Henryka Danuta Stryczewska

Temperature Distribution in the Gliding Arc Discharge Chamber

Abstract Low temperature, non-equilibrium plasma was generated during gliding arc discharge in a multi-electrode reactor at atmospheric pressure. Various diagnostic methods to determine electrons and gas temperature were used. Hot electrons’ temperature has been determined by optical spectroscopy. In the case of gas temperature, which is much lower, it was determined directly by the thermovision camera to avoid tedious calculations from the spectral lines. The results of the plasma diagnostics generated by gliding arc for different process gases and their flow rates are presented and discussed. Simplified diagnostic method would be very perspective for monitoring of various technological processes where plasma is used such as treatment of flue gases, wastes utilization, deodorization, disinfection and sterilization, material processing and new material manufacturing for application in microelectronics and nanotechnologies.

Power Systems of Plasma Reactors for Non-Thermal Plasma Generation

Abstract Recently, many different plasma sources are being investigated for exhaust gases treatment, odor abatement, VOC removal, soil conditioning, surface decontamination or tissue disinfection and sterilization. Among many different plasma reactors investigated in laboratories, gliding arc discharges (GAD), dielectric barrier discharges (DBD), pulsed discharges (PD), atmospheric pressure glow discharges (APGD) and atmospheric pressure plasma jets (APPJ) seem to be the most promising for high pressure low temperature applications. They can be designed as multi-electrodes’ high power system that can be used in environment protection processes, like decontamination of large surfaces and treatment of large volume of polluted gases, as well as small size and low power devices for biomedical applications, like plasma healing, disinfection and sterilization. Paper presents review of power supply systems for cold plasma reactors. Dielectric Barrier Discharge (DBD), Gliding Arc Discharge (GAD) and atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ) reactors with their supply systems have been discussed from the point view of their characteristics, possibility to control power to the discharge and efficiency. Taking into account the plasma reactor characteristics and nature (nonlinear resistive and/or capacitive) different solutions of power suppliers have been presented: transformer type, AC/DC/AC inverter, RF-frequency system and frequency resonant inverter.

Sterilization Techniques for Soil Remediation and Agriculture Based on Ozone and AOP

Abstract The sterilizing and remediation effects of the non-equilibrium atmospheric pressure plasmas are known for decades. Low temperature atmospheric pressure plasmas are considered as a promising alternative to conventional sterilizing methods, which have numerous drawbacks. Influence of various parameters such as discharge regimes, reactor geometries, gases, etc., on formation and effectiveness of plasma were investigated by many research groups. This paper presents the review of recently developed, environmentally safe technologies applied for the agriculture and soil remediation. The results of ozone soil sterilization and ozone influence on the DNA structure of Escherichia coli are described. The results of oxidants’ influence on humic acid are presented.

Modeling of the Temperature Distribution in Arc Discharge Plasma Reactor

Abstract For pollution control the non-thermal plasma seems to be the most convenient source of energetic electrons and chemically active species. In the electrical discharges the non-thermal plasma condition at atmospheric pressure can be obtained with fast gas flow through the discharge chamber volume, like in DC glow discharge or AC gliding arc discharge. The electrons temperature and its volumetric distribution is one of the fundamental parameters that should be study if we want to obtain the non-equilibrium low temperature plasma conditions in given geometry of the plasma reactor. These conditions depend on the kind of plasma gas and its velocity, geometry of the gliding arc reactor and on parameters of the power supply system. Paper presents a simplified mathematical model of the two -electrode gliding arc reactor to determine electron temperature and its distribution. Results of calculations are useful for selection of the power supply systems parameters and their design as to ensure the non-equilibrium state of gliding arc discharge plasma. Further calculations aim at three-and multielectrode reactors and three-dimension temperature distribution.

Arc Plasma Reactor Power System with 5-Limb Transformer

Abstract The arc plasma reactors are especially suitable for treatment of big volumes of exhaust gases emitted to the atmosphere during various technological processes. They can operate at three-phase power system and can be connected in series or in parallel to the gas flow. Their proper operation require power supply systems that should ionize the inter-electrode zone and maintain the cyclic and non-equilibrium operation of the arc discharge after ignition while presenting stable and reliable operation. Transformers of special construction are the basic elements of all of arc discharge plasma reactors power systems. Paper presents results of investigation of 5-limb transformer as a power supply for the arc plasma reactor. The possibility to take advantage of the voltage induced in the yokes of this kind of transformer for ignition of the discharge is also discussed.

Solar energy for soil conditioning

Constant increase of energy consumption by growing population and shortening of natural resources will impose greater limitations of electric energy consumption by various treatment technologies. Shifting from large-scale treatment facilities powered from conventional sources to autonomic, small, and medium size installations supplied from renewables is one of the possible solutions. Results of ozone soil treatment are presented. PV panels supplied, on-site installation for soil treatment is proposed.

Autonomous Water Treatment Installation Energized from PV Panels

Abstract Low temperature plasma generated by dielectric barrier discharge is well known source of active specious that can be applied in processes of water, air and soil treatment. Ozone generators can be energized from solar energy. The solution is specially advantageous in the regions with satisfactory solar radiation situated in remote terrains far from power network. Paper presents results of research carried out at the experimental stand as well as at the prototype of autonomous water treatment installation for domestic purposes, energized from photovoltaic panels.

Non-Thermal Plasma Aided Soil Decontamination

Abstract Low temperature atmospheric pressure plasmas (LTPs) together with advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) are alternative to conventional chemical methods of soil decontamination. The processing of soil itself depends on several factors, like type of soil and pollutants, treatment technique, geological and atmospheric circumstances. In the paper problems of soil, water, buildings, farms, land, and housing contaminations after floods and ecological disasters have been introduced. Plasma aided techniques together with AOPs have been presented from the point of view of decontamination potential as well as their impact on soil properties and fertility. Additionally, nanosize biological phenomena occurring in DNA strands during ozonation were visualized. The reaction of ozone with DNA is essential to understand the sterilization in agricultural soil. The structural images of the DNA samples were taken with the atomic force microscopy (AFM). It was shown that highly concentrated ozone broke hydrogen bonding of nuclei bases of DNA in relatively short time.

Application of Solar Energy in the Processes of Gas, Water and Soil Treatment

Small water, wastewater, gas and soil treatment installations supplied with electric energy from renewable energy sources are perfect example of zero-emission technology achieved with reasonable cost (Pawlat et al., 2011). Possibility of solar energy application, as one of the alternative energy resources for decontamination processes is strongly dependent on geographical location. Near-equatorial places called “sunny belt” are much more favorable and cost-effective for solar installations. However, constant growth of fuel prices in the last decade caused rapid development of solar technology across Europe, including its northern parts. The average insolation of Europe territory is presented in Fig. 1. (Energie-Atlas GmbH, 2005).

Properties of gliding arc (GA) reactors energized from AC/DC/AC power converters

Industrial plasma reactors design requires knowledge of their characteristics at different conditions of power supply system. Gliding arc plasma (GAD) characteristics are very sensitive either on these parameters or the properties and dynamic of the plasma gas (velocity, kind of gas and its composition). Paper presents the results of investigations of the atmospheric pressure low temperature GAD plasma properties controlled by a power electronic inverter and by a transformer type power supply system. Measurements are performed for discharges in argon, nitrogen and their mixtures in three-electrode plasma reactor. AC/DC/AC inverter has operated as a current and voltage source.