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US RE50,565 E1Granted
Modular plasma reformer treatment system
AssigneeRimere, LLC
InventorGarrett Hill
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A modular plasma treatment system has interchangeable and easily accessible inner and outer electrodes that concentrically nest within an outer housing of one or more plasma reformers. The inner and outer electrodes have self-centering features that allow for blind-fitting of the interchangeable inner and outer electrodes during electrode replacement and maintenance. A plurality of reformers that generate different types of plasmas are preferably arranged serially to allow for a mixture of separate plasmas within the same reaction area and to increase utilization of short-lived radicals.
Claims59
A modular plasma treatment system, comprising:
- a first outer housing of a first plasma reformer having a first exhaust inlet for receiving a first input gaseous stream and a first exhaust outlet for expelling a first output gaseous stream, wherein the first outer housing comprises a first housing inner receiving chamber;
- a first outer electrode sized and dimensioned to abut first housing portions of the first housing inner receiving chamber such that the first outer electrode does not substantially move when set in place within the first housing inner receiving chamber, wherein the first outer electrode comprises a first electrode inner receiving chamber;
- a second outer electrode sized and dimensioned to abut the first housing portions of the first housing inner receiving chamber such that the second outer electrode does not substantially move when set in place within the first housing inner receiving chamber, wherein the second outer electrode comprises a second electrode inner receiving chamber;
- a first inner electrode sized and dimensioned to abut first electrode portions of the first electrode inner receiving chamber such that the first inner electrode does not substantially move when set in place within the first electrode inner receiving chamber;
- and
- a second inner electrode sized and dimensioned to abut second electrode portions of the second electrode inner receiving chamber such that the second inner electrode does not substantially move when set in place within the second electrode inner receiving chamber.
3 more elements
A method of treating a gas stream, the method comprising:
- directing the gas stream into a first reaction zone;
- energizing the gas stream to generate a first plasma comprising a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma between a first inner electrode nested within a second electrode in the first reaction zone;
- further energizing, within a second reaction zone, the gas stream energized in the first reaction zone to generate a second plasma comprising one of a rotating glide-arc plasma or a microwave plasma,
- wherein the first and second reaction zones are disposed serially such that the first inner electrode is directly coupled to a common reaction zone common to the first and second reaction zones and configured to sustain therein the first plasma.
1 more element
A method of generating a product from a gas stream, comprising:
- energizing the gas stream in a first reaction zone, wherein the first reaction zone comprises a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma;
- directing the energized gas stream into a second reaction zone, and further energizing the energized gas stream in the second reaction zone to generate therein a glide-arc plasma;
- wherein a first inner electrode of the first reaction zone is directly coupled to a common reaction zone common to the first and second reaction zones and configured to sustain therein the glide-arc plasma;
- and
- directing an exhaust comprising the product out of one of the first or the second reaction zones.
2 more elements
A method of generating a product from a gas stream, comprising:
- energizing the gas stream in a first reaction zone;
- directing the energized gas stream into a second reaction zone, and further energizing the energized gas stream to generate a second plasma;
- wherein one of the first reaction zone or the second reaction zone comprises a glide-arc plasma,
- wherein a first inner electrode of the first reaction zone is directly coupled to a common reaction zone common to the first and second reaction zones and configured to sustain therein the glide-arc plasma, and
- wherein the gas stream is energized in the first reaction zone by the first inner electrode nested within a second electrode;
- and
- directing an exhaust comprising the product out of one of the first or the second reaction zones.
4 more elements
A plasma device, comprising:
- a first reaction zone configured to energize a gas stream using a first electrode co-axial with a second electrode;
- a second reaction zone configured to generate a plasma using a third electrode co-axial with a fourth electrode, wherein a gap between the third and fourth electrodes increases along an axis of the third electrode;
- wherein the first electrode is directly coupled to a common reaction zone common to the first and second reaction zones and configured to sustain therein the plasma;
- and
- a microwave generator directed toward the second reaction zone.
2 more elements
A method of treating a gas stream, the method comprising:
- directing the gas stream into a first reaction zone;
- generating, within the first reaction zone, an energized gas stream;
- directing the energized gas stream toward a plasma in a second reaction zone, wherein a first electrode of the first reaction zone is directly coupled to a common reaction zone common to the first and second reaction zones and configured to sustain therein the plasma, and wherein a gap between the first electrode and a second electrode in the first reaction zone increases along an axis of the first electrode;
- directing a microwave at the second reaction zone;
- and
- reforming the gas stream in the second reaction zone to form a product.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.