System and method for using nonthermal plasma reactors

Abstract

In one embodiment, the process for treating a gas stream, comprises: introducing a gas stream to a plasma reactor, maintaining a reactor temperature of the plasma reactor at greater than or equal to about 70° C., and reducing the concentration of a gas stream component in the plasma reactor to produce a treated gas stream.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A process for treating a gas stream, comprising: 
 introducing a gas stream to a plasma reactor;    maintaining a reactor temperature of the plasma reactor at greater than or equal to about 70° C.; and    reducing the concentration of a gas stream component in the plasma reactor to produce a treated gas stream.    
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature of the plasma reactor is maintained at a temperature of about 80° C. to about 300° C.  
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprising sensing a reacted gas stream temperature; and 
 pulsing an electric signal to the plasma reactor based upon the sensed temperature.    
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprising introducing an electric signal to the plasma reactor prior to introducing the gas stream.  
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprising controlling the reactor temperature by pulsing an electric signal to the plasma reactor from a power source.  
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 5 , wherein the electric signal has a modulation frequency of about 1 Hz to about 1 MHz  
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 6 , wherein the electric signal has a modulation frequency of about 500 Hz to about 10 kHz  
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 5 , wherein the electric signal has a pulse duration of less than or equal to about 100 nsec.  
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 8 , wherein the electric signal does note increases the reactor temperature.  
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprising directing gas from within a vehicle to the plasma reactor.  
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprising directing gas from within a building to the plasma reactor.  
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprising directing gas from within a submarine to the plasma reactor.  
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprising directing gas from with an airplane or aerospace vehicle to the plasma reactor.  
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the concentration of the gas stream component is reduced to less than or equal to 10 ppm.  
     
     
         15 . An vehicle exhaust system, comprising: 
 an engine;    an exhaust conduit in fluid communication with the engine, configured to direct a gas stream from the engine out of the vehicle;    a plasma reactor disposed downstream from the engine and in fluid communication with the exhaust conduit;    a power source in electrical communication with the plasma reactor; and    a controller disposed in operable communication with the power source and with a temperature sensor, wherein the temperature sensor is disposed in thermal communication with the exhaust conduit downstream from the plasma reactor.