Patent Publication Number: US-9906118-B2

Title: Impedance matching circuit

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a divisional of and claims priority in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/782,874, filed Mar. 1, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,287,800, issued Mar. 15, 2016, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     Embodiments of the current invention relate to plasma reactors and methods and systems that utilize plasma reactors. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Plasma reactors may include at least two electrodes which are spaced apart. Typically, a voltage difference is applied to the electrodes and an electric field is established between them. A stream of gas may be introduced to the space between the electrodes such that it passes through the electric field. Exposure to the electric field generally ionizes the gas and creates a plasma. If a stream of liquid is also introduced to the space between the electrodes, then the plasma may be injected into the liquid as it passes through the electric field. Plasma injection into liquid may be utilized for applications such as: in-line liquid hydrocarbon fuel reforming for hydrogen enrichment to improve the fuel economy of internal combustion engines; nitrogen fixing by direct nitrogen ion injection into water; destruction of high molecular weight hydrocarbons (proteins and pharmaceuticals) in drinking water; ammonia/nitrate sequestering for treatment of high nitrate content water; demineralization (water softening) for consumer and industrial markets; and other similar applications. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A first embodiment of the current invention provides a plasma eductor reactor comprising a housing, an electric field generator, a flow spreader, and a diffuser. The housing may include an internal reactor chamber. The electric field generator may include a first electrode and a spaced apart second electrode and may generate an electric field therebetween. The first and second electrodes each may have an annular shape of roughly the same size. Together, the first and second electrodes may produce a cylindrical electrical field. The plasma educator reactor may also include a dielectric element positioned between the first and second electrodes, adjacent to the first electrode. The flow spreader may supply a stream of gas to the reactor chamber and may be positioned within the reactor chamber concentrically with the first and second electrodes. The diffuser may supply a stream of liquid to the reactor chamber and may be positioned within the reactor chamber concentrically with the first and second electrodes and the flow spreader. The stream of liquid and the stream of gas may flow adjacent one another radially outward from the center of the reactor chamber and pass through the electric field. 
     A second embodiment of the current invention provides a plasma eductor reactor comprising a housing, a liquid passageway, a gas passageway, an electric field generator, and a diffuser. The housing may include an internal reactor chamber. The liquid passageway may supply a stream of liquid to a first end of the reactor chamber. The gas passageway may supply a stream of gas to the first end of the reactor chamber. The electric field generator may include a first electrode and a spaced apart second electrode and may generate an electric field therebetween. The first electrode may have an annular shape, and the second electrode may have a circular shape with a diameter smaller than an inner diameter of the first electrode such that the second electrode is positioned within the interior of the first electrode. The plasma eductor reactor may also include a dielectric element positioned between the first and second electrodes, adjacent to the first electrode. The diffuser may possess an elongated cylindrical shape having a circumferential sidewall with an outer surface. A first end of the diffuser is positioned at the first end of the reactor chamber. The stream of liquid flows axially away from the first end of the reactor chamber along the outer surface of the sidewall and the stream of gas flows adjacent to the stream of liquid as both streams pass through the electric field. 
     A third embodiment of the current invention provides a voltage supply circuit comprising an H-bridge driver, an H-bridge controller, a transformer, an impedance matching network, an inductor, and an output port. The H-bridge driver may switch the electrical polarity of a pair of terminals. The H-bridge controller may send a control signal to the H-bridge driver to control the switching of the electrical polarity. A primary of the transformer may be connected to the terminals of the H-bridge driver. A secondary of the transformer may be connected in parallel with the impedance matching network. The inductor may be connected in series with the secondary. The output port may be connected to the inductor for delivering a voltage to a load. 
     A fourth embodiment of the current invention provides a voltage supply circuit comprising a voltage supply circuit comprising a driver, a controller, a transformer, an impedance matching network, an inductor, and an output port. The driver may switch the electrical polarity of a pair of terminals. The controller may send a control signal to the driver to control the switching of the electrical polarity. A primary of the transformer may be connected to the terminals of the driver. A secondary of the transformer may be connected in parallel with the impedance matching network. The inductor may be connected in series with the secondary. The output port may be connected to the inductor for delivering a voltage to a load. 
     A fifth embodiment of the current invention provides a system for performing ozone water treatment. The system may comprise a voltage supply circuit and a plasma eductor reactor. The voltage supply circuit may comprise an H-bridge driver, an H-bridge controller, a transformer, a first capacitor, an inductor, a second capacitor, and an output port. The H-bridge driver may switch the electrical polarity of a pair of terminals. The H-bridge controller may send a control signal to the H-bridge driver to control the switching of the electrical polarity. A primary of the transformer may be connected to the terminals of the H-bridge driver. A secondary of the transformer may be connected in parallel with the first capacitor and in series with the inductor and the second capacitor. The output port may be connected in parallel with the second capacitor and may deliver a voltage to a load. 
     The plasma eductor reactor may comprise a housing, an electric field generator, a flow spreader, and a diffuser. The housing may include an internal reactor chamber. The electric field generator may include a first electrode and a spaced apart second electrode and may generate an electric field therebetween. The first and second electrodes may be connected to the output port of the voltage supply circuit and each may have an annular shape of roughly the same size. Together, the first and second electrodes may produce a cylindrical electrical field. The plasma educator reactor may also include a dielectric element positioned between the first and second electrodes, adjacent to the first electrode. The flow spreader may supply a stream of oxygen to the reactor chamber and may be positioned within the reactor chamber concentrically with the first and second electrodes. The diffuser may supply a stream of water to the reactor chamber and may be positioned within the reactor chamber concentrically with the first and second electrodes and the flow spreader. The stream of water and the stream of oxygen may flow adjacent one another radially outward from the center of the reactor chamber and pass through the electric field. 
     A sixth embodiment of the current invention provides a system for performing a treatment of a liquid. The system may comprise a voltage supply circuit and a plasma eductor reactor. The voltage supply circuit may comprise a driver, a controller, a transformer, a first capacitor, an inductor, a second capacitor, and an output port. The driver may switch the electrical polarity of a pair of terminals. The controller may send a control signal to the driver to control the switching of the electrical polarity. A primary of the transformer may be connected to the terminals of the driver. A secondary of the transformer may be connected in parallel with the first capacitor and in series with the inductor and the second capacitor. The output port may be connected in parallel with the second capacitor and may deliver a voltage to a load. 
     The plasma eductor reactor may comprise a housing, an electric field generator, a flow spreader, and a diffuser. The housing may include an internal reactor chamber. The electric field generator may include a first electrode and a spaced apart second electrode and may generate an electric field therebetween. The first and second electrodes may be connected to the output port of the voltage supply circuit and each may have an annular shape of roughly the same size. Together, the first and second electrodes may produce a cylindrical electrical field. The plasma eductor reactor may also include a dielectric element positioned between the first and second electrodes, adjacent to the first electrode. The flow spreader may supply a stream of gas to the reactor chamber and may be positioned within the reactor chamber concentrically with the first and second electrodes. The diffuser may supply a stream of water to the reactor chamber and may be positioned within the reactor chamber concentrically with the first and second electrodes and the flow spreader. The stream of water and the stream of gas may flow adjacent one another radially outward from the center of the reactor chamber and pass through the electric field. 
     A seventh embodiment of the current invention provides a method of creating a plasma-treated liquid. The method comprises the steps of allowing a liquid to flow into a reactor chamber so as to create a low pressure area within the reactor chamber adjacent to the flow of the liquid, introducing a gas into the reactor chamber in the low pressure area to create a gas layer adjacent to the flow of the liquid, exposing the gas layer to an electric field to ionize the gas and create a layer of plasma above the liquid, and exposing the plasma and the liquid to the electric field. 
     This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. Other aspects and advantages of the current invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiments and the accompanying drawing figures. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments of the current invention are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a plasma eductor reactor constructed in accordance with various embodiments of the current invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the plasma eductor reactor of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the plasma eductor reactor of  FIG. 1  cut along the line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional view of the plasma eductor reactor of  FIG. 1  cut along the line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view of the plasma eductor reactor of  FIG. 1  cut along the line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded view of the plasma eductor reactor of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is an enlarged view of the sectional view of the plasma eductor reactor from  FIG. 4  highlighting an upper portion of a reactor chamber; 
         FIG. 8  is an isometric view of a second embodiment of the plasma eductor reactor; 
         FIG. 9  is a sectional view of the plasma eductor reactor of  FIG. 8  cut along the line  9 - 9  of  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a sectional view of the plasma eductor reactor of  FIG. 8  cut along the line  10 - 10  of  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 11  is an enlarged view of the sectional view of the plasma eductor reactor from  FIG. 9  highlighting an upper portion of a reactor chamber; 
         FIG. 12  is an exploded view of the plasma eductor reactor of  FIG. 8  from an upper perspective; 
         FIG. 13  is an exploded view of the plasma eductor reactor of  FIG. 8  from a lower perspective; 
         FIGS. 14 a  AND 14 b    are block schematic drawings of a voltage supply circuit constructed in accordance with various embodiments of the current invention; 
         FIG. 15  is a block schematic drawing of a second embodiment of the voltage supply circuit; 
         FIG. 16  is a block schematic drawing of a system for performing ozone water treatment constructed in accordance with various embodiments of the current invention; 
         FIG. 17  is a flow diagram of a list of steps of a first method for performing a treatment of a liquid; and 
         FIG. 18  is a flow diagram of a list of steps of a second method for performing a treatment of a liquid. 
     
    
    
     The drawing figures do not limit the current invention to the specific embodiments disclosed and described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the invention. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     The following detailed description of the invention references the accompanying drawings that illustrate specific embodiments in which the invention can be practiced. The embodiments are intended to describe aspects of the invention in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Other embodiments can be utilized and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the current invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense. The scope of the current invention is defined only by the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. 
     In this description, references to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, or “embodiments” mean that the feature or features being referred to are included in at least one embodiment of the technology. Separate references to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, or “embodiments” in this description do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment and are also not mutually exclusive unless so stated and/or except as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the description. For example, a feature, structure, act, etc. described in one embodiment may also be included in other embodiments, but is not necessarily included. Thus, the current technology can include a variety of combinations and/or integrations of the embodiments described herein. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-7 , a plasma eductor reactor  10 , constructed in accordance with at least a first embodiment of the current invention, is shown. The reactor  10  generally receives a gas and a liquid as inputs. The gas may be ionized to form a plasma which is injected into the liquid to create an effluent or product. The plasma eductor reactor  10  broadly comprises a housing  12 , a top plate  14 , a top cap  16 , an electric field generator  18 , a dielectric element  20 , a flow spreader  22 , a diffuser  24 , a deflector  26 , and a reactor chamber  28 . The plasma eductor reactor  10  may also include a plurality of gaskets or seals, such as O-ring seals, that are positioned at the interfaces between various components of the reactor  10 . 
     Positional and directional terms, such as “upper”, “top”, “lower”, “bottom”, and the like, are used herein to describe various aspects of the current invention as shown in the accompanying figures. While the figures depict the invention in a particular orientation, the invention may be utilized in virtually any orientation. The relationship between the components established by the terms still applies when the invention is utilized in an orientation other than that shown in the figures. 
     The housing  12  generally retains the components of the plasma eductor reactor  10 , and its shape may be adapted to the system in which it is implemented. The housing may include additional components, such as a collar  30 , that adapt the plasma eductor reactor  10  to the system in which it is implemented. In some embodiments, the housing may have a box shape with a plurality of sidewalls. In an exemplary embodiment, the housing  12  has a generally cylindrical shape with a circumferential sidewall  32  including an inner surface. The housing  12  may also include cutouts along an outer surface of the sidewall  32  to allow for fasteners to assemble the housing  12  to the top plate  14 . In addition, the housing  12  may include a gas port  34  and a liquid port  36 . The housing  12  may be constructed from metals, plastics, ceramics, or the like. 
     The top plate  14  and the top cap  16  generally retain a portion of the electric field generator  18 . The top plate  14  may have a box shape with a plurality of sidewalls and an internal cavity  38  bounded by the sidewalls. The internal cavity  38  may be filled with dielectric materials, ceramics, polymers, gases, or the like to provide electrical isolation and suppress undesirable corona discharge from the electric field generator  18  to the top plate  14 . The top cap  16  may be coupled to an upper surface of the top plate  14  and may be roughly disc-shaped with a central opening that contacts the internal cavity  38 . The top cap  16  may also include an insulator positioned within the central opening. 
     The electric field generator  18  generates an electric field within the reactor chamber  28  and may include a first electrode  40  and a second electrode  42 . The electrodes  40 ,  42  may be spaced apart, and the electric field may exist between the two electrodes  40 ,  42 . Both electrodes  40 ,  42  may be connected to an external voltage supply which controls the characteristics of the electric field. The voltage supply may provide a range of approximately 5 kiloVolts (kV) AC to approximately 25 kV AC with an optional DC offset bias ranging from approximately 1 kV to approximately 10 kV. In various embodiments, the first electrode  40  may be connected to a variable voltage line, while the second electrode  42  may be connected to an electrical ground or neutral. The first electrode  40  may be annular or ring-shaped, although other shapes are possible, and may be constructed from a metal, such as iron, nickel, gold, copper, alloys thereof, or the like. The first electrode  40  may be located in the internal cavity  38  of the top plate  14 . The first electrode  40  may also be connected to an electrical conductor  44  that extends to the exterior of the housing  12 . The electrical conductor  44  may be shaped and sized to fit within the insulator in the central opening in the top cap  16 . The second electrode  42  is generally shaped the same as the first electrode  40  and is positioned to align with the first electrode  40 . In some embodiments, the second electrode  42  may be the diffuser  24 . In other embodiments, the second electrode  42  may be a diffuser electrode ring  46  positioned within the diffuser  24 , as described in more detail below. Given the shapes and orientation of the electrodes  40 ,  42 , the electric field generated may be roughly cylindrical in shape. 
     The dielectric element  20  generally provides an insulating gap across which at least a portion of the electric field is established. The dielectric element  20  may be planar and disc-shaped, although other shapes are possible, and may be constructed from insulating dielectric material such as ceramics, polymers, or the like. An upper surface of the dielectric element  20  may be coupled to a lower surface of the top plate  14 . In addition, the first electrode  40  may bonded, glued, or otherwise affixed to the upper surface of the dielectric element  20 . 
     The flow spreader  22  generally supplies the gas to the reactor chamber  28 . The flow spreader  22  may have a generally cylindrical shape with a circumferential sidewall  48  including an inner surface and an outer surface. The hollow interior of the flow spreader  22 , bounded by the inner surface of the sidewall  48 , may form a gas passageway  50 . At a first end, the flow spreader  22  may include a radially outward extending flange  52 . The outer surface may have a rounded corner between the sidewall  48  and the flange  52 . Also at the first end of the flow spreader  22 , the inner surface of the sidewall  48  may have a frustoconical cross-sectional shape from which gas exits the gas passageway  50  and the flow spreader  22 . At an opposing second end of the flow spreader  22 , gas may enter the gas passageway  50 . The flow spreader  22  may be positioned opposite the dielectric element  20 , such that there is a small space between the lower surface of the dielectric element  20  and a top of the flange  52 . The flow spreader  22  may also be positioned concentrically with the electric field generator  18 , such that the outer edge of the flange  52  is within the annular bounds of the first and second electrodes  40 ,  42 . 
     The diffuser  24 , in combination with the flow spreader  22 , generally establishes a radial flow pattern for the liquid before ions are injected into the liquid. The diffuser  24  may also supply the liquid to the reactor chamber  28 . The diffuser  24  may have a generally cylindrical shape with a circumferential sidewall  54  including an inner surface and an outer surface. The flow spreader  22  may be positioned within the hollow interior of the diffuser  24 , such that the flow spreader  22  is concentric with the diffuser  24 . There may a space between the outer surface of the sidewall  48  of the flow spreader  22  and the inner surface of the sidewall  54  of the diffuser  24  which forms a liquid passageway  56 . Accordingly, the liquid passageway  56  may have an annular or ring cross-sectional shape. The top edge of the sidewall  54  may be rounded, arcuate, or curved between the inner surface and the outer surface. The bottom edge of the sidewall  54  may be coupled to a diffuser cap  58 , which closes off one end of the liquid passageway  56 , thereby forcing the liquid in the liquid passageway  56  to flow toward the top edge of the sidewall  54 . The diffuser  24  may further include one or more liquid inlets  60  in the sidewall  54 , near the bottom edge, that supply liquid to the liquid passageway  56 . 
     Furthermore, the combination of the flow spreader  22  and the diffuser  24  may create an eductor with educting fluid exiting the eductor at the space between the flange  52  and the top edge of the diffuser sidewall  54 . With the educting fluid exiting at a relatively higher flow velocity, a low pressure area surrounding the opening between the flange  52  and the sidewall  54  and adjacent to the flowing fluid is created, as given by Bernoulli&#39;s principle. 
     In some embodiments, the diffuser  24  may be constructed from electrically conductive materials, such as metals. In such embodiments, the diffuser  24 , particularly the top edge of the sidewall  32 , may form the second electrode  42  of the electric field generator  18 . In other embodiments, the diffuser  24  may be constructed from non-conductive materials, such as plastics or ceramics. With these embodiments, the second electrode  42  may be formed by the diffuser electrode ring  46 , made from electrically conductive material and positioned within a cavity located in the top edge of the sidewall  32  of the diffuser  24 . 
     The deflector  26  generally directs the flow of the plasma and the liquid downward after the plasma is injected into the liquid. The deflector  26  may have an external shape which matches the external shape of the housing  12 . The deflector  26  may be positioned between the housing  12  and the top plate  14 , such that a lower surface of the deflector  26  may couple to an upper surface of the housing  12 , and an upper surface of the deflector  26  may couple to the lower surface of the top plate  14 . The deflector  26  may have a hollow interior bounded by an inner surface with openings along the upper surface and lower surface of the deflector  26 . The inner surface may have a curved, arcuate, or rounded cross-sectional shape, such that the inner surface curves outward from the lower surface of the deflector  26  to approximately a vertical midpoint where the inner surface curves inward until the upper surface of the deflector  26 . The opening along the lower surface of the deflector  26  may be larger than the opening on the upper surface. Furthermore, the opening on the upper surface of the deflector  26  may be covered by the lower surface of the dielectric element  20 . 
     The reactor chamber  28  generally provides a setting for the gas to be ionized and injected into the liquid. The reactor chamber  28  may include an outer surface and an inner surface. The outer surface may be bounded by the lower surface of the dielectric element  20 , the inner surface of the deflector  26 , and the inner surface of the housing  12 . The inner surface may be bounded by the outer surface and top edge of the diffuser  24  and the first end of the flow spreader  22  including the flange  52 . 
     The plasma eductor reactor  10  may operate as follows. The gas port  34  on the housing  12  may be coupled to an external gas source, and the liquid port  36  may be coupled to an external pressurized liquid source. The gas may be supplied at approximately atmospheric pressure or may range up to approximately 100 pounds per square inch gage (psig). The gas may flow from the gas port  34  into the gas passageway  50  of the flow spreader  22 . At the first end of the flow spreader  22 , the gas may flow from the gas passageway  50  into the reactor chamber  28 . The gas may flow radially outward from the gas passageway  50  in a 360-degree pattern in the space between the flange  52  and the dielectric element  20 , thereby creating a gas layer. In the vicinity of the outer edge of the flange  52 , the gas layer may encounter a low pressure area created by the flow of the liquid, as described below. As the gas continues to flow, it may pass between the first electrode  40  and the second electrode  42  and thus, through the electric field established by the electric field generator  18 . As the gas passes through the electric field, the first electrode  40  may discharge which ionizes the gas and converts it into a stream of plasma with roughly laminar flow. 
     The characteristics of the electric field may be controlled by the external voltage supply which may provide a range of approximately 5 kiloVolts (kV) AC to approximately 25 kV AC with an optional DC offset bias ranging from approximately 1 kV to approximately 10 kV. The strength of the electric field is generally the greatest at the shortest distance between the first electrode  40  and the second electrode  42 , which is typically at the peak of the top edge of the sidewall  54  of the diffuser  24  or at the point where the diffuser electrode ring  46  is placed in the diffuser  24 . 
     The liquid may flow from the liquid port  36  through the liquid inlets  60  of the diffuser  24  and into the liquid passageway  56 . Given the curvature of the bottom of the flange  52  and the curvature of the top edge of the diffuser  24 , the liquid may exit the liquid passageway  56  and flow radially outward in a 360-degree pattern from the eductor structure of the flow spreader  22  and the diffuser  24  into the reactor chamber  28 . The flow of the liquid from the eductor structure may create a low pressure area in the reactor chamber  28  around the outer edge of the flange  52 . The liquid may then flow through the electric field as a stream with roughly laminar flow. The plasma stream may flow on top of the liquid stream. As the liquid and the plasma flow through the electric field, the plasma may be injected into the liquid to create a stream of effluent. As the effluent flows outward from the center of the reactor chamber  28 , it encounters the inner surface of the deflector  26  which directs the effluent stream downward to the bottom of the reactor chamber  28 . The effluent may exit the plasma eductor reactor  10  through the bottom of the reactor chamber  28 . 
     The use of the flow spreader  22  and the diffuser  24  to create a radial stream of liquid and plasma allows for the use of a planar shaped dielectric element  20 , which is easier to manufacture and aligns more easily to the liquid stream. The radial flow of the liquid also reduces the possibility of the liquid bridging the gap between the dielectric element  20  and the second electrode  42 . The radial flow of the liquid may further create a significant pressure reduction in the gap which improves plasma stability, promotes uniformity of the discharge, reduces the turn-on voltage required for a given operating condition, and allows for recirculation of process gas without the addition of external compressors or pumps. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 8-13 , a second embodiment of the plasma eductor reactor  100  may broadly comprise a housing  102 , an electric field generator  104 , a dielectric element  106 , a nozzle plate  108 , a diffuser  110 , and a reactor chamber  112 . The plasma eductor reactor  100  may also include a plurality of gaskets or seals, such as O-ring seals, that are positioned at the interfaces between various components of the reactor  100 . 
     The housing  102  generally retains the components of the plasma eductor reactor  100  and may include a top plate  114 , a spacer plate  116 , a support plate  118 , a shell  120 , and a bottom plate  122 . The top plate  114 , the spacer plate  116 , the support plate  118 , and the bottom plate  122  may each have a low-profile box shape, each one also having roughly the same footprint. The shell  120  may have a cylindrical shape. Each plate  114 ,  116 ,  118 ,  122  may include various through hole, opening, or cutout features. The top plate  114  may include an opening from an upper surface to a lower surface which serves as a liquid port  126 . The spacer plate  116  may include an opening from a side surface to an upper surface which serves as a gas port  128 . The support plate  118  may include an internal cavity  130  centrally located. The support plate  118  may also have a circular or ring-shaped feature on its lower surface to receive an upper edge of the shell  120 , while the bottom plate  122  may have a circular or ring-shaped feature on its upper surface to receive a lower edge of the shell  120 . 
     The electric field generator  104  is similar to the electric field generator  18  in function, but is different in terms of architecture. The electric field generator  104  may include a first electrode  132  and a second electrode  134 , both of which are connected to the external voltage supply, wherein the first electrode  132  may be connected to a variable voltage line, while the second electrode  134  may be connected to an electrical ground or neutral. The first electrode  132  may be annular or ring-shaped, although other shapes are possible, and may be constructed from a metal, such as iron, nickel, gold, copper, alloys thereof, or the like. The first electrode  132  may be located in an internal cavity  136  of the spacer plate  116 . The first electrode  132  may also be connected to an electrical conductor  137  that extends to the exterior of the housing  102 . The electrical conductor  137  may be shaped and sized to fit within an insulator in an opening in the spacer plate  116 . The second electrode  134  may be the diffuser  110 , which is positioned within and concentric to the first electrode  132 . 
     The dielectric element  106  generally provides an insulating gap across which at least a portion of the electric field is established. The dielectric element  106  may have a cylindrical shape with a circumferential sidewall  138  and may be constructed from insulating dielectric material such as ceramics, polymers, or the like. The dielectric element  106  may be positioned within the internal cavity  136  of the spacer plate  116 . The first electrode  132  may be positioned at a lower end on an outer surface of the sidewall  138 , such that the first electrode  132  surrounds, and is concentric with, the dielectric element  106 . 
     The nozzle plate  108  generally establishes an axial flow pattern for the liquid and may be roughly disc-shaped with a central opening  140 . The nozzle plate  108  may be positioned between the top plate  114  and the spacer plate  116 . An exemplary nozzle plate  108  may include a plurality of outward extensions from the main disc. The nozzle plate  108  may further include an upper surface and a lower surface. The upper surface may include a first cutout impression  142  and a concentric second cutout impression  144 . The first cutout impression  142  and the second cutout impression  144  may each be circular in shape with the second cutout impression  144  having a smaller diameter than the first cutout impression  142 . The lower surface of the top plate  114  may have similar and complementary protruding features. The space between the lower surface of the top plate  114  and the upper surface of the nozzle plate  108  may form a liquid passageway  146 . Liquid may flow from the liquid port  126  in the top plate  114  to the first cutout impression  142  and the second cutout impression  144  and through the central opening  140 . The lower surface may include a downward extending flange  148  at the central opening  140 . The space between the lower surface of the nozzle plate  108  and the upper surface of the spacer plate  116  may form a gas passageway  150 . Gas may be received from the gas port  128  in the spacer plate  116  and may flow along the lower surface toward the flange  148  where the gas is directed downward to the internal cavity  136  of the spacer plate  116 . 
     The diffuser  110  generally establishes an axial flow pattern for the liquid and the gas and may be elongated with a cylindrical shape and a circumferential sidewall  152 . Approximately midway along the length of the diffuser  110 , there may be a bulge, such that the diameter of the sidewall  152  increases and decreases in a roughly sinusoidal fashion. The diffuser  110  may be rigidly retained at an upper end by the top plate  114  and may extend through the internal cavity  130  of the support plate  118  into the interior of the shell  120 . The diffuser  110  may be positioned in the center of the plasma eductor reactor  100  such that the longitudinal axis of the diffuser  110  is coaxial with the axis of the reactor  100 , and the diffuser  110  is concentric with the dielectric element  106  and the first electrode  132  of the electric field generator  104 . In various embodiments, the diffuser  110  may be constructed from electrically conductive materials, such as metals, and thus may serve as the second electrode  134  of the electric field generator  104 . 
     The nozzle plate  108  in combination with the top plate  114  and the diffuser  110  may form an eductor structure, wherein liquid exiting the liquid passageway  146  at the central opening  140  of the nozzle plate  108  forms a low pressure area in the reactor chamber  112  adjacent to the liquid. 
     The reactor chamber  112  generally provides a setting for the gas to be ionized and injected into the liquid. The reactor chamber  112  may have an outer surface bounded by the flange  148 , the internal cavity  136  of the spacer plate  116 , an inner surface of the dielectric element  106 , the internal cavity of the spacer plate  114 ,  116 ,  118 ,  122 , and an internal surface of the shell  120 . The reactor chamber  112  may have an inner surface that includes an outer surface of the diffuser  110 . 
     The plasma eductor reactor  100  may operate as follows. The gas port  128  on the housing  102  may be coupled to an external gas source, and the liquid port  126  may be coupled to an external pressurized liquid source. The liquid may flow from the liquid port  126  along the liquid passageway  146  including onto the first cutout impression  142  and the second cutout impression  144  of the nozzle plate  108  and through the central opening  140 , which may form the eductor structure. The flow of the liquid out of the eductor structure may create a low pressure area in the reactor chamber  112  adjacent to the liquid. The liquid may then flow axially along the entire circumference of the sidewall  152  of the diffuser  110  through the internal cavity  136  of the spacer plate  116 . The liquid may pass the dielectric element  106  and flow between the first and second electrodes  132 ,  134  and thus, may flow through the electric field. 
     The gas may flow from the gas port  128  along the gas passageway  150  between the upper surface of the spacer plate  116  and the lower surface of the nozzle plate  108 . The gas may enter the reactor chamber  112  at the flange  148  of the nozzle plate  108  into the low pressure area created by the stream of liquid. The gas may flow axially through the reactor chamber  112  on top of the stream of liquid. Thus, the gas may be positioned radially outward from the liquid. The gas may pass through the electric field while being ionized and converted into a stream of plasma. The electric field may have similar characteristics to those of the plasma eductor reactor  10  and may be at its strongest where the sidewall  152  of the diffuser  110  bulges or curves outward and the distance between the first and second electrodes  132 ,  134  is the smallest. As the liquid and the plasma flow through the electric field, the plasma may be injected into the liquid to create a stream of effluent. The effluent may pass through the shell  120  and may exit the reactor chamber  112  through an opening in the bottom plate  122 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 14 a  and 14 b   , a voltage supply circuit  200 , constructed in accordance with another embodiment of the current invention, for supplying voltage to a plasma eductor reactor is shown. The voltage supply circuit  200  may broadly comprise a base frequency generator  202 , a duty cycle generator  204 , an auto tune signal generator  206 , an H-bridge controller  208 , an H-bridge driver  210 , a transformer  212 , a secondary impedance matching network  214 , a gain inductor  216 , a ballast capacitor  218 , a phase sensor  220 , and an output port  222 . 
     The base frequency generator  202  may include electric or electronic circuits that generate alternating current (AC), sinusoidal, or periodic electronic signals comprising voltages and/or currents. The duty cycle generator  204  may include electric or electronic circuits that determine, control, or regulate the duty cycle of an electronic signal. The base frequency generator  202  and the duty cycle generator  204  in combination provide the proper timing signals to the H-bridge controller  208 . 
     The H-bridge controller  208  may include electric or electronic circuits that receive input signals and generate voltages and/or currents that operate an H-bridge switching circuit. The H-bridge controller  208  may receive inputs from the base frequency generator  202  and the duty cycle generator  204 . The H-bridge driver  210  may include discrete electrical or electromechanical components that are operable to change the polarity of the voltage and/or the current to an output. The H-bridge driver  210  may receive inputs from the H-bridge controller  208  to establish the timing for switching the polarity of the output. 
     The transformer  212  may include one or more transformers, as are known in the art. The transformer  212  may include a primary winding or primary  224  and a secondary winding or secondary  226 . The primary  224  may be connected to the H-bridge driver  210 . In some embodiments, the voltage supply circuit  200  may include an optional primary impedance matching circuit  228  connected in parallel with the H-bridge driver  210  to match the impedance thereof. The secondary impedance matching network  214  may include three terminals  215 ,  217 ,  219 . A first terminal of the secondary  226  may be connected to terminal  215  of the secondary impedance matching network  214 . In some embodiments, the secondary impedance matching network  214  may include a capacitor in series with an inductor between terminals  215  and  219  and a capacitor between terminal  217  and terminal  219 . In other embodiments, the secondary impedance matching network  214  has terminal  215  shorted to terminal  219  and includes a matching capacitor  401  or a matching capacitor  401  in series with an inductor  402  connected between terminal  217  and terminals  215 ,  219 . There are other combinations of capacitors and inductors known to those familiar with resonant circuits which can accomplish this impedance matching function. 
     A second terminal of the secondary  226  and terminal  217  of the secondary impedance matching network  214  may be connected to a ground node  230 . A terminal of the ballast capacitor  218  may be connected to the ground node  230  through the phase sensor  220 . The phase sensor  220  may detect the resonant phase of the transformer secondary circuit and may communicate that information back to the auto tune signal generator  206 . 
     The output port  222  may be connected in parallel with the ballast capacitor  218  such that a first terminal  232  is connected to one side of the ballast capacitor  218  and a second terminal  234  may be connected to the ground node  230  through the phase sensor  220 . The output port  222  may provide an electronic signal, particularly a voltage, to a load. In various embodiments, the load may be the plasma eductor reactor  10 ,  100  so that the voltage supply circuit provides the electronic signal to the electric field generator  18 ,  104 . The first terminal  232  may be connected to the first electrode  40 ,  132  and the second terminal  234  may be connected to the second electrode  42 ,  134 . 
     The voltage supply circuit  200  may function as follows. The base frequency generator  202  and the duty cycle generator  204  may provide timing signals to the H-bridge controller  208  which, in turn, provides switching signals to the H-bridge driver  210 . The H-bridge driver  210  creates a low-level AC voltage at the primary  224  of transformer  212 . An intermediate-level AC voltage is generated at the secondary  226  and across the secondary impedance matching network  214 , which stores energy for delivery to the gain inductor  216 . The AC voltage increases at the first terminal  232  of the output port  222  due to the gain inductor  216 , which has a high Q value. The AC voltage at the first terminal  232  may also increase as a function of the secondary  226  AC current and the capacitive impedance of the load relative to the second terminal  234 . 
     In some embodiments, the H-bridge driver  210  is run periodically without actually firing the plasma to electrically stimulate any ions to enter the liquid. During the “on” time, the load (plasma eductor reactor  10 ,  100 ) may be turned on and off one or many times which has the effect of increasing the ionic concentration. The method of using “on” and “off” times this way depends on the process applied. 
     The voltage supply circuit  200  delivers high voltage AC power to the ballast capacitor  218  and the load at output port  222 . In embodiments where the voltage supply circuit  200  is driving the electric field generator  18 ,  104  of the plasma eductor reactor  10 ,  100 , when the plasma discharge initiation voltage is reached the plasma ignites. This may happen on every half cycle of the AC wave form. Once ignited, the plasma absorbs energy from the voltage supply circuit  200  and the ballast capacitor  218 . The energy provided by the ballast capacitor  218  increases the plasma on-time and increases the ion density in the plasma. 
     The resonant frequency of the voltage supply circuit  200  is largely set by the gain inductor  216  in series with the ballast capacitor  218  in parallel with the load (the plasma eductor reactor  10 ,  100 ). This combination is in series with the combination of the transformer  212  and in parallel with the secondary impedance matching network  214 . In systems, the resonant frequency is normally dominated by the gain inductor  216  and the combination of the ballast capacitor  218  and the load (the plasma eductor reactor  10 ,  100 ). Since the voltage supply circuit  200  runs in resonance with impedance matched components, the overall efficiency is improved over traditional pulse generated plasma drivers and the maximum voltage generated at the first terminal  232  of the output port  222  is not limited by the transformer  212  but by the losses in the components of the ballast capacitor  218  and the gain inductor  216 . By using the gain inductor  216  to increase the voltage, the highest voltage in the voltage supply circuit  200  is limited to the single node between the gain inductor  216  and the output port  222  and may be largely independent of the transformer winding ratio. The voltage on the remaining components can be limited by careful selection to fractions of the high voltage node value. For example, for a plasma eductor reactor  10 ,  100  with plasma firing voltage in the range of 8-10 kV, the intermediate voltage across the matching network may remain below 600 V and the drive voltage out of the H-bridge driver  210  may be less than 100 V. However there are some applications in which a higher Intermediate and drive voltage might be desirable. The lower operating voltage on the transformer secondary side of the gain inductor  216  allows use of a low cost small, low turn&#39;s ratio, lower Q transformer  212  and simplified drive electronics resulting in significantly reduced component costs for the H-bridge driver  210  and matching network while maintaining good, efficient, high frequency performance. 
     Another advantage of a resonant system of the voltage supply circuit  200  is that when low loss components are selected for the ballast capacitor  218  and the gain inductor  216 , the voltage at terminal  232  will increase (within certain limits) until the plasma fires and the load begins to absorb energy. This voltage following feature is very desirable when the physical characteristics of the gas and/or liquid in the load change dynamically during operation. The voltage supply circuit  200  has the capability of following this dynamic load in real time. The control of the overvoltage applied to the load can also be tailored to the system requirements. Since the H-Bridge components operate at much lower voltage than the ballast capacitor  218  and the gain inductor  216 , switching losses are minimized and the operating frequency can be as high as practically desired to achieve the plasma densities or power input levels required by the load. In this way control electronics are greatly simplified and cost is reduced. This design provides both high voltage and high frequency energy to the plasma process in a compact and low cost unit. The high frequency translates to high dv/dt (or rapid voltage rate of change) that is conducive to plasma initiation and propagation from the gas into the liquid surface. 
     The duty cycle generator  204  allows the H-bridge driver  210  to be cycled on and off to customize the plasma on time and off time, as described above. This allows power level adjustment independent of the ballast capacitor  218  and the gain inductor  216  resonant frequency and drive voltage to optimize the desired plasma characteristics. For instance, optimizing ozone formation in the case of oxygen feed gas involves a short plasma generating pulse (or pulses) and then a significant plasma off time (on the order of 10′s of milliseconds) for optimum performance. For example using a 700 kiloHertz (kHz) resonant frequency in the ballast capacitor  218  and the gain inductor  216 , the H-bridge driver  210  can be turned on for 6-12microseconds (μs) and then turned off for  250  μs to allow ozone to form before the next on cycle. 
     The auto-tune function is provided by the phase sensor  220  and auto tune signal generator  206 . This unit allows the H-bridge controller  208  to lock the H-bridge driver  210  switching pulse to the phase of the ballast capacitor  218  and the gain inductor  216 . This is critical for several reasons. First, the resonant frequency band is very narrow (less than 20 Hz in some cases) and is affected by the capacitance of the load. This means that changes in the load or ambient temperature, the load gas pressure, and small drift in component characteristics over time can alter the resonant frequency enough to have significant impact on the ability of the ballast capacitor  218  and the gain inductor  216  to absorb energy from the transformer  212 . Second, the capacitance fluctuation within the load can occur rapidly leading to very rapid de-tuning and potentially damaging power reflections. Although the ballast capacitor  218  can mitigate the effects of this to some degree, to maintain the optimum resonant frequency on every half cycle, a phase locked system is desirable. The phase sensor  220  represents one effective approach to sensing the phase locking signal for the phase sensor  220  and auto tune signal generator  206  by employing a capacitive voltage divider with an optional parallel resistor to detect the phase of the ballast capacitor  218  and the gain inductor  216 . This allows the real-time synchronization of H-bridge driver  210  to the ballast capacitor  218  and the gain inductor  216  resonant frequency on each half cycle (twice the operating frequency). As this half cycle can be less than 1 μs, physical changes in gas pressure, liquid level or other plasma eductor reactor  10 ,  100  conditions are effectively tuned out. 
     Referring to  FIG. 15 , a second embodiment of the voltage supply circuit  300  is shown. The voltage supply circuit  300  is substantially the same as the voltage supply circuit  200  with the addition of the following components: a DC power supply  302  and an isolation capacitor  304 . 
     The DC power supply  302  may include one or more direct current (DC) voltage sources as are known, batteries, or combinations thereof. The DC power supply  302  may be connected between the ground node  230  and the system ground potential or earth ground. The isolation capacitor  304  may be connected in parallel with the DC power supply  302  between the ground node  230  and system ground. 
     The voltage supply circuit  300  may operate substantially the same as the voltage supply circuit  200 , except that the DC power supply  302  and the isolation capacitor  304  may vary the voltage of the ground node  230  to above or below the system ground. This enables the plasma eductor reactor  10 ,  100  to operate normally and provide a DC bias offset of either polarity for aiding the injection of ions into the liquid. 
     Referring to  FIG. 16 , a system  400  for performing ozone water treatment, constructed in accordance with various embodiments of the current invention is shown. The system  400  may receive untreated raw water, or water-based liquids, and may inject oxygen radicals and ozone in order to disinfect the water. The system  400  may broadly comprise a gas inlet valve  402 , a water inlet valve  404 , a water flow sensor  406 , the plasma eductor reactor  10 ,  100 , the voltage supply circuit  200 ,  300 , a gas separation unit  408 , a gas output valve  410 , and a water output valve  412 . The system  400  may optionally comprise a gas filter  414 , a water filter  416 , and a check valve  418 . 
     The gas inlet valve  402  generally controls the flow of gas coming into the system  400  and may include gas flow control elements or valves that are automatically adjusted, actuated, or manually adjusted. The gas inlet valve  402  may receive a supply of oxygen and may provide a stream of oxygen to the plasma eductor reactor  10 ,  100 . 
     The gas filter  414  generally removes particulates from the oxygen/gas stream from the gas inlet valve  402 . The gas filter  414  may include gas or air filtration components as are known. The gas filter  414  may be positioned in line with the flow of oxygen from the gas inlet valve  402  to the plasma eductor reactor  10 . 
     The water inlet valve  404  generally controls the flow of water coming into the system  400  and may include liquid/fluid flow control elements or valves that are automatically adjusted, actuated, or manually adjusted. The water inlet valve  404  may receive a supply of water and may provide a stream of water to the water flow sensor  406 . 
     The water filter  416  generally removes particulates from the water stream from the water inlet valve  404 . The water filter  416  may include water or fluid filtration components as are known. The water filter  416  may be positioned in line with the flow of water from the water inlet valve  404  to the water flow sensor  406 . 
     The water flow sensor  406  generally monitors the flow rate of water coming from the water inlet valve  404  and going to the plasma eductor reactor  10 . The water flow sensor  406  may include flow rate sensors, monitors, meters, or the like, as are known in the art. The water flow sensor  406  may be positioned in line with the water inlet valve  404 , or the optional water filter  416 , and the plasma eductor reactor  10 ,  100 . 
     The plasma eductor reactor  10 ,  100  generally receives the stream of oxygen and the stream of water and ionizes the oxygen to create a plasma of oxygen radicals and ozone which is injected into the water in order to disinfect it. Either embodiment of the plasma eductor reactor  10 ,  100  may be utilized. The stream of oxygen from either the gas inlet valve  402  or the gas filter  414  may be coupled to the gas port  34 ,  128  of the plasma eductor reactor  10 ,  100 . The stream of water from the water flow sensor  406  may be coupled to the liquid port  36 ,  126  of the plasma eductor reactor  10 ,  100 . 
     The voltage supply circuit  200 ,  300  generally supplies the voltage required for the electric field generator  18 ,  104  of the plasma eductor reactor  10 ,  100 . Either embodiment of the voltage supply circuit  200 ,  300  may be utilized. The output port  222  of the voltage supply circuit  200 ,  300  may be coupled to the electric field generator  18 ,  104 , such that the first terminal  232  is connected to the first electrode  40 ,  132  and the second terminal  234  is connected to the second electrode  42 ,  134 . 
     The gas separation unit  408  generally separates the exhaust gas from the treated water that is output from the plasma eductor reactor  10 ,  100 . The gas separation unit  408  may include a sealed tank of sufficient volume to handle the output of the plasma eductor reactor  10 ,  100 . The gas separation unit  408  may also include controls for temperature or other parameters. The gas separation unit  408  may include an effluent input  420  which receives the treated water from the plasma eductor reactor  10 ,  100 , a gas output  422  located near the top of the tank, and a water output  424  located near the bottom of the tank. 
     The gas output valve  410  generally controls the flow of gas coming out of the system  400  and may include gas flow control elements or valves that are automatically adjusted, actuated, or manually adjusted. The gas output valve  410  may receive gas from the gas separation unit  408  and may allow the gas to vent to the atmosphere. The gas output valve  410  may have an optional output that recirculates at least a portion of the gas back to the gas port  34 ,  128 , of the plasma eductor reactor  10 ,  100 . 
     The check valve  418  generally controls the flow of gas that recirculates to the plasma eductor reactor  10 ,  100 . The check valve  418  may include gas flow control elements or valves that are unidirectional, or that allow gas to flow in one direction and not the opposite direction. The check valve  418  may receive gas from the gas output valve  410  and may supply gas to the gas port  34 ,  128 , of the plasma eductor reactor  10 ,  100 . 
     The system  400  may operate as follows. Oxygen gas may be supplied to the gas inlet valve  402  which delivers the gas either filtered (through the gas filter  414 ) or unfiltered to the gas port  34 ,  128  of the plasma eductor reactor  10 ,  100 . Water, or water-based liquids, from a water treatment facility or the like, may be supplied to the water inlet valve  404  which delivers the water either filtered (through the water filter  416 ) or unfiltered to the liquid port  36 ,  126 . The water may pass through the water flow sensor  406  which may measure the flow of the water and send a signal back to the water inlet valve  404  to adjust the water flow (by opening or closing the valve), if necessary. 
     The voltage supply circuit  200 ,  300  may perform as described above and may supply voltage to the electric field generator  18 ,  104 . The plasma eductor reactor  10 ,  100  may receive the oxygen and water and, performing as described above, may ionize the oxygen to create a plasma of oxygen radicals and ozone which is injected into the water. The treated water, or effluent, and the plasma that was not injected exit the plasma eductor reactor  10 ,  100 . The gas separation unit  408  may receive the treated water and the plasma and the two may separate, primarily through the action of gravity, with the treated water settling on the bottom of the gas separation unit  408  and the plasma flowing to the top. The treated water may be released into the environment or may undergo further processing. The plasma may be vented into the atmosphere or at least a portion of it may be fed back to the gas port  34 ,  128  to provide the source gas for the plasma eductor reactor  10 ,  100 . 
     The system  400  described herein provides the following features and advantages. When utilized for water treatment or water purification, the system  400  generates short-lived but highly active oxygen radicals that are extremely reactive and capable of rapidly damaging cell membranes as well as proteins and/or lipids in viruses. The system  400  also generates longer lived ozone molecules that attack organics and damages cell membranes and have a more lasting effect. The exposure of the water film to the very high electric field (on the order of 50,000V/cm) in the plasma eductor reactor  10 ,  100  enables an electro-poration mechanism to damage cell walls of microbes passing through it via the liquid and aids in sterilization. This can happen with or without the plasma being energized. In addition, the expansion of the gas when the plasma is energized creates high intensity ultrasonic energy in the gas which is directly coupled to the liquid and is intense enough to enable ultrasonic lysing of cell membranes. Since the pulse rise times are very short, sound travels through liquid very well, the layer is very thin, and the sonic energy wave in the liquid is significant throughout the layer and will aid destruction of cellular bodies. Furthermore, the ability of the system  400  to modify the high voltage pulses in such a way as to accentuate one or more of these features allows some degree of tailoring the process to a particular need, such as enhancing one treatment or purification mechanism vs. another. 
     At least a portion of the steps of a first method  500  for performing a treatment of a liquid in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention is listed in  FIG. 17 . The steps may be performed in the order as shown in  FIG. 17 , or they may be performed in a different order. Furthermore, some steps may be performed concurrently as opposed to sequentially. In addition, some steps may be omitted. 
     Referring to step  501 , a gas is introduced to a plasma eductor reactor  10  that includes a reactor chamber  28 . The plasma eductor reactor  10  may also include a gas port  34  and a gas passageway  50  that couples with the reactor chamber  28 . 
     Referring to step  502 , a liquid is introduced to the plasma eductor reactor  10 . The plasma eductor reactor  10  may also include a liquid port  36  and a liquid passageway  56  that couples with the reactor chamber  28 . 
     Referring to step  503 , the liquid is force to flow radially outward from a central axis of the reactor chamber  28  to create a stream of liquid. The plasma eductor reactor  10  may include a cylindrical flow spreader  22  positioned within a cylindrical diffuser  24  forming the liquid passageway  56  therebetween. The flow spreader  22  may include an outward extending flange  52  which forces the radial flow of the liquid. 
     Referring to step  504 , the gas is forced to flow radially outward from the central axis to create a layer of gas adjacent to the stream of liquid. The flow spreader  22  may include a hollow interior shaft which forms the gas passageway  50 . The opening of the gas passageway may be positioned in proximity to a planar dielectric element  20  which helps provide radial flow of the gas. 
     Referring to step  505 , an electric field with a roughly cylindrical shape is applied to the layer of gas and the stream of liquid. The electric field may be applied with an electric field generator  18  including a first electrode  40  and a spaced apart second electrode  42 , both of which may possess a roughly annular shape. The first electrode  40  may be positioned on one side of the dielectric element  20 , while the second electrode  42  may be positioned within the reactor chamber  28 . A voltage may be applied to the first electrode  40  and the second electrode  42 . The voltage may have a range of approximately 5 kiloVolts (kV) AC to approximately 25 kV AC with an optional DC offset bias ranging from approximately 1 kV to approximately 10 kV. 
     Application of the electric field to the gas may ionize the gas to create a plasma. A portion of the plasma may be injected into the liquid under the influence of the electric field. 
     Referring to step  506 , the gas and the liquid are allowed to exit the reactor chamber  28  and enter a gas separation unit  408 . The gas separation unit  408  may include a tank with an internal chamber which receives the liquid and the gas. 
     Referring to step  507 , the liquid is drained from the gas separation unit  408 . The gas separation unit  408  may be coupled to a water output valve  412 , through which the liquid flows. 
     Referring to step  508 , the gas is directed from the gas separation unit  408  to the plasma eductor reactor  10 . The gas separation unit  408  may be coupled to a gas output valve  410  which is connected to the gas port  34  of the plasma eductor reactor  10 . 
     At least a portion of the steps of a second method  600  for performing a treatment of a liquid in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention is listed in  FIG. 18 . The steps may be performed in the order as shown in  FIG. 18 , or they may be performed in a different order. Furthermore, some steps may be performed concurrently as opposed to sequentially. In addition, some steps may be omitted. 
     Referring to step  601 , a gas is introduced to a plasma eductor reactor  100  that includes a reactor chamber  112 . The plasma eductor reactor  100  may also include a gas port  128  and a gas passageway  150  that couples with the reactor chamber  112 . 
     Referring to step  602 , a liquid is introduced to the plasma eductor reactor  100 . The plasma eductor reactor  100  may also include a liquid port  126  and a liquid passageway  146  that couples with the reactor chamber  112 . 
     Referring to step  603 , the liquid is force to flow axially from a first end of the reactor chamber  112  along an outer surface of a diffuser  110  to create a stream of liquid. The plasma eductor reactor  100  may include a nozzle plate  108  with an upper surface that forms a portion of the liquid passageway  146 . The nozzle plate  108  may include a central opening  140  which surrounds the diffuser  110 . After it flows through the opening  140 , the stream of liquid may surround the outer surface of the diffuser  110 . 
     Referring to step  604 , the gas is forced to flow axially from the first end of the reactor chamber  112  to create a layer of gas adjacent to the stream of liquid. The nozzle plate  108  may include a lower surface which forms a portion of the gas passageway  150 . The gas may enter the reactor chamber  112  and flow axially above the stream of liquid. 
     Referring to step  605 , an electric field is applied to the layer of gas and the stream of liquid. The electric field may be applied with an electric field generator  104  including a first electrode  132  with a roughly annular shape and a spaced apart second electrode  134 . The first electrode  132  may be positioned on one side of a dielectric element  106  with a cylindrical shape that surrounds a portion of the reactor chamber  112  and the diffuser  110  therein. The second electrode  134  may be a part of or positioned within the diffuser  110 . A voltage may be applied to the first electrode  132  and the second electrode  134 . The voltage may have a range of approximately 5 kiloVolts (kV) AC to approximately 25 kV AC with an optional DC offset bias ranging from approximately 1 kV to approximately 10 kV. 
     Application of the electric field to the gas may ionize the gas to create a plasma. A portion of the plasma may be injected into the liquid under the influence of the electric field. 
     Referring to step  606 , the gas and the liquid are allowed to exit the reactor chamber  112  and enter a gas separation unit  408 . The gas separation unit  408  may include a tank with an internal chamber which receives the liquid and the gas. 
     Referring to step  607 , the liquid is drained from the gas separation unit  408 . The gas separation unit  408  may be coupled to a water output valve  412 , through which the liquid flows. 
     Referring to step  608 , the gas is directed from the gas separation unit  408  to the plasma eductor reactor  100 . The gas separation unit  408  may be coupled to a gas output valve  410  which is connected to the gas port  128  of the plasma eductor reactor  100 . 
     Although the invention has been described with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the attached drawing figures, it is noted that equivalents may be employed and substitutions made herein without departing from the scope of the invention as recited in the claims.