Apparatuses and methods are provided for applying radio frequency (RF) energy from a source of electromagnetic energy to an object in an energy application zone. At least one processor may be configured to acquire information indicative of electromagnetic energy loss associated with at least a portion of the energy application zone. The processor may be further configured to determine a weight to be applied to each of a plurality of electromagnetic field patterns each having a known electromagnetic field intensity distribution and cause the source to supply each of the plurality of electromagnetic field patterns to the energy application zone at the determined weights.

A powder treatment plasma device according to the present invention maximizes processing capacity for performing processing all at once, by stacking a plurality of flat and porous filter electrodes, and thus improves processing efficiency. In addition, since vibration is applied to the filter electrodes by using a vibration generator while causing powder to be adsorbed on surfaces of the filter electrodes by using an adsorption means, the powder can be evenly dispersed on the surfaces of the filter electrodes and mixed, and thus the powder can be evenly surface-treated.

The present invention provides a method of controlling back reactions or recombination reactions of product molecules formed in a dissociation reaction of reactant molecules of a fluid sample, in a reaction chamber. The method comprises introducing the fluid sample into the reaction chamber through one or more inlets, initiating the dissociation reaction of the reactant molecules of the fluid sample in the reaction chamber to form the product molecules, creating a patterned flow of the fluid sample in the reaction chamber to reduce/minimize disordered and/or turbulent mixing of the reactant molecules and/or product molecules in the fluid sample, and conveying the fluid sample comprising the product molecules out from the reaction chamber through one or more outlets.

Apparatus for plasma synthesis of graphitic products including graphene, comprising: a plasma nozzle coupled to a reaction chamber; means for supplying a process gas to the plasma nozzle, the process gas comprising a carbon-containing species; and means for supplying radio frequency radiation to the process gas within the plasma nozzle, so as to produce a plasma within the nozzle in use, and thereby cause cracking of the carbon-containing species; wherein the plasma nozzle is arranged such that an afterglow of the plasma extends into the reaction chamber, the cracked carbon-containing species also passes into the reaction chamber, and the cracked carbon-containing species recombines within the afterglow, so as to form graphitic products including graphene. A method of plasma-synthesising graphitic products including graphene is also provided.

A fluid treatment apparatus is described for the treatment of a fluid substance having multiple component substances to control levels of one or more particular component substances. The apparatus has a reactor chamber; a fluid inlet adapted to provide fluid communication from an external supply of a fluid substance to be treated to said reactor chamber whereby said fluid substance may pass into and through said reactor chamber; a fluid outlet adapted to provide a fluid communication from said reactor chamber whereby said fluid substance may pass from said reactor chamber; at least one first electromagnetic radiation (EMR) waveguide, having at least one first waveguide input port operably coupled within said reactor chamber and adapted to couple electromagnetic radiation of a predetermined first wavelength to a fluid substance passing through said reactor chamber. A method for the treatment of a fluid substance is also described.

A plant for drying and solid state polycondensing a granular moisture-containing polymeric material includes a conduit feeding material to be treated longitudinally, a treatment zone located along the conduit, a blower of an inert gas into the conduit, and a radiating device emitting an alternating electromagnetic field in the radio-frequency band to dry and upgrade the material. The radiating device includes applicators, located at the treatment zone and external to the conduit in longitudinally offset positions, which are connected to the terminals of an electromagnetic wave generator and include pairs of opposed radiating elements that generate an alternating electromagnetic field in the conduit, with field lines at least partially parallel to the direction of feed of the material, and that define magnetic dipoles with opposite polarities along the conduit. A method of drying and solid state polycondensing a polymeric material in granular form obtained by polycondensation using the plant.

A method, system and equipment (31) for activating biochar (29) includes flowing a reactive gas into a chamber (33; 305), using an electrical field to create a plasma (75) in the chamber, using a magnetic field (105) to increase density of the plasma and activating biochar with the plasma in the chamber. Use of inductive magnetic coil(s) (131) with an essentially closed loop magnetic field, and/or a permanent magnet(s) (101; 317) are also provided in a further aspect of the present method and apparatus. Another aspect causes magnetic densification of one or multiple plasmas in a chamber (305) to treat a previously produced layer of thin film (303).

A system and method for increase chemical reaction rates and/or lower reaction temperatures. The system relates to a chemical reactor including non-electrically conducting support and an electron source in communication with the support. The reactor further includes an electromagnetic source in communication with at least the electron source and the non-electrically conducting support.

The invention relates to a method and apparatus for physically working and/or heating media, in particular liquids. The high expenditure of energy of the known methods can be avoided, with reduced environmental impact, by the hydrodynamically worked medium being exposed to polar and/or ionic electrochemical potentials and electrochemical signals RC AC.

A gas reactor system may be configured for facilitating chemical reactions of gases using shockwaves produced in a supersonic gaseous vortex. The system may include a gas source to provide a gas to a heater and/or a reactor. The reactor may be configured to facilitate chemical reactions of gases using shockwaves created in a supersonic gaseous vortex. The reactor may be arranged with a gas inlet to introduce a high-velocity steam of gas into a chamber of the reactor. The gas inlet may effectuate a vortex of supersonic circulating gas within the chamber. The vortex may rotate at supersonic speed about the longitudinal axis of the chamber. The system may be configured to store an output product of the reactor in a storage tank in fluid communication with the reactor.