System, method and apparatus for creating an electrical glow discharge

A system for creating an electric glow discharge comprising:

• a fluid transfer device having one or more sets of first flanges and second flanges, wherein the fluid transfer device comprising a tank, vessel, stripper column, reactor, pipe or conduit;
• an electric glow discharge device attached between each set first flanges and second flanges, where each electric glow discharge device comprises:
• a non-conductive housing having a longitudinal axis aligned with the fluid transfer device, a first opening aligned with the longitudinal axis, and a second opening aligned with the longitudinal axis and opposite the first opening,
• a first electrically conductive screen attached to the non-conductive housing and disposed proximate to the first opening of the housing and substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis,
• a second electrically conductive screen attached to the non-conductive housing and disposed proximate to the second opening of the housing and substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, wherein the second electrically conductive screen is separated from the first electrically conductive screen by a substantially equidistant gap,
• a non-conductive granular material disposed within the substantially equidistant gap,
• a first electrical terminal electrically connected to the first electrically conductive screen and disposed on an exterior of the housing, and
• a second electrical terminal electrically connected to the second electrically conductive screen and disposed on an exterior of the housing;
• an electrical power source electrically connected to the first and second electrical terminals;
• and
• wherein the electric glow discharge is created whenever the first electrical terminal is connected to an electrical power supply such that the first electrically conductive screen has a first polarity, the second electrical terminal is connected to the electrical power supply such that the second electrically conductive screen has a second polarity, and an electrically conductive fluid is introduced into the substantially equidistant gap.

A method for creating an electric glow discharge comprising:

• providing an electric glow discharge apparatus comprising:
• a non-conductive housing configured for installation within a fluid transfer device, wherein the non-conductive housing has a longitudinal axis aligned with the fluid transfer device, a first opening aligned with the longitudinal axis, and a second opening aligned with the longitudinal axis and opposite the first opening;
• a first electrically conductive screen attached to the non-conductive housing and disposed proximate to the first opening of the housing and substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;
• a second electrically conductive screen attached to the non-conductive housing and disposed proximate to the second opening of the housing and substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, wherein the second electrically conductive screen is separated from the first electrically conductive screen by a substantially equidistant gap;
• a non-conductive granular material disposed within the substantially equidistant gap;
• a first electrical terminal electrically connected to the first electrically conductive screen and disposed on an exterior of the housing;
• and
• a second electrical terminal electrically connected to the second electrically conductive screen and disposed on an exterior of the housing;
• connecting the first and second electrical terminals to an electrical power supply such that the first electrically conductive screen has a first polarity, and the second electrically conductive screen has a second polarity;
• and
• creating the electric glow discharge by introducing an electrically conductive fluid into the substantially equidistant gap.