Enhancing gas-phase reaction in a plasma using high intensity and high power ultrasonic acoustic waves

Abstract

This invention relates to enhancing a gas-phase reaction in a plasma comprising: creating plasma by at least one plasma source, and wherein that the method further comprises: generating ultrasonic high intensity and high power acoustic waves having a predetermined amount of acoustic energy by at least one ultrasonic high intensity and high power gas-jet acoustic wave generator, where said ultrasonic high intensity and high power acoustic waves are directed to propagate towards said plasma so that at least a part of said predetermined amount of acoustic energy is absorbed into said plasma, and where a sound pressure level of said generated ultrasonic high intensity and high power acoustic waves is at least substantially 140 dB and where an acoustic power of said generated ultrasonic high intensity and high power acoustic waves is at least substantially 100 W.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 : A system for enhancing a gas-phase reaction in a plasma comprising:
 at least one plasma source adapted to create plasma,   at least one ultrasonic high intensity and high power acoustic wave generator adapted to generate ultrasonic high intensity and high power acoustic waves having a predetermined amount of acoustic energy and being directed to propagate towards said plasma so that at least a part of said predetermined amount of acoustic energy is absorbed into said plasma, and where an acoustic power of said generated ultrasonic high intensity and high power acoustic waves is at least 100 W;   wherein the acoustic wave generator is a gas-jet acoustic wave generator,   wherein a sound pressure level of said generated ultrasonic high intensity and high power acoustic waves is at least substantially 140 dB; and   wherein the system comprises further comprises a membrane, wherein the system is adapted to propagate the generated ultrasonic high intensity and high power acoustic waves towards the membrane so that any gases used by the at least one ultrasonic high intensity and high power acoustic wave generator is not mixed with one or more gases used by said plasma source to create said plasma.   
     
     
         3 : A system according to  claim 2 , wherein the membrane is a thermoplastic or thermoset polymer. 
     
     
         4 : A system according to  claim 2 , wherein the membrane is made from a material selected from the group of: polyesters, polyethylene terephthalate, polyolefins, low density polyethylene, high density polyethylene, ultrahigh density polyethylene, ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene, polypropylene, poly vinyl chloride, poly vinylidene chloride, polystyrene, polyimide, polyamide, poly vinyl ether, polyisobutylene, polycarbonate, polystyrene, polyurethane, poly vinyl acetate, poly-acrylonitrile, natural and synthetic rubbers, polymer alloys, copolymers, and their laminates. 
     
     
         5 : A system according to  claim 3 , wherein the membrane is coated with one or both of organic and inorganic materials. 
     
     
         6 : A system according to  claim 2 , wherein the membrane is a metal foil. 
     
     
         7 : A system according to  claim 2 , wherein the membrane is metal coated or a laminated polymer membrane. 
     
     
         8 : A system according to  claim 2 , wherein the membrane comprises or consists of Aerogel. 
     
     
         9 : A system according to  claim 2 , wherein the sound pressure level of said generated ultrasonic high intensity and high power acoustic waves is
 at least substantially 150 dB,   at least substantially 160 dB,   at least substantially 170 dB,   at least substantially 180 dB,   at least substantially 190 dB, or   at least substantially 200 dB.   
     
     
         10 : A system according to  claim 2 , wherein said acoustic power of said generated ultrasonic high intensity and high power acoustic waves is
 at least substantially 200 W,   at least substantially 300 W,   at least substantially 400 W,   about 400 W,   greater than substantially 400 W,   at least substantially 500 W,   at least substantially 1 kW, or   selected from about 1-2 kW.   
     
     
         11 : A system according to  claim 2 , wherein said plasma source comprises at least one source selected from a group of: a dielectric barrier discharge plasma source, a surface discharge plasma source, a volume discharge plasma source, a plasma torch source, an arc plasma torch, a gliding arc plasma torch, a cold plasma torch, a pencil-like torch, a direct current plasma source, a capacitively coupled plasma source, a pulsed plasma source, a magnetron plasma source, an electron cyclotron resonance plasma source, an inductively coupled plasma source, a helicon plasma source, a helical resonator plasma source, a microwave plasma source, an atmospheric pressure plasma jet source, a barrier torch, an arc microwave torch, a corona discharge plasma source, a micro-plasma source, a low pressure plasma source, and a high pressure plasma source. 
     
     
         12 : A system according to  claim 2 , wherein a working gas pressure at an inlet of said at least one ultrasonic high intensity and high power gas-jet acoustic wave generator is between approximately 1.9 and approximately 5 bar. 
     
     
         13 : A system according to  claim 2 , wherein said plasma is created at atmospheric pressure. 
     
     
         14 : A system according to  claim 2 , wherein said plasma source comprises at least one electrode and wherein one electrode of said at least one electrode is a mesh type of electrode. 
     
     
         15 : A system according to  claim 2 , wherein the generated ultrasonic high intensity and high power acoustic waves are generated using a gaseous medium and where the acoustic waves are directed towards said plasma and wherein said gaseous medium after exit of said at least one ultrasonic high intensity and high power gas-jet acoustic wave generator is directed away from said plasma. 
     
     
         16 : A system according to  claim 2 , said plasma source comprises at least one electrode and wherein a gas mixture used for creating the plasma is supplied to the at least one electrode substantially in a direction that said ultrasonic acoustic waves propagates towards said plasma. 
     
     
         17 : A system according to  claim 2 , wherein said at least one ultrasonic high intensity and high power gas-jet acoustic wave generator is selected from the group of:
 a Hartmann type gas-jet generator,   a Levavasseur type gas-jet generator,   a generator comprising an outer part and an inner part defining a passage, an opening, and a cavity provided in the inner part, where said ultrasonic high intensity and high power gas-jet acoustic wave generator is adapted to receive a pressurized gas and pass the pressurized gas to said opening, from which the pressurized gas is discharged in a jet towards the cavity,   a generator of any of the above mentioned types, which includes any type of concentrators or reflectors of acoustic waves.   
     
     
         18 : A system according to  claim 2 , wherein a food item is subjected to the plasma where the creation of the plasma generates chemical radicals and sterilizes the food item. 
     
     
         19 : A system according to  claim 2 , wherein said at least one ultrasonic high intensity and high power gas-jet acoustic wave generator comprises
 a first acoustic wave generator for generating high intensity acoustic waves using a gaseous medium where the gaseous medium after exit from said first acoustic wave generator has a first principal direction that is different from a second principal direction of generated high intensity acoustic waves being generated by said first acoustic wave generator, and   at least a second acoustic wave generator for generating high intensity acoustic waves,   
       where said first and second acoustic wave generators are located in relation to each other so that at least a part of the generated high intensity acoustic waves, being generated by one of said first and second acoustic wave generator, is directed towards at least a part of the gaseous medium after exit from the other of said first and said second acoustic wave generator. 
     
     
         20 : A system according to  claim 2 , wherein said plasma is used in a process selected from the group of:
 ozone generation,   hydrogen production,   exhaust gas cleaning,   pollution control,   odor removal,   fuel conversion,   sterilization, and   oxidation.