Process and Apparatus for Producing a Product Gas Stream

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This patent covers a process and an apparatus for generating a product gas stream by combining a reactive gas, created via plasma discharge from a process gas under reduced pressure, with a compressed gas in a dedicated mixing chamber. The system can be flexibly adjusted to produce gas mixtures with high concentrations of reactive species such as peroxides, nitrites, and radicals, which are not stable over storage and have potent oxidizing and antimicrobial properties. The apparatus is optimized for energy efficiency, versatility, and safety, making it suitable for diverse treatment methods including air, water, and surface sterilization.

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• Removal of nitrogen and sulfur oxides in industrial exhaust (DeNOx and DeSOx processes) to reduce air pollution emissions.
• Advanced oxidation processes for treating and purifying water (e.g., removal of contaminants and pathogens).
• Surface sterilization, disinfection, and decontamination in medical, food, and cleanroom environments.
• Functionalization or modification of polymer or other material surfaces for industrial manufacturing.
• Therapeutic applications where antimicrobial gas mixtures are applied to wounds, medical devices, textiles, or skin.
• On-demand generation of hydrogen or synthesis gas (syngas) for chemical industries.
• Production of nitrates or nitrites for fertilizer or industrial chemical manufacturing.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Highly efficient generation of reactive gas mixtures with customizable chemical composition (ozone-rich or NOx-rich) through control of pressure and process conditions.
• Energy savings due to plasma operation at reduced pressure and utilization of excess heat to vaporize feed liquids.
• Enhanced safety by avoiding direct plasma contact with treated surfaces (especially critical for medical uses).
• Capability to produce short-lived, highly effective antimicrobial agents (such as peroxynitrite) directly at the application site.
• Flexibility in feedstock (water, peroxides, acids, alcohols) allows adaptation for various industrial or medical needs.
• Reduces need for expensive or rare gases by allowing the use of air, CO₂, or water vapor as process or carrier gases.
• Integrated designs reduce operational complexity and costs, enabling portable or scalable solutions for diverse industries.

Technical Classifications (CPCs)

Inventors & Applicants

Patent Abstract

The invention relates to a process for producing a product gas stream (G), having the steps of: providing a process gas stream (P), producing a reactive gas stream (R) from the process gas stream (P) under reduced pressure, providing a compressed gas stream (D) and mixing the reactive gas stream (R) with the compressed gas stream (D) to form a product gas stream (G). The invention further relates to an apparatus (1) for production of a product gas stream (G), having a discharge chamber (2), a compressed gas conduit (12), a reactive gas conduit (11) separate from the compressed gas conduit (12), a product gas conduit (13) and a mixing chamber (3) which can be brought into flow connection with the compressed gas conduit (12) and the reactive gas conduit (11) in such a way that the compressed gas stream (D) is miscible with the reactant gas stream (R) in the mixing chamber (3) to form a product gas stream (G), wherein the mixing chamber (3) can be brought into flow connection with the product gas conduit (13) in such a way that the product gas stream (13) can be released from the apparatus (1) by means of the product gas conduit (13).