Patent ID: 7163663
Filing Date: 2007-01-16
Classification: B01D,B01J,C01B,F01N

Abstract:
1. A silent discharge or dielectric barrier reactor for plasma assisted treatment of a gaseous medium, which reactor comprises at least one pair of electrodes between which is an intervening dielectric barrier layer defining between at least one of the electrodes and the dielectric barrier layer at least one gas flow path through which gaseous medium may pass, such that, in use, a plasma discharge is generated in the gaseous medium by application of an appropriate electrical potential across the or each electrode pair, a layer of material between the electrodes, which layer may comprise said dielectric barrier layer or may be separate therefrom, and which provides a surface over which the gaseous medium flows, means for causing entrapment on said surface of selected species or particulate matter in the gaseous medium, and said surface extends along at least part of the length of said gas flow path characterised in that the electrodes are so arranged as to promote surface discharge to take place along said surface on which the selected species or particulate matter is entrapped and an array of discrete electrodes is positioned close to said surface in pairs, each discrete electrode being electrically insulated by a dielectric barrier from neighbouring electrodes, whereby application across each successive pair of said discrete electrodes of a high voltage alternating or pulsed or direct electrical potential for generating plasma in gaseous medium adjacent said surface causes surface discharge across said surface between the electrode pairs.