tube 24 and the
ground electrode 172 and nonthermal electrical microdischarges
occur between the HV electrode 22 and the ground electrode 172
across the dielectric tube 24. Oxidizer gas flows through an
oxidizer gas inlet 174, through the gas modification passage 30,
and exits the reactor 170 through an oxidizer gas outlet 176. In
this embodiment, oxidizer-activated fuel mixing does not take place
at the end of the electrode 172; instead the activated fuel or
fuel-oxidizer mixture simply exits the reactor through passage 176
and enters a combustion chamber.
[0045] FIGS. 7 and 8 show a fifth embodiment of a SDP/DBD reactor
according to the present invention, generally designated 200. As
shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the reactor 200 includes a generally
rectangular housing 202 disposed between a generally flat,
rectangular, plate-shaped inlet end cap 204 and a generally flat,
rectangular, plate-shaped outlet end cap 206. FIGS. 7 and 8 show
that the end caps 204, 206 can be removably engaged with the
housing 200 using plural nuts 208 and plural bolts 210, but it can
be appreciated that any other fastening means well known in the art
can be used.
[0046] FIG. 8 shows that the reactor 200 includes a metal,
generally flat, rectangular, plate-shaped high-voltage (HV)
electrode 212 disposed within the housing 202 between the end caps
204, 206. Preferably, the HV electrode 212 is connected to an
alternating current (AC) source or a pulsed direct current (DC)
source. Moreover, a generally flat, rectangular dielectric plate
214 is disposed within the reactor 200 immediately adjacent to the
HV electrode 212. Preferably, the dielectric plate 214 is made from
a material such as glass, ceramic, etc. As shown in FIG. 8, a
metal, generally flat, rectangular, plate-shaped ground electrode
216 is disposed within the reactor 200 such that it is slightly
spaced from the dielectric plate 214. It is to be understood that
the ground electrode 216 is electrically grounded.
[0047] As shown in FIG. 8, a gas modification passage 218 is
established between the ground electrode 216 and the dielectric
plate 214. FIG. 8 further shows that the inlet end cap 204 is
formed with a process gas inlet 220 that leads to the gas
modification passage 218. Also, a modified gas outlet 222 is
established by the outlet end cap 206 and leads from the gas
modification passage 220.
[0048] It is to be understood that when the HV electrode 212 is
energized, nonthermal electrical microdischarges occur between the
HV electrode 212 and the ground electrode 216 across the dielectric
plate 214. These nonthermal electrical microdischarges occur within
the gas modification passage 218 and the width of the gas
modification passage 218 defines a discharge gap 224. Preferably,
the discharge gap 224 is between one and several millimeters (e.g.,
1-10 mm). It can be appreciated that as a process gas flows through
the gas modification passage 218, it is modified by the nonthermal
electrical microdischarges within the gas modification passage 218,
as described in detail above.
[0049] Referring now to FIG. 9, a sixth embodiment of a SDP/DBD
reactor according to the present invention is shown and is
generally designated 300. The reactor 300 shown in FIG. 9 is
essentially identical to the reactor shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 with
the one exception that a second dielectric plate 302 is disposed
within the reactor 300 between the HV electrode 212 and the ground
electrode 216. As shown, the second dielectric plate 302 is
immediately adjacent to the ground electrode 216.
[0050] Referring now to FIG. 10, a non-limiting, exemplary
combustion system is shown and is generally designated 400. FIG. 10
shows that the system 400 includes an SDP/DBD reactor, e.g., the
reactor 10 shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 and described in detail
above. A process gas supply 402 can be connected to the SDP/DBD
reactor 10 via a process gas fluid line 404, e.g., by connecting
fluid line 404 to the oxidizer gas inlet 36 (FIG. 3). As shown, a
flow meter 406 is installed along the process gas fluid line 404 to
monitor the flow of gas to the SDP/DBD reactor 10.
[0051] As further shown in FIG. 10, a power supply 408, e.g., an AC
power supply, is connected to the SDP/DBD reactor 10 via a high
voltage (HV) transformer 410. Moreover, an oscilloscope 412 is also
connected to the SDP/DBD reactor 10 and can be used to monitor the
current and voltage of the signal applied to the SDP/DBD reactor 10
that is used to create the nonthermal electrical microdischarges
within the gas modification passage 30 (FIG. 3).
[0052] FIG. 10 shows that the SDP/DBD reactor 10 is connected to a
combustion chamber 414 by a modified process gas fluid line 416
that provides modified gas to the combustion chamber 414. An air
supply 418 provides air to the combustion chamber 414 via an air
fluid line 420 and a flow meter 422 installed along fluid line 420
monitors the flow of air to the combustion chamber 414. It can be
appreciated that the modified gas from the SDP/DBD reactor 10 and
the air from the air supply 418 can be combined within the
combustion chamber 414 and ignited to produce a flame 424. It can
be appreciated that the air supply 418 can also be connected to the
SDP/DBD reactor 10, as indicated by dashed line 426, and the
air/process gas mixture can be modified as described in detail
above as it flows through the gas modification passage 30 (FIG.
3).
[0053] Although the description above contains many details, these
should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but
as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently
preferred embodiments of this invention. Therefore, it will be
appreciated that the scope of the present invention fully
encompasses other embodiments which may become obvious to those
skilled in the art, and that the scope of the present invention is
accordingly to be limited by nothing other than the appended
claims, in which reference to an element in the singular is not
intended to mean "one and only one" unless explicitly so stated,
but rather "one or more." All structural, chemical, and functional
equivalents to the elements of the above-described preferred
embodiment that are known to those of ordinary skill in the art are
expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be
encompassed by the present claims. Moreover, it is not necessary
for a device or method to address each and every problem sought to
be solved by the present invention, for it to be encompassed by the
present claims. Furthermore, no element, component, or method step
in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public
regardless of whether the element, component, or method step is
explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element herein is to be
construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph,
unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase "means
for."
* * * * *