Plasma Assisted Combustion Device

Abstract

A plasma assisted combustion device includes a dielectric housing that defines a plasma chamber having an input that receives media for processing and an output that passes processed media. A ground electrode plate is positioned proximate to a first surface of the dielectric housing forming a first dielectric barrier. A hot electrode plate is positioned proximate to a second surface of the dielectric housing forming a second dielectric barrier. A power supply generates a waveform that energizes the hot electrode plate with a voltage that strikes a double dielectric barrier plasma discharge in the plasma chamber. A media injector is positioned at an input of the plasma chamber. The media injector includes a nozzle that converts a liquid media into an aerosolized media and then sprays the aerosolized media into the plasma chamber. The plasma in the plasma chamber processes the aerosolized media into at least some lower molecular weight media and activating at least some free radicals.

1 . A plasma assisted combustion device comprising:
 a) a dielectric housing that defines a plasma chamber having an input that receives media for processing and an output that passes processed media;   b) a ground electrode plate positioned proximate to a first surface of the dielectric housing forming a first dielectric barrier;   c) a hot electrode plate positioned proximate to a second surface of the dielectric housing forming a second dielectric barrier;   d) a power supply having an output that is electrically connected to the hot electrode plate, the power supply generating a waveform that energizes the hot electrode plate with a voltage that strikes a double dielectric barrier plasma discharge in the plasma chamber; and   e) a media injector that is positioned at an input of the plasma chamber, the media injector having a nozzle that converts a liquid media into an aerosolized media and then sprays the aerosolized media into the plasma chamber, the plasma in the plasma chamber processing the aerosolized media into at least some lower molecular weight media and activating at least some free radicals.   
   
   
       2 . The plasma assisted combustion device of  claim 1  wherein the dielectric housing is wedge shape. 
   
   
       3 . The plasma assisted combustion device of  claim 1  wherein the dielectric housing is rectangular shape. 
   
   
       4 . The plasma assisted combustion device of  claim 1  wherein the dielectric housing is shaped to prevent fuel from condensing. 
   
   
       5 . The plasma assisted combustion device of  claim 1  wherein the dielectric housing is shaped to approximately match an angle of the media sprayed into the plasma chamber by the media injector. 
   
   
       6 . The plasma assisted combustion device of  claim 1  wherein the dielectric housing is shaped to prevent obstructions to the media so that substantially all of the media is directly exposed to the plasma 
   
   
       7 . The plasma assisted combustion device of  claim 1  wherein the dielectric housing is shaped to reduce condensation of the media on surfaces of the plasma assisted combustion device. 
   
   
       8 . The plasma assisted combustion device of  claim 1  wherein the media comprises fuel. 
   
   
       9 . The plasma assisted combustion device of  claim 8  wherein the dielectric housing is shaped to improve cracking efficiency of the fuel in the plasma chamber. 
   
   
       10 . The plasma assisted combustion device of  claim 1  wherein the first surface of the dielectric housing is positioned opposite to the second surface of the dielectric housing. 
   
   
       11 . The plasma assisted combustion device of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the ground electrode plate and the hot electrode plate is at least partially recessed into the dielectric housing. 
   
   
       12 . The plasma assisted combustion device of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the ground electrode plate and the hot electrode plate is substantially flat in shape. 
   
   
       13 . The plasma assisted combustion device of  claim 1  wherein dimensions of the dielectric housing are chosen to reduce a probability of generating an undesirable electrical discharge in the plasma chamber. 
   
   
       14 . The plasma assisted combustion device of  claim 1  wherein the dielectric housing is formed of a ceramic material. 
   
   
       15 . A method of plasma assisted combustion, the method comprising:
 a) forming a plasma chamber with a dielectric housing;   b) injecting an aerosolized media into the plasma chamber;   c) electrically connecting a ground electrode plate positioned proximate to a first surface of the dielectric housing, which forms a first dielectric barrier, to ground potential; and   d) energizing a hot electrode plate positioned proximate to a second surface of the dielectric housing, which forms a second dielectric barrier, with a high voltage waveform that strikes a double dielectric barrier plasma discharge in the plasma chamber, the plasma in the plasma chamber cracking the aerosolized media into lower molecular weight media and activating free radicals.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising selecting a frequency of the high voltage waveform that reduces a probability of generating an undesirable electrical discharge. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising shielding at least one of the hot electrode plate and the ground electrode plate with a high dielectric material that reduces a probability of generating an undesirable electric discharge. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising positioning at least one of the hot electrode plate and the ground electrode plate to reduce a probability of generating an undesirable electric discharge. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising positioning at least one of the hot electrode plate and the ground electrode plate to increase a probability of striking the plasma discharge. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 15  wherein at least one of the high voltage waveform and the dimensions of the plasma chamber is chosen to improve cracking efficiency of media in the plasma chamber. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising mixing the lower molecular weight processed media and free radicals with air and igniting the mixture outside of the plasma chamber. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising compressing the air that is mixed with the lower molecular weight combustion products and free radicals before igniting the mixture. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 21  wherein at least one of the voltages applied to the hot electrode plate, the dimensions of the plasma chamber, and the amount of air mixed with the lower molecular weight fuel and the free radicals are chosen to improve ignition efficiency. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 21  wherein at least one of the voltages applied to the hot electrode plate, the dimensions of the plasma chamber, and the amount of air mixed with the lower molecular weight fuel and the free radicals is chosen to reduce undesirable emissions in the ignition products. 
   
   
       25 . A plasma assisted combustion device comprising:
 a) a dielectric housing that defines a plasma chamber having an input that receives media for processing and an output that passes processed media;   b) a means for injecting an aerosolized media into the plasma chamber; and   c) a means for striking a double dielectric barrier plasma discharge in the plasma chamber, the plasma in the plasma chamber processing the aerosolized media into lower molecular weight processed media and activating free radicals.