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

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.

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.

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.

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.