Hartmann ultrasound generator combined with electrical discharge

Environmental applications such as volatile organic compounds decomposition, destruction of nitrogen oxides or ozone generation utilize different chemical reactions. The efficiency of these reactions depends among others on the temperature, on the residence time (mixing of reactant medium) and also on the pressure in reaction volume. The increase of pressure in this volume can be achieved by application of power ultrasound. At the same time many reactions can be enhanced by ionization of the reactant medium, which is most frequently performed by electrical discharges. The synergy of power ultrasound with electrical discharges therefore opens new unique perspectives for many applications. The simple and reliable way which reflects these requirements is offered by the combination of Hartmann type ultrasound generators with non-thermal electrical discharges. We describe a new setup of the Hartmann gas-jet ultrasonic generator combined with the electrical discharge with reduced gas flow rate. Our idea involves a rod along the nozzle-resonator axis. New nozzle construction also enables to control electric field in the nozzle-resonator gap and creates high power ultrasoud field in volume in front of the resonator. Apart of the fact that the discharge is stabilized along the resonator orifice circumference, it becomes more uniform and it increases its volume.