An apparatus for creating an electric glow discharge comprising: a first electrically conductive screen having a first end and a second end; a second electrically conductive screen having a first end and a second end; characterized by a first electrical terminal electrically connected to the first electrically conductive screen; a second electrical terminal electrically connected to the second electrically conductive screen; characterized by a first insulator attached to the first end of the first electrically conductive screen and the first end of the second electrically conductive screen, wherein the first insulator maintains a substantially equidistant gap between the first electrically conductive screen and the second electrically conductive screen; a second insulator attached to the second end of the first electrically conductive screen and the second end of the second electrically conductive screen, wherein the second insulator maintains the substantially eqidistant gap betweenthe first electronically conductive screen and the second electrically conductive screen; a non-conductive granular material disposed within the substantially equidistant gap between the first electrically conductive screen and the second electrically conductive screen, wherein the non-conductive granular material (a) does not pass through either electrically conductive screen, (b) allows an electrically conductive fluid to flow between the first electrically conductive screen and the second electrically conductive screen, and (c) prevents electrical arcing between the electrically conductive screens during the electric glow discharge; and wherein the electric glow discharge is created whenever: (a) the first electrical terminal is connected to an electrical power supply such that the first electrically conductive screen is a cathode, the second electrical terminal is connected to the electrical power supply such that the second electrically conductive screen is an anode, and the electrically conductive fluid is introduced into the gap, or (b) the first electrical terminal and the second electrical terminal are both connected to the electrical power supply such that both electrically conductive screens are the cathode, and the electrically conductive fluid is introduced between both electrically conductive screens and an external anode connected to the electrical power supply. a first electrically conductive screen having a first end and a second end; a second electrically conductive screen having a first end and a second end; characterized by a first electrical terminal electrically connected to the first electrically conductive screen; a second electrical terminal electrically connected to the second electrically conductive screen; characterized by a first insulator attached to the first end of the first electrically conductive screen and the first end of the second electrically conductive screen, wherein the first insulator maintains a substantially equidistant gap between the first electrically conductive screen and the second electrically conductive screen; a second insulator attached to the second end of the first electrically conductive screen and the second end of the second electrically conductive screen, wherein the second insulator maintains the substantially eqidistant gap betweenthe first electronically conductive screen and the second electrically conductive screen; a non-conductive granular material disposed within the substantially equidistant gap between the first electrically conductive screen and the second electrically conductive screen, wherein the non-conductive granular material (a) does not pass through either electrically conductive screen, (b) allows an electrically conductive fluid to flow between the first electrically conductive screen and the second electrically conductive screen, and (c) prevents electrical arcing between the electrically conductive screens during the electric glow discharge; and wherein the electric glow discharge is created whenever: (a) the first electrical terminal is connected to an electrical power supply such that the first electrically conductive screen is a cathode, the second electrical terminal is connected to the electrical power supply such that the second electrically conductive screen is an anode, and the electrically conductive fluid is introduced into the gap, or (b) the first electrical terminal and the second electrical terminal are both connected to the electrical power supply such that both electrically conductive screens are the cathode, and the electrically conductive fluid is introduced between both electrically conductive screens and an external anode connected to the electrical power supply.