Applications of Gliding ARC as a Source of Atmospheric Pressure Transitional Plasma

Summary form only given. Drexel Plasma Institute has several projects that exploit gliding arc as a source of atmospheric pressure transitional plasma. Transitional plasma or transplasma has parameters in the range between cold and thermal plasmas. Transplasma offers distinct advantages in some processes. We are using transplasma generated by gliding arc (GA) in different systems for the following processes: surface sterilization: conventional flat geometry GA was used in surface sterilization experiments, made in a framework of a joint project with our partners from NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). These experiments have shown efficacy of GA against spores of B. subtilis on an inert surface. Complete sterilization was achieved without significant heating of the substrate. Now we are involved in a joint research with USDA Eastern Regional Research Center where the GA discharge is employed in sterilization of fresh and minimally processed produce. Air sterilization: GA system with magnetic rotation is being used as an innovative method to sterilize indoor air in the event of a chemical or biological terrorist attack. We have constructed a special pathogen detection and remediation facility (PDRF) for handling and processing bacterial and viral bio-aerosols. The PDRF was designed for operation with multiple interchangeable plasma devices, including magnetically rotated GA. Ignition and combustion enhancement: magnetically rotated GA is used in our joint project with Princeton University related to plasma enhancement of combustion and flame stabilization. The effect of non-equilibrium plasma on the stabilization and extinction of nitrogen diluted, methane/air counterflow diffusion flames was investigated both experimentally and numerically. The results show that the extinction limits were significantly extended, with up to 220 percent increase in the extinction strain rate with low levels of plasma power addition. Our research with Applied Plasma Technology Compa- y demonstrated that GA in Tornado system is very promising as an igniter and a pilot in gas turbine engines. Significant advantages of this system are unlimited lifetime of electrodes and possibility to work with air-fuel mixture without soot formation. Plasma catalysis: reverse vortex or "Tornado" stabilized GA is used for methane partial oxidation catalysis. Plasma power consumed for the conversion process was only 0.09 KW-hr per cubic meter of syn-gas produced, which is an insignificant fraction of the total heat value or chemical power of the system.