Electrode assembly, dielectric barrier discharge system and use thereof

Abstract

An electrode assembly, comprising (a) a conductive electrode, having (i) a first electrode surface, (ii) a second electrode surface, opposite the first electrode surface, (iii) an electrode edge, connecting the first and second electrode surfaces, and (iv) an electrode tab, for making an electrical connection to the electrode. The electrode assembly further comprises (b) a dielectric, enclosing the first and second electrode surfaces and the electrode edge, and (c) a first working surface, on the first electrode surface, wherein the dielectric is present between the first working surface and the first electrode surface. The dielectric is conformal with the first electrode surface, the second electrode surface and the electrode edge.

1 . An electrode assembly, comprising:
 (a) a conductive electrode, having
 (i) a first electrode surface, 
 (ii) a second electrode surface, opposite the first electrode surface, 
 (iii) an electrode edge, connecting the first and second electrode surfaces, and 
 (iv) an electrode tab, for making an electrical connection to the electrode, 
   (b) a dielectric, enclosing the first and second electrode surfaces and the electrode edge, and   (c) a first working surface, on the first electrode surface, wherein the dielectric is present between the first working surface and the first electrode surface,   wherein the dielectric is conformal with the first electrode surface, the second electrode surface and the electrode edge.   
     
     
         2 . The electrode assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second electrode surfaces are planar. 
     
     
         3 . The electrode assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising (d) a second working surface, on the second electrode surface, wherein the dielectric is present between the second working surface and the second electrode surface. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The electrode assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the first working surface comprises glass, and the second working surface comprises glass. 
     
     
         6 . The electrode assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the glass has a thickness of at least 1 mm. 
     
     
         7 . The electrode assembly of  claim 2 , wherein a radius of curvature of the electrode edge parallel to the first and second electrode surfaces is at least 1 inch. 
     
     
         8 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An electrode holder assembly, comprising:
 (1) an electrode holder base,   (2) an electrode holder frame, on the electrode holder base, and   (3) a plurality of electrode assemblies, in the electrode holder frame,   wherein the electrode holder base and the electrode holder frame comprise an insulating inorganic material,   an electrode gap size between each of the plurality of electrode assemblies is at least 0.5 inches, and   each of the plurality of electrode assemblies comprises   (a) a conductive electrode, having
 (i) a first electrode surface, 
 (ii) a second electrode surface, opposite the first electrode surface, 
 (iii) an electrode edge, connecting the first and second electrode surfaces, and 
 (iv) an electrode tab, for making an electrical connection to the electrode, 
   (b) a dielectric, enclosing the first and second electrode surfaces and the electrode edge,   (c) a first working surface, on the first electrode surface, wherein the dielectric is present between the first working surface and the first electrode surface, and   (d) a second working surface, on the second electrode surface, wherein the dielectric is present between the second working surface and the second electrode surface.   
     
     
         22 . The electrode holder assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the electrode gap size is 0.5 inches to 2.5 inches. 
     
     
         23 . A reactive gas generator, comprising:
 (I) a generator cabinet,   (II) the electrode holder assembly of  claim 21 , in the generator cabinet,   (III) an intake duct, on a first side of the cabinet, and   (IV) an exhaust duct, on a second side of the cabinet, opposite the first side of the cabinet.   
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . The reactive gas generator of  claim 23 , further comprising
 (VI) a first power splitter, in the generator cabinet, electrically connected to a first portion of the plurality of electrode assemblies,   (VII) a second power splitter, in the generator cabinet, electrically connected to a second portion of the plurality of electrode assemblies, and   (VIII) a ground return assembly, in the generator cabinet, electrically connected to 2 electrodes.   
     
     
         26 . The reactive gas generator of  claim 23 , further comprising
 (IX) a blower, attached to the exhausted duct, and   (X) a blower exhaust, attached to the blower.   
     
     
         27 . An electrode holder assembly, comprising:
 (1) an electrode holder base,   (2) an electrode holder frame, on the electrode holder base, and   (3) a plurality of the electrodes assemblies, in the electrode holder frame, each of the plurality of electrode assemblies comprising the electrode assembly of  claim 7 ,   wherein the electrode holder base and the electrode holder frame comprise an insulating inorganic material, and   an electrode gap size between each of the plurality of electrode assemblies is at least 0.5 inches.   
     
     
         28 . A reactive gas generator, comprising:
 (I) a generator cabinet,   (II) the electrode holder assembly of  claim 27 , in the generator cabinet,   (III) an intake duct, on a first side of the cabinet, and   (IV) an exhaust duct, on a second side of the cabinet, opposite the first side of the cabinet.   
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . A reactive gas generator assembly, comprising:
 (A) the reactive gas generator of  claim 23 , and   (B) a regulator, electrically connected to the reactive gas generator,   wherein the regulator comprises a high voltage transformer, for providing high voltage to the reactive gas generator.   
     
     
         32 . A product treatment assembly, comprising:
 a fluid bed, and   the reactive gas generator of  claim 23 , connected to supply reactive gas generated by the reactive gas generator to air entering the fluid bed.   
     
     
         33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . A method of removing mycotoxins from a product or sterilizing a product, comprising:
 generating reactive gas with the reactive gas generator of  claim 23 ; and   contacting the product with the reactive gas in a product treatment assembly;   wherein the product treatment assembly, comprises
 a fluid bed, and 
 the reactive gas generator, connected to supply reactive gas generated by the reactive gas generator to air entering the fluid bed. 
   
     
     
         35 . A method of sterilizing surfaces in a room, comprising:
 generating reactive gas with the reactive gas generator of  claim 23 ; and   contacting surfaces in the room with the reactive gas.   
     
     
         36 . A method of sterilizing surfaces in a room with the reactive gas generator assembly of  claim 31 , comprising:
 generating reactive gas with the reactive gas generator; and   contacting surfaces in the room with the reactive gas;   wherein the reactive gas generator is in the room, and the regulator is outside the room.   
     
     
         37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . A method of killing viruses on surfaces in a room, comprising:
 generating reactive gas with the reactive gas generator of  claim 26 , and   contacting surfaces in the room with the reactive gas.   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the room is a cruise ship cabin. 
     
     
         40 . (canceled)