A sterilization and decontamination system in which a non-thermal plasma discharge device is disposed upstream of a suspension media (e.g., a filter, electrostatic precipitator, carbon bed). The plasma discharge device generates a plasma that is emitted through apertures (e.g., capillaries or slits) in the primary dielectric. Plasma generated active sterilizing species when exposed to contaminants or undesirable particulate matter is able to deactivate or reduce such matter in contaminated fluid stream and/or on objects. Thus, the undesirable contaminants in the fluid to be treated are first reduced during their exposure to the plasma generated active sterilizing species in the plasma region of the discharge device. Furthermore, the plasma generated active sterilizing species are carried downstream to suspension media and upon contact therewith deactivate the contaminants collected on the suspension media itself. Advantageously, the suspension media may be cleansed in situ. To increase the sterilization efficiency an additive, free or carrier gas (e.g., alcohol, water, dry air) may be injected into the apertures defined in the primary dielectric. These additives increase the concentration of plasma generated active sterilizing agents while reducing the byproduct of generated undesirable ozone pollutants. Downstream of the filter the fluid stream may be further treated by being exposed to a catalyst media or additional suspension media to further reduce the amount of undesirable particulate matter.

In situ sterilization and decontamination system using a non-thermal plasma discharge

Wire arc spraying using repetitively pulsed, high temperature gas jets, usually referred to as plasma jets, and generated by capillary discharges, substantially increases the velocity of atomized and entrained molten droplets. The quality of coatings produced is improved by increasing the velocity with which coating particles impact the coated surface. The effectiveness of wire-arc spraying is improved by replacing the usual atomizing air stream with a rapidly pulsed high velocity plasma jet. Pulsed power provides higher coating particle velocities leading to improved coatings. 50 micron aluminum droplets with velocities of 1500 m/s are produced. Pulsed plasma jet spraying provides the means to coat the insides of pipes, tubes, and engine block cylinders with very high velocity droplet impact.

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High velocity pulsed wire-arc spray

An occupant passive restraint system for an automotive vehicle comprises an air bag and a pulsed pressure source in fluid flow relation with the air bag. The pulsed pressure source includes plural pulsed pressure sources sequentially energized in response to the deceleration sensor sensing a single crash impact. Each source includes plural chambers holding progressively larger masses of gas generant. The chambers are arranged so that each has an outlet coupled with the chamber having the next largest gas generant mass. The gas generant mass in each chamber is predominantly a non-explosive solid particulate material. The smallest chamber includes a fuse in contact with the generant. When a crash is sensed the fuse is supplied with a pulse having sufficient energy and duration to rupture the fuse and form a plasma discharge in the generant in the smallest chamber. The plasma discharge has sufficient energy to ignite the generant in the smallest chamber to a vapor. Gas from each chamber sequentially flows into the chamber having the next largest gas generant mass to sequentially activate the generant mass in the next largest chamber. A temperature sensor controls energization of the pressure pulse to control when each pulse is derived and/or how many pulses are derived.

Pulsed pressure source particularly adapted for vehicle occupant air bag restraint systems

A high strength polymer-based cartridge casing can include a first end having a mouth and a neck extending away from the mouth. Next, a shoulder extends below the neck and away from the first end. An inside of the shoulder can be shaped in at least one of a convex or concave shape. The shoulder can have unequal outside and inside shoulder angles. Further, the inside shoulder can be textured or coated.

Variable inside shoulder polymer cartridge

A method and apparatus for blasting of hard rock using a highly insensitive energetic material ignited with a moderately high energy electrical discharge causing the fracturing and break up of the hard rock is provided. The blasting apparatus (10) comprises a reusable blasting probe (14) including a high voltage electrode (44) and a ground return electrode (46) separated by an insulating tube (40). The two electrodes of the blasting probe (14) are in electrical contact with a continuous volume (70) of highly insensitive yet combustible material such as a metal powder and oxidizer mixture. The metal particles within the metal powder and oxidizer mixture form a plurality of fusible metal paths between the high voltage electrode (44) and the ground return when subjected to an electric current delivered from a large capacitor bank (16) coupled to the high voltage electrode (44). The plurality of fused metal paths act much like a fuse in that they provide a sufficiently high electrical resistance to allow coupling of the electrical energy from the capacitor bank (16) to the metal powder and oxidizer mixture causing an increased dissipation of heat which initiates an exothermic reaction of the metal powder and oxidizer mixture generating high pressure gases fracturing the surrounding rock.

Method and apparatus for blasting hard rock

A projectile is accelerated through a gun barrel bore by a cartridge containing a high temperature, high pressure plasma jet source. The cartridge has a geometry enabling it to be loaded into a breech bore of the gun. The plasma jet is supplied to the rear of the projectile and is derived by a tube having an interior wall forming a capillary passage. A discharge voltage applied between spaced regions along the capillary passage ionizes a dielectric to form a plasma. First and second ends of the passage are respectively open and blocked to enable and prevent the flow of plasma through them. The blocked end closes the breech bore.

Cartridge containing plasma source for accelerating a projectile

A projectile is accelerated through a gun barrel in response to high pressure gas applied to the rear of the projectile in response to a high pressure plasma discharge. Plasma from the discharge flows transversely of the discharge into a chamber through multiple openings in a passage wall that confines the discharge. The high pressure, high temperature plasma flowing into the chamber causes an exothermic reaction of water and metal particles in a slurry in the chamber to produce high pressure hydrogen gas that flows longitudinally of the discharge against the rear of the projectile. To maintain the pressure of hydrogen gas acting against the projectile relatively constant as the projectile is accelerated down the barrel, electric power applied to the discharge increases substantially linearly as a function of time.

High-pressure having plasma flow transverse to plasma discharge particularly for projectile acceleration

A projectile is accelerated through a barrel by a high pressure hydrogen gas jet that is derived by exothermically reacting water or a water-hydrogen peroxide liquid mixture with metal or a metal hydride. The temperature of the reaction is controlled by controlling the power in a plasma discharge applied to a reaction chamber containing the liquid and particles of the metal or metal hydride. A non-vaporous metal oxide resulting from the reaction is centrifugally separated from the hydrogen that drives the projectile.

Method of and apparatus for generating hydrogen and projectile accelerating apparatus and method incorporating same

A pulsed high pressure, supersonic plasma jet for accelerating a projectile through an elongated confined bore is derived from a dielectric structure including a capillary passage having an interior wall surface from which plasma forming material is ablated in response to a discharge voltage applied to first and second electrodes respectively forming a nozzle and plug at opposite ends of the passage. The nozzle injects the plasma into the bore behind the projectile.

Method of and apparatus for deriving a high pressure, high temperature plasma jet with a dielectric capillary

A cartridge (10) for accelerating a projectile (18) includes a light gas (34) pressurized in a sealed container (12) to 5,000 - 10,000 psi. Upon ignition in the sealed container (12), a gas (34) mixture having a low or intermediate molecular weight and a high or low energy density is applied as a high sound speed gas to accelerate the projectile (12) to speeds of above about 2.4 km/sec.

Derek A. Tidman

Papers

Cartridge containing plasma source for accelerating a projectile

High-pressure having plasma flow transverse to plasma discharge particularly for projectile acceleration

Method of and apparatus for generating hydrogen and projectile accelerating apparatus and method incorporating same

Method of and apparatus for deriving a high pressure, high temperature plasma jet with a dielectric capillary

Cartridge having high pressure light gas