A novel Y-type reactor for selective excitation of atmospheric pressure glow discharge plasma

A novel Y-type atmospheric pressure ac glow discharge plasma reactor has be en designed and tested in CO reduction with hydrogen and the reverse water- gas shift reaction. The reactor consists of a Y-type quartz tube with an an gle of 120 degrees -180 degrees between the two long arms, two metal rod el ectrodes serving as high voltage terminals and two pieces of aluminum foil which were wrapped outside of the quartz tubes as a ground electrode. Diffe rent combinations of input power applied on this three- electrode system ca n lead to selective plasmas on one side, two sides, or can also generate a stable arc between the two high voltage terminal electrodes. The ability to selectively activate different species with this type of apparatus can hel p to minimize side reactions in plasmas to obtain desirable products. The Y -type reactor may provide a novel means to study fundamental problems regar ding radical reactions. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.