An internal combustion engine includes a plasma ignition system having an in-cylinder dielectric barrier-discharge igniter, and a direct-injection fuel injector having an in-cylinder fuel nozzle. The fuel nozzle protrudes into the combustion chamber proximal to the igniter. A controller operatively connects to the internal combustion engine, the plasma ignition system and the fuel injection system. The controller controls the internal combustion engine at an air/fuel ratio that is lean of stoichiometry. The fuel injector injects a first fuel pulse prior to activation of the igniter, and then the igniter initiates a plasma energy pulse. The fuel injector is controlled to inject a second fuel pulse during the plasma energy pulse.

The invention relates to a method for treating an elongated object using a plasma process. The method comprises the steps of providing an elongated object in a planar electrode structure, and applying potential differences between electrodes of an electrode structure to generate the plasma process. Further, the method comprises at least partially surrounding the elongated object by a unitary section of the guiding structure, the electrode structure being associated with the unitary section.

There is provided herein, according to an embodiment, a plasma thread application of dielectric barrier discharge, which incorporates the effectiveness of plasma in sterilization and the flexibility of thread like structure and has the malleability to be formed into any apparel design. The design of one embodiment uses a dielectric coated/insulated wire in the range of 30 to 40 awg based on the application in question. It can be used as sutures or can be woven into a material for countless bandage-like applications. The ready availability of medically approved dielectric materials is conducive to the manufacture of the same.

Heretofore, silicon nitride film formed by low pressure plasma CVD has been used for an antireflection film of a solar battery. But it is difficult to reduce the production cost of a solar battery, because, in a low pressure process, facility cost and process cost are expensive. As disclosed, a nitride film is formed by atmospheric pressure plasma CVD using dielectric barrier discharge generated by a plasma head where a plurality of plasma head unit parts is installed in parallel to generate plasma by applying electric field or magnetic field via a dielectric member. Stable glow discharge is formed even under atmospheric pressure by dielectric barrier discharge. And nitride film deposition under atmospheric pressure and low cost production of a solar battery is materialized by using dielectric barrier discharge and by reacting different plasmas generated from plasma supply openings laying side-by-side.

The invention relates to an electrode arrangement (1) for generating a non-thermal plasma, comprising: a layer-shaped first electrode (2) made of an electrically conductive material, a layer-shaped second electrode (4) made of an electrically conductive material, wherein the second electrode (4) is electrically insulated from the first electrode (2), and a dielectric barrier (3) being arranged between the first electrode (2) and the second electrode (4), so that the non-thermal plasma is generated by a dielectric barrier discharge. The inventive electrode arrangement is characterized in that at least one of the first electrode (2) and the second electrode (4) comprises several perforations which are distributed over the electrode.

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 powder plasma processing apparatus is disclosed. The powder plasma processing apparatus is a powder plasma processing apparatus of a circular surface discharge plasma module, and the apparatus includes a plate-like electrode layer serving as an external surface of the circular surface discharge plasma module, an insulating layer disposed on an internal surface of the plate-like electrode layer, and a plasma generating electrode disposed on the insulating layer, wherein the circular surface discharge plasma module rotates, an alternating voltage is applied to the plasma generating electrode and the plate-like electrode layer to generate plasma around the plasma generating electrode, and a powder for plasma processing is processed by the plasma within the circular surface discharge plasma module.

A plasma generating device comprising: a cylindrical rotational electrode situated lengthwise on a rotating shaft connected to a motor, the rotational electrode disposed over a reservoir and having a contact portion extending into the reservoir; one or more static electrodes held in proximity to the rotational electrode to generate a plasma therebetween when a sufficient voltage difference exists between the static electrodes and the rotational electrode, the sufficient voltage difference created by a high voltage generator connected directly or indirectly to the static electrodes, the rotational electrode, or both; and a dielectric material situated between the rotational electrode and the static electrodes, the dielectric material having a sufficient thickness to prevent a short-circuit between the rotational electrode and the static electrodes yet a minimal thickness to allow the plasma to be generated between the rotational electrode and the static electrodes.

An underwater low temperature plasma generating device includes a first electrode of a tubular type, a second electrode that is arranged inside the first electrode to generate bubbles in water introduced into the first electrode, an insulator arranged between the first electrode and the second electrode and a power supply. The plasma generating device generates low temperature plasma by generating an electric field underwater. The plasma generating device can be used to sterilize contaminated water with low temperature plasma that is generated underwater.

The present invention relates to an underwater low temperature plasma generating device. The device includes: a first electrode of a tubular type; a second electrode that is arranged inside the first electrode to generate bubbles in water introduced into the first electrode; and an insulator arranged between the first electrode and the second electrode. The plasma generating device further includes a power supply. The plasma generating device generates low temperature plasma by generating an electric field underwater. The present invention has an advantageous effect of realizing a tubular low temperature intensive plasma generator that can sterilize contaminated water with low temperature plasma that is generated underwater.