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Concept
Atmospheric-pressure plasma
Summary
Atmospheric-pressure plasma (or AP plasma or normal pressure plasma) is a plasma in which the pressure approximately matches that of the surrounding atmosphere – the so-called normal pressure.
Atmospheric-pressure plasmas have prominent technical significance because in contrast with low-pressure plasma or high-pressure plasma no reaction vessel is needed to ensure the maintenance of a pressure level differing from atmospheric pressure. Accordingly, depending on the principle of generation, these plasmas can be employed directly in the production line. The need for cost-intensive chambers for producing a partial vacuum as used in low-pressure plasma technology is eliminated.
Various forms of excitation are distinguished:
AC (alternating current) excitation
DC (direct current) and low-frequency excitation
Excitation by means of radio waves
Microwave excitation
Atmospheric-pressure plasmas that have attained any noteworthy industrial significance are those generated by DC excitation (electric arc), AC excitation (corona discharge, dielectric barrier discharge, piezoelectric direct discharge and plasma jets as well as 2.45 GHz microwave microplasma).
By means of a high-voltage discharge (5–15 kV, 10–100 kHz) a pulsed electric arc is generated. A process gas, usually oil-free compressed air flowing past this discharge section, is excited and converted to the plasma state. This plasma passes through a jet head to the surface of the material to be treated. The jet head determines the geometry of the beam, and is at earth potential to hold back potential-carrying parts of the plasma stream.
A microwave system uses amplifiers that output up to 200 watts of power radio frequency (RF) power to produce the arc that generates plasma. Most solutions work at 2.45 GHz. A new technology provides ignition and highly efficient operation with the same electronic and couple network. This kind of atmospheric-pressure plasmas is different. The plasma is only top of the electrode. That is the reason the construction of a cannula jet was possible.
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