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The Plasma State

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Handbook of Thermal Plasmas

Abstract

This chapter serves as an introduction to the vast and rapidly growing field of plasmas science and technology. A brief introduction defining what is a plasma and the different types of plasmas, whether natural or man-made, is presented. This is followed by a review of the main characteristics and applications of man-made plasmas. Separate sections deal with nonequilibrium, man-made plasmas, whether glow discharges, corona discharges, dielectric barrier discharges (DBD), or microwave plasmas and their respective industrial applications. Thermal, man-made plasmas are discussed next, identifying the basic concepts for the generation of such plasmas followed by a description of principal thermal plasma sources and their respective industrial applications. Whenever applicable, forward referencing is made to subsequent chapters in the handbook where further details are given on the different subjects.

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Abbreviations

AC:

Alternating current

CLTE:

Complete local thermodynamic equilibrium

CVD:

Chemical vapor deposition

DBD:

Dielectric barrier discharges

DC:

Direct current

DLC:

Diamond-like carbon

EAF:

Electric arc furnace

EB-PVD:

Electron beam-physical vapor deposition

EM:

Electromagnetic

ER:

Erosion rate

GM:

General motors

HID:

High intensity discharge

HSW:

Hospital solid waste

ICP:

Inductively coupled plasma

ICP-MS:

Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

ICP-OES:

Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy

LLRW:

Low-level radioactive waste

LTE:

Local thermodynamic equilibrium

LUX:

Lux per Watt

MIG:

Metal inert gas

MIPs:

Microwave-induced plasmas

MSW:

Municipal solid waste

NASA:

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

PA-CVD:

Plasma-assisted chemical vapor deposition

PA-PVD:

Plasma-assisted physical vapor deposition

PLTE:

Partial local thermodynamic equilibrium

PS-PVD:

Plasma sprayed-physical vapor deposition

PVD:

Plasma vapor deposition

RF:

Radio frequency

SSW:

Sewage sludge waste

TIG:

Tungsten inert gas

TPH:

Ton per hour

TWD:

Traveling wave discharges

UV:

Ultraviolet

VOCs:

Volatile organic compounds

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical and Biotechnology Engineering, University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada

    Maher I. Boulos

  2. Sciences des Procédés Céramiques et de Traitements de Surface (SPCTS), University of Limoges, Limoges, France

    Pierre L. Fauchais

  3. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA

    Emil Pfender

Authors
  1. Maher I. Boulos
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  2. Pierre L. Fauchais
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  3. Emil Pfender
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Maher I. Boulos .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical and Biotechnology Engineering, University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada

    Maher I. Boulos

  2. Sciences des Procédés Céramiques et de Traitements de Surface (SPCTS), University of Limoges, Limoges, France

    Pierre L. Fauchais

  3. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA

    Emil Pfender

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Boulos, M.I., Fauchais, P.L., Pfender, E. (2023). The Plasma State. In: Boulos, M.I., Fauchais, P.L., Pfender, E. (eds) Handbook of Thermal Plasmas. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-84936-8_1

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