Decontamination of fluids or objects contaminated with chemical or biological agents using a distributed plasma reactor

Abstract

Apparatus for using a non-thermal plasma or corona discharge generated at multiple points and distributed to decontaminate surfaces and objects contaminated with chemical or biological agents. The corona discharge can be generated using very short high voltage pulses (pulsed discharge) produced by a Tesla coil. The pulsed corona discharge can be directed at a contaminated surface through the unbraided strands at an end of a dielectric covered conductor. Another pulsed discharge embodiment incorporates a primary coil surrounding a chamber having a void filled with a plurality of secondary coils. A silent corona discharge can be generated using a variety of different configurations of a dielectric coated electrode and a bare electrode. The silent discharge is produced at all intersections between the dielectric covered electrode and the bare electrode. The bare electrode can be woven with the dielectric covered electrode or can be coiled helically around, or plated onto, the dielectric covered electrode. In one embodiment, the bare electrode is formed as a sheet through which the dielectric coated electrodes pass. In another embodiment, the bare electrode is formed in accordion pleats, and a plurality of dielectric covered electrodes pass through each pleat. Alternatively, the bare electrodes and dielectric covered electrodes can be woven into a loose mesh. In one embodiment the apparatus comprises a blanket-like structure that is useful for decontaminating a surfaces or decontaminating a fluid passing between spaced-apart bare electrodes. In another embodiment the bare electrodes define an internal treatment volume through which a contaminated fluid flows.