An edge-connected non-thermal plasma reactor includes an element having an edge-connected frame comprising a pair of dielectric edge connectors secured at opposite ends to a pair of outer dielectric plates. The dielectric edge connectors have a backplane and a plurality of tines protruding along one major surface of the backplane. The tines are spaced apart from one another at regular intervals so as to form pockets between adjacent tines. Alternating polarity electrode plates comprising a diele...

A method for plasma sterilization includes exposing an article to be sterilized to a plasma generated from a gas mixture. The gas mixture being either (a) argon, helium, nitrogen, or mixtures thereof, and oxygen and hydrogen; (b) argon, helium, nitrogen or mixtures thereof, and hydrogen; or (c) argon, helium, nitrogen or mixtures thereof, and oxygen. The exposure of the article to the plasma is carried out at a pressure of from 0.1 to 10 torr and a chamber temperature of less than 63.degree. C. ...

A unibody, monolithic, one-piece PBN plasma chamber for an MBE gas plasma source. The chamber has a cylindrical configuration with at least one effusion orifice and a gas inlet opening. The gas inlet opening is preferably communicatively connected to an elongated, tubular inlet member. The inlet member is preferably coupled to a liquid cooled gas source by an intermediary connection member which is preferably constructed of a refxactory metal. The chamber minimizes leakage and maximizes efficien...

This invention relates to an improved cooling system for a reactor having ultraviolet (UV) lamps, the radiation from which treats a fluid medium, for example, water, air or solvent. More particularly, the reactor system is adapted to treat contaminants in the fluids by use of UV emitting lamps which operate at high temperatures normally in excess of 300.degree. C.

In a photocatalysis system for degrading toxic compounds to constituent components, an improved photoreactor system optimizes reaction rates on the surface of a wide bandgap semiconductor electrode material. The semiconductor material has a first surface exposed to light having a higher energy than the bandgap and a second surface exposed to the toxic compound. An electrical conductor contacts the semiconductor electrode material in a geometry effective to produce an electric field within the se...

To improve a solar energy installation for chemical conversions comprising a receiver assembly for solar radiation and a chemical reactor which is supplied with solar radiation energy by the receiver assembly and in which chemical reactions take place due to the action of the solar radiation energy, such that optimum coupling of the solar radiation energy into the reactor is possible and, in addition, the reactor design is as simple and variable as possible and the reactor is connectable to the ...

A generator is taught which uses alternating current or pulsating direct current to produce ozone from oxygen. The generator comprises a high voltage and ground electrode separated to form a gap for accommodating a dielectric member and gas to be reacted. The generator includes many features which may be used alone or in combination to provide an energy efficient and safe apparatus.

A system for separating constituents from a base material using RF energy which is coupled to a reaction chamber by way of a windowless transmission line. By eliminating the need for a window, traditional limitations placed on the maximum power delivered to the resonating cavity are eliminated. Thus, the only practical limitation on the RF energy which can be delivered to a resonating cavity are the ability of RF energy source to produce that energy and the ability of the resonating cavity to ma...

A system for separating constituents from a base material using RF energy which is coupled to a reaction chamber by way of a windowless transmission line. By eliminating the need for a window, traditional limitations placed on the maximum power delivered to the resonating cavity are eliminated. Thus, the only practical limitation on the RF energy which can be delivered to a resonating cavity are the ability of RF energy source to produce that energy and the ability of the resonating cavity to ma...

In the determination of the quantity of carbon present in water in the form of organic compounds the carbon-containing water is first evaporated in the presence of oxygen at a temperature of about 900.degree. C. Care must be taken that the oxygen does not exceed 1 to 5 volume %, calculated on the quantity of steam. Then the CO.sub.2 content is measured with a CO.sub.2 analyzer. In a second step the carbon-containing water is measured without oxygen under identical conditions. The quantity of car...