Non-thermal plasma reactor for lower power consumption

A segmented element for a non-thermal plasma reactor comprising:

• a plurality of dielectric barrier electrode plates having differentially sized individually energizable electrodes;
• wherein during non-thermal plasma reactor operation, said individually energizable electrodes are selectively activated to effect variable corona volumes for treating said exhaust stream;
• and further
• wherein additional individually energizable electrodes are activated during periods of high exhaust flows.

A method for treating a combustion exhaust stream comprising:

• admitting an exhaust stream into a dielectric barrier discharge non-thermal plasma reactor comprising:
• a housing having a fluid inlet for admitting a flow of exhaust and a fluid outlet for discharging a treated stream;
• at least one segmented non-thermal plasma element disposed in said housing, said element comprising a plurality of electrode plates having differentially sized individually energizable electrodes;
• selectively activating said individually energizable electrodes to effect variable corona volumes for treating said exhaust stream.

A method for treating an exhaust stream comprising:

• admitting an exhaust stream into a non-thermal plasma reactor comprising:
• a housing having a fluid inlet for admitting a flow of exhaust and a fluid outlet for discharging a treated stream;
• at least one differentially sized segmented non-thermal plasma element disposed in said housing, said element comprising a plurality of segments having individually energizable electrodes;
• selectively activating an individually energizable electrode and activating additional individually energizable electrodes as needed for efficient treatment of the exhaust stream so as to maintain a high space velocity in each active corona volume;
• and
• activating additional individually energizable electrodes during periods of high exhaust flows.