A dielectric barrier discharge plasma reactor, for activating a gas-phase chemical reaction, includes at least one tubular pipe made of dielectric material, an inner electrode and an outer electrode. The inner electrode is limited to the inlet of an active zone of the reactor, so that voltage pulses applied between both electrodes generate propagating discharges in the active zone. The reactor produces a volume-contact between a gas stream containing reactants and a plasma created by the discharges, allowing effective transfer of activation energy between the plasma and the reactants.

A process comprises feeding a stream of reactant compounds to a reactor and discharging a liquid plasma into the reactant stream in the reactor, wherein the plasma initiates or accelerates a reaction of the reactant compounds to form a product composition. The reactor can comprise one or more chambers, a high-voltage electrode positioned at a first portion of the one or more chambers, a ground electrode positioned at a second portion of the one or more chambers, and a dielectric plate between the ground electrode and the high-voltage electrode that comprises openings through which the reactant stream can pass from the first portion to the second portion or from the second portion to the first portion. Discharging the plasma can include supplying electrical power to the high-voltage electrode such that plasma is discharged where the reactant stream flows through the openings.

An apparatus for synergistically combining a plasma with a comminution means such as a fluid kinetic energy mill (jet mill), preferably in a single reactor and/or in a single process step is provided by the present invention. Within the apparatus of the invention potential energy is converted into kinetic energy and subsequently into angular momentum by means of wave energy, for comminuting, reacting and separation of feed materials. Methods of use of the apparatus in the practice of various processes are also provided by the present invention.

A vortex water generator forms a vortex water flow for passing arc discharge. The vortex water flow generator includes a cylindrical portion configured to form a vortex water flow along an inner circumference; first middle partition and second middle partition protruding from the inner circumference of the cylindrical portion, a rear partition formed in a rear end side of the cylindrical portion, and a front partition provided in a front end side of the cylindrical portion. Each partition has an opening to include a center axis line position of the cylindrical portion. Each opening has a different opening shape in size. The middle partition and the front partition have negative electrode side surfaces formed by tapered surfaces receding from the negative electrode as close to the center axis line. Arc-shaped beveled portions are formed between the tapered surfaces and inner circumferential surfaces of the openings.

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for triggering and maintaining an exothermic reaction in a reaction material comprising a metal occluded with hydrogen. The reaction material is prepared by loading a hydrogen absorbing material, e.g., a transition metal, with a hydrogen gas that comprises one or more of hydrogen isotopes. Different conditions and system configurations for triggering the exothermic reaction are also disclosed.

A dielectric barrier discharge plasma reactor and method in which plasma is used to activate difficult-to-activate molecules and the catalyst so that chemical conversion of the activated molecules can occur at reduced temperature and pressure conditions to carry out chemical reactions that ordinarily occur at high temperature and high pressure conditions or otherwise do not occur at all. The dielectric barrier discharge plasma reactor includes a tubular outer ground electrode having an inner surface bounding an interior volume therein, a dielectric electrode coaxially mounted in the interior volume of the tubular outer ground electrode, the dielectric electrode comprising a central electrode in a cylindrical dielectric element, the cylindrical dielectric element having an outer surface in spaced relationship to the inner surface of the tubular outer ground electrode to define an annular fluid flow passage therebetween, and a catalyst material comprising catalyst coated on the inner surface of the tubular outer ground electrode and optionally further comprising catalyst in a catalyst bed in the annular fluid flow passage.

A plasma treatment method that includes providing treatment chamber including an intermediate heating volume and an interior treatment volume. The interior treatment volume contains an electrode assembly for generating a plasma and the intermediate heating volume heats the interior treatment volume. A work piece is traversed through the treatment chamber. A process gas is introduced to the interior treatment volume of the treatment chamber. A plasma is formed with the electrode assembly from the process gas, wherein a reactive species of the plasma is accelerated towards the fiber tow by flow vortices produced in the interior treatment volume by the electrode assembly.

An apparatus for producing synthesis gas at high capacity is described, wherein particularly fast conversion and operation for a long time without interruption is obtained. The apparatus comprises a reactor (1) having a reactor chamber (2) which comprises at least one first inlet (5) connected to a source of hydrocarbon fluid and at least one outlet (15); further a plasma burner (7) having a burner part (11) which is adapted to produce a plasma; and at least one second inlet (6) connected to a source of CO.sub.2 or H.sub.2O. The reactor chamber (2) defines a flow path from the first inlet (5) to the outlet (15), wherein the burner part is located, with respect to the flow path, between the first inlet (5) for hydrocarbon fluid and the second inlet (6) for CO.sub.2 or H.sub.2O; and wherein the second inlet (6) is located with respect to the flow path such that the second inlet (6) is at a location where between 90% and 95% of the hydrocarbon fluid is thermally decomposed. Further a method for operating an apparatus for producing synthesis gas is described.

A production apparatus for fine particles includes a vacuum chamber, a material supply device, a plurality of electrodes arranged and a collection device connecting to the other end of the vacuum chamber and collecting fine particles, which generates plasma and produces fine particles from the material particles, in which a first electrode arrangement region on the material supply port's side and a second electrode arrangement region apart from the first electrode arrangement region to the collection device's side which respectively cross a direction in which the material flows between the vicinity of the material supply port and the collection device are provided in the intermediate part of the vacuum chamber, and both the first electrode arrangement region and the second electrode arrangement region are provided with a plurality of electrodes respectively to form the electrodes in multi-stages.

A treatment liquid production device includes a first tank; a first plasma generating device that includes a first pair of electrodes and a first power supply, the first power supply applying a voltage between the first pair of electrodes, the first plasma generating device generating plasma in a liquid in the first tank; a second tank; a second plasma generating device that includes a second pair of electrodes and a second power supply, the second power supply applying a voltage between the second pair of electrodes, the second plasma generating device generating plasma in a liquid in the second tank; and a controller operative to produce a first treatment liquid having a high initial oxidizing power during a first period and a second treatment liquid having a high remaining oxidizing power during a second period which is longer than the first period.