Dielectric barrier discharge cell with hermetically sealed electrodes and automatic washing of electrodes during operation of the cell

Apparatus for treatment of odor and volatile organic compound contaminants in gas emissions and for purifying gases, comprising:

• a dielectric barrier discharge non-thermal plasma (NTP) generation cell having a gas flow path therethrough, said cell having a plurality of electrically hot electrodes and ground electrodes positioned in the gas flow path so that gas flowing in the gas flow path will flow across a portion of these electrodes, at least the hot electrodes being hermetically sealed across the gas flow portion of the electrodes;
• a cell gas inlet leading to the gas flow path through the cell;
• a cell gas outlet for discharging gas that has passed through the cell;
• a source of cleaning solution to be applied to the electrodes in the cell to wash gas stream contaminants and/or reaction by-products off the electrodes, said source of cleaning solution including a cleaning solution tank and a pump;
• a spray bar in fluid flow communication with the source of cleaning solution and including a plurality of nozzles directed toward the electrodes to spray cleaning solution onto the electrodes at selected times during operation of the cell when desired to clean the electrodes, said spray bar extending over the electrodes, and being mounted for movement to different positions with respect to the electrodes to spray different sections of the electrodes as the spray bar is moved to the different positions, wherein the nozzles are positioned on the spray bar and the spray bar moves so that each nozzle of the plurality of nozzles sprays sections of confronting surfaces of spaced side-by-side electrodes and wherein the spray bar is mounted as part of linear motion parallel gear drive system;
• a source of catalyst solution for application to the electrodes after cleaning of the electrodes;
• a controller for controlling movement of and spray from the spray bar.

Apparatus for treatment of odor and volatile organic compound contaminants in gas emissions and for purifying gases, comprising:

• a dielectric barrier discharge non-thermal plasma (NTP) generation cell having a gas flow path therethrough, said cell having a plurality of electrically hot electrodes and ground electrodes positioned in the gas flow path so that gas flowing in the gas flow path will flow across a portion of these electrodes, at least the hot electrodes being hermetically sealed across the gas flow portion of the electrodes;
• a cell gas inlet leading to the gas flow path through the cell;
• a cell gas outlet for discharging gas that has passed through the cell;
• a source of cleaning solution to be applied to the electrodes in the cell to wash gas stream contaminants and/or reaction by-products off the electrodes;
• a plurality of nozzles in fluid flow communication with the source of cleaning solution and directed toward the electrodes to spray cleaning solution onto the electrodes at selected times during operation of the cell when desired to clean the electrodes;
• and
• a source of catalyst solution for application to the electrodes after cleaning of the electrodes.