A glow discharge cell includes an electrically conductive cylindrical vessel, a hollow electrode, a cylindrical screen, a first insulator, a second insulator and a non-conductive granular material. The hollow electrode is aligned with a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical vessel and extends at least from the first end to the second end of the cylindrical vessel. The hollow electrode has an inlet, an outlet, and a plurality of slots or holes. The cylindrical screen is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical vessel and disposed between the hollow electrode and the cylindrical vessel to form a substantially equidistant gap between the cylindrical screen and the hollow electrode. The first insulator seals the first end of the cylindrical vessel around the hollow electrode. The second insulator seals the second end of the cylindrical vessel around the hollow electrode. The non-conductive granular material is disposed within the substantially equidistant gap.

A glow discharge cell includes an electrically conductive cylindrical vessel, a hollow electrode, a cylindrical screen, a first insulator, a second insulator and a non-conductive granular material. The hollow electrode is aligned with a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical vessel and extends at least from the first end to the second end of the cylindrical vessel. The hollow electrode has an inlet, an outlet, and a plurality of slots or holes. The cylindrical screen is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical vessel and disposed between the hollow electrode and the cylindrical vessel to form a substantially equidistant gap between the cylindrical screen and the hollow electrode. The first insulator seals the first end of the cylindrical vessel around the hollow electrode. The second insulator seals the second end of the cylindrical vessel around the hollow electrode. The non-conductive granular material is disposed within the substantially equidistant gap.

An ion source having improved life is disclosed. In certain embodiments, the ion source is an IHC ion source comprising a chamber, having a plurality of electrically conductive walls, having a cathode which is electrically connected to the walls of the ion source. Electrodes are disposed on one or more walls of the ion source. A bias voltage is applied to at least one of the electrodes, relative to the walls of the chamber. In certain embodiments, fewer positive ions are attracted to the cathode, reducing the amount of sputtering experienced by the cathode. Advantageously, the life of the cathode is improved using this technique. In another embodiment, the ion source comprises a Bernas ion source comprising a chamber having a filament with one lead of the filament connected to the walls of the ion source.

A surge arrester includes a gas-tight discharge chamber that is formed by at least one insulating body and two electrodes. The electrodes extend into the discharge chamber and include an electrode spacing with respect to one another and a wall spacing with respect to the insulating body inner wall. The electrode spacing is equal to twice the wall spacing or is less than twice the wall spacing.

There is provided a vacuum switching assembly for switching an AC or DC current. The vacuum switching assembly comprises a vacuum switch. The vacuum switch includes: first and second electrodes (20, 22) located in a vacuum tight enclosure, the vacuum tight enclosure containing a gas or gas mixture, the first and second electrodes (20, 22) defining opposed electrodes being separated by a gap, each of the first and second electrodes (20,22) being connectable to a respective electrical circuit carrying an AC or DC voltage; and a pressure controller (36) configured to control an internal pressure of the vacuum tight enclosure, wherein the pressure controller (36) is configured to selectively switch the internal pressure of the vacuum tight enclosure between: a first vacuum level that permits formation and maintenance of a glow discharge in the vacuum tight enclosure to allow a current to flow between the first and second electrodes (20, 22) via the glow discharge so as to turn on the vacuum switch; and a second vacuum level that inhibits formation and maintenance of a glow discharge in the vacuum tight enclosure to prevent a current from flowing between the first and second electrodes (20, 22) via the glow discharge so as to turn off the vacuum switch.

There is provided a vacuum switching assembly for switching an AC or DC current. The vacuum switching assembly comprises a vacuum switch. The vacuum switch includes: first and second electrodes (20, 22) located in a vacuum tight enclosure, the vacuum tight enclosure containing a gas or gas mixture, the first and second electrodes (20, 22) defining opposed electrodes being separated by a gap, each of the first and second electrodes (20,22) being connectable to a respective electrical circuit carrying an AC or DC voltage; and a pressure controller (36) configured to control an internal pressure of the vacuum tight enclosure, wherein the pressure controller (36) is configured to selectively switch the internal pressure of the vacuum tight enclosure between: a first vacuum level that permits formation and maintenance of a glow discharge in the vacuum tight enclosure to allow a current to flow between the first and second electrodes (20, 22) via the glow discharge so as to turn on the vacuum switch; and a second vacuum level that inhibits formation and maintenance of a glow discharge in the vacuum tight enclosure to prevent a current from flowing between the first and second electrodes (20, 22) via the glow discharge so as to turn off the vacuum switch.

A plurality of non-thermal plasma emitters is disposed on a rigid or flexible substrate. The rigid substrate enables the device to be pre-formed in any shape and the flexible substrate enables the device to conform to any surface topography at the time of treatment. The substrate is a dielectric material and in a preferred embodiment is made of thin FR-4. Each of the plasma emitters has a drive electrode on one side of the substrate and a ground electrode on the opposing side of the substrate. In the preferred embodiment both electrodes are centered over a through-hole in the substrate. A conductive drive track is connected to each drive electrode and a conductive ground track is connected to each ground electrode. A drive terminal is connected to the drive track and a ground terminal is connected to the ground track.

A plasma treatment system includes a plasma arc torch, a tee attached to a hollow electrode nozzle of the plasma arc torch, and a screw feed unit or a ram feed unit having an inlet and an outlet attached to the tee. The plasma arc torch includes a cylindrical vessel having a first end and a second end, a first tangential inlet/outlet connected to or proximate to the first end, a second tangential inlet/outlet connected to or proximate to the second end, an electrode housing connected to the first end of the cylindrical vessel such that a first electrode is (a) aligned with a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical vessel, and (b) extends into the cylindrical vessel, and a hollow electrode nozzle connected to the second end of the cylindrical vessel such that a centerline of the hollow electrode nozzle is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical vessel.