Igor Matveev

• Ph.D.
• President at Applied Plasma Technologies, Corp., USA

Developers of new technologies, particularly in materials science, are increasingly turning to plasma as a tool for high-temperature engineering when rethinking processes for material production and valuable waste recycling. Initially, this interest stemmed from an almost fantastical view of plasma as a "magic wand" capable of transforming common m...

This article is devoted to the experimental determination of the enthalpy and temperature of the working fluid at the outlet of an radio frequency (RF) plasma torch operating on argon, helium, and a mixture of argon and helium. These parameters are crucial for the efficiency and rate of solid particle heating in various plasma chemical processes, p...

This article is the first in a series of articles devoted to the reduction of magnesium oxide (MgO) to pure magnesium using carbon in a radio frequency (RF) plasma environment. The series primarily focuses on the selection and optimization of the plasma gas, which is critical to enhancing process efficiency. As an alternative approach, this work in...

This chapter deals with atmospheric pressure discharges in gas flows. A system used for the formation of this type of discharge generally comprises of two specially configured electrodes allowing the gas to flow through the discharge plasma region. A well-known example of such a system is the classical arc plasmatron whose electrodes are positioned...

The authors offer a discussion on two alternative approaches to build the high-power radio frequency (RF) plasma systems with apparent power consumption of 400–600 kVA. The first so named “single-torch” approach means one torch and one power supply. The second one named “multitorch” means several simultaneously operating torches on one nozzle or pr...

This is the seventeenth issue in a series of special issues on plasma-assisted technologies. Herein, the reader will find a broad variety of new and exciting applications and refinements of plasma-based systems. The broad scope of topics is a testament to the expansion and diversity of possible applications of plasmas and follows upon the great suc...

The article considers the possibility of using low-temperature plasma generated by a radiofrequency (RF) plasma torch to maintain stable combustion of ammonia in oxygen using the methods of three-dimensional modeling. Several detailed and reduced kinetic mechanisms have been used to characterize an ammonia combustion chamber. The distributions of t...

Paper considers three plasma based technologies for synthesis of boron nitride nanotubes (BNNT) named as one of the most important materials of this century. All use inductively coupled plasma (ICP) or radio frequency plasma (RF) as the best plasma sources of chemically clean plasma for advanced chemistry. The review discusses different aspects of...

This article considers the possibility of using low-temperature plasma generated by a radio frequency (RF) plasma torch to maintain stable combustion of ammonia in oxygen using the methods of 3-D modeling. Several detailed and reduced kinetic mechanisms have been used to characterize an ammonia combustion chamber. The distributions of the combustio...

This article discusses the possibility of using low-temperature plasma generated by a radio frequency (RF) plasma torch to maintain stable combustion of ammonia in mixtures with air and oxygen. Kinetic calculations of temperatures and component concentrations at the outlet of the plasma-assisted ammonia combustor are carried out for different press...

This is a review, which considers three plasma-based technologies for the synthesis of boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) named one of the most important materials of this century. All use inductively coupled plasma (ICP) or radio frequency (RF) plasma as the only prospective source of chemically pure thermal plasma for synthesis of nano materials and...

The article considers the effect of low-temperature plasma on stability and completeness of ammonia combustion in air using 3-D modeling methods. The subject for modeling is a real 1-MW thermal power plasma chemical reactor, which uses industrial inductively coupled plasma torch, also named radio frequency (RF) torch, as a flame initiator and susta...

This is an overview of existing facilities for testing of thermal protection materials (TPM) for spacecraft based on the inductively plasma (ICP) sources with power over 100 kW. As a chief designer of the ICP plasma torch systems, the author provides the main parameters, describes design of the torches and power supplies, analyzes efficiency of pla...

This article provides the description of a qualitative physical model of the boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) formation in plasma. This model combines understanding not only chemistry of the process, which is well known, but also gas dynamics, heat and mass transfer, and interactions in a complicated multiphase swirling and highly reactive flow of s...

This is now the 16th publication of the series of special issues on plasma-assisted technologies. Once more, in this newest installment, the reader will encounter an expansive array of novel and innovative applications and developments in plasma-based systems. The varied range of topics is a tribute to the continued forward progression of the possi...

This article reports results of the design and experimental investigation of a high-flow and high-concentration NOₓ production system based on a radio-frequency plasma torch for a variety of applications. The system includes a commercial APT-100 plasma torch with plume power from 25 to 35 kW, a double-stage quenching reactor with "fast" first stage...

The authors report the results of design and experimental investigation of a high flow and high concentration NOₓ production system based on a radio frequency (RF) plasma torch for a variety of applications. Unique gas dynamics of the first stage avoids plasma disturbance by feeding quenching gas and enables NO oxidation into NO₂ with a total NOₓ y...

This article reports results of modeling, design, and experimental investigation of a heat exchanger to be used downstream of a radio frequency plasma torch for a variety of applications. A heat exchanger is designed for a plasma generator with thermal power of 30 kW and a maximum air plasma temperature of about 6000 K. The design can also be scale...

This marks the 15th publication of the annual series of special issues on plasma-assisted technologies. Once again, in this new installment, the reader will find a broad array of original and innovative applications and enhancements of plasma-based systems. The wide scope of topics is a testament to the continued progress and assortment of possibil...

This article presents the results of numerical CFD simulation of carbon black (CB) plasma synthesis from wood sawdust. The data on the content of sawdust pyrolysis products at different nitrogen plasma temperatures, different particle size distributions, and changes in the carbon-containing raw material consumption are presented. The obtained resul...

This article presents the results of initial thermodynamic analysis of possible direct carbon black (CB) plasma synthesis from the carbonaceous wastes. Equilibrium concentration of components for plasma pyrolysis of the wood-based wastes, rice husk, and recycled plastic in the temperature range 800-3000 K was determined. The specific power consumpt...

Herein is the 14th edition of the annual series of special issues on plasma-assisted technologies. The reader will find in this latest issue an expansive assortment of novel applications of plasma-based technologies. The variety of topics demonstrates the applicable expanse of plasmas and builds upon the prior scientific and technological achieveme...

This article presents a new approach and preliminary modeling results of the temperature field nonuniformity reduction by using a multitorch radio frequency (RF) plasma system. This is also a way to achieve technical and economic feasibility for plasma systems with plume power over 200 kW, significantly reducing the development and production cycle...

This is the thirteenth issue in a series of special issues on plasma assisted technologies. Herein, the reader will find a broad variety of new and exciting applications and refinements of plasma-based systems. The broad scope of topics is a testament to the expansion and diversity of possibilities using plasmas and follows upon the great success o...

This paper presents some preliminary estimates of the potential performance of a multipropellant RF plasma thruster and its format should be considered as a technical note. Interpolations of experimental results from similar devices found in the literature suggest that the first stage of such a thruster, based on well-established RF plasma torch te...

This paper presents the results of investigation of the possibilities to produce high volume and concentration of nitrogen oxides in inductively coupled plasma/radio frequency plasma for industrial applications. Calculations of the equilibrium composition of air and air-oxygen plasma at different temperatures and pressures have been conducted. The...

This is the twelfth issue in a series of special issues on plasma-assisted technologies. Herein contains a host of new and exciting applications and refinement of plasma-based systems. The range of material is a testament to the expansion and diversity of possibilities using plasmas, and follows on the success of the eleven previous issues.

This paper presents the results of preliminary modeling of the boron particles behavior in a mixing chamber downstream, the inductively coupled plasma or radio frequency (RF) torch, for boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) production. The 3-D computational fluid dynamics calculations of heating of boron particles by nitrogen plasma with plume power 15 a...

This paper presents the results of development and optimization of an industrial combined-cycle gas turbine system for plasma disposal of sewage sludge. The enhanced system flow diagram, critical elements selection, and heat and mass balance optimization provide a solid basis for prototyping a plant for the disposal of sewage sludge with up to 75%...

This is the 11th issue in a series of special issues on plasma-assisted technologies. Herein contains a host of new and exciting applications and refinement of plasma-based systems. The range of material is a testament to the expansion and diversity of possibilities using plasmas, and follows on the success of the ten previous issues.

This paper presents the results of development and optimization of an industrial scale plant for the integrated plasma treatment of sewage sludge. The enhanced plant flow diagram, critical elements selection, and heat and mass balance optimization provide a solid basis for prototyping a plant for the treatment of digested sewage sludge with up to 7...

Plasma Assisted Combustion book series started in 2013. Today, it is one of the successful non-commercial projects of the non-profit International Plasma Technology Center, Corp., which united over 40 contributing authors from 8 countries. We plan to publish new volumes and their editions in the future, depending on progress in the field and the ac...

This is the tenth issue in a series of special issues on plasma-assisted technologies (PATs). Contributions from a growing field with many new multidisciplinary plasma applications have resulted in the largest issue to date. This follows on the success of the nine previous issues, dating back to the original IEEE-TPS Special Issue on Plasma-Assiste...

This paper presents the results of theoretical and experimental investigations of a developed synthesis gas afterburner based on an injector type plasma-assisted combustion system. The basic overall dimensions of the afterburner with the injecting device are determined. The design concept can provide higher performance, wider turndown ratios, more...

This paper presents the results of theoretical investigations of a developed gas turbine integrated complex for production of a synthetic hydrocarbon liquid. This includes a natural gas plasma reforming system, a high-efficient heat recovery system, a power generation unit based on a gas turbine, and the Fischer-Tropsch reactor. Investigations of t...

Computer modeling has been used to provide more detailed information about the alternative catalyst-free methane-oxygen reformer for a small scale gas-to-liquid module. The basic input data include 3-MPa process pressure, oxygen as oxidizer, and oxidizer/fuel equivalence ratio about 3 to provide H₂ to CO ratio ≥ 1.7 needed for further direct liquef...

This paper presents the results of experimental investigations of a developed, unique, high-pressure inductively coupled plasma system. This paper includes the performance parameters of the plasma system operation with different gases at elevated by 5-bar pressures. The results show the way to the development of a high-power plasma systems with ext...

Development and modeling have been performed for different schemes for a plasma-assisted, catalyst-free process for natural gas conversion into synthesis gas, at pressures up to 3 MPa. Two oxidizers, oxygen with different purity and oxygen-steam blends, have been used to obtain a H2-to-CO ratio over 1.8. This ratio qualifies the synthesis gas as an...

This is the ninth issue in a series of special issues on plasma-assisted combustion (PAC), following the success of the first IEEE-TPS Special Issue on PAC (December 2006). This special issue contains 12 papers.

This paper presents the results of modeled investigations of a developed sewage sludge (biosolids) plasma treatment complex. This includes a multistage plasma sewage gasifier, high-efficient heat recovery system, and power generation unit based on a gas engine. Investigations of the treatment complex efficiency are carried out, critical parameters...

The 13 papers in this special issue focus on plasma-assisted technologies.

This paper presents the results of modeled investigations of a developed flow diagram for a small scale (3–4 MW) combined cycle power plant with integrated plasma coal gasification. This includes a highly efficient heat recovery module, a multistaged plasma gasifier, and a gas turbine engine. Total efficiency of the coal conversion into electric po...

This paper deals with the experiments on methane oxidation in a torch flame that is sustained in a combustion chamber by a low-current nonsteady-state plasmatron. The regimes of operation for such a system in a wide range of air–methane mixtures are analyzed. With the results of experiments, a torch flame generator with a heat power density per uni...

Plasma assisted combustion, gasification and pollution control

The eight papers in this special issue focus on plasma-assisted combustion.

Theoretical and experimental investigations of the working processes in the reverse-vortex plasma assisted combustion system have been conducted. The system operates as a multi-mode, multi-purpose reactor in a wide range of plasma feedstock gases and turn down ratios, convenient and simultaneous feeding of several reagents into the discharge zone....

This paper describes the plasma-assisted combustion system intended to generate a torch flame with a high power density per unit area. In the system, a kind of hybrid concept is proposed. A primary unit for combustion sustaining is a low-current nonsteady-state plasmatron with a low level of electric power. The plasmatron activates an air/hydrocarb...

In this paper, I present my vision of the current situation in power generation and suggest a description of the alternative solution for existing coal-fired power plants to increase their electrical efficiency and reduce pollution. This alternative is based on a known approach of coal gasification but differs by several important features, includi...

In this paper, the authors present the results of recent developments and experimental investigations of a new atmospheric-pressure microwave plasma torch with reverse-vortex plasma stabilization and different plasma gases, such as air and nitrogen. Such a torch could be used for a variety of applications, for example, nitriding of steel and alloy...

Theoretical and experimental investigations of the working processes in a gas turbine low-emission combustor, in which the principle of lean burning of a partially premixed mixture is realized, have been conducted. The selected concept of a gas turbine combustor can provide higher performance and lower emission of nitrogen oxides and demonstrate sa...

Theoretical and experimental investigations of the working processes in a gas turbine combustor with steam injection have been conducted. Selected concept of a gas turbine combustor can provide higher performance, wider turn down ratios, lower emission of nitrogen oxides, demonstrate satisfactory major gravimetric and volumetric parameters. Obtaine...

In the above titled paper, the funding information is incomplete. The correct acknowledgement is provided here.

Theoretical and experimental investigations of the working processes in a plasma-assisted combustion and reformation system have been conducted. The selected concept can provide higher performance, wider turndown ratios, more efficient propellant utilization, demonstration of potential fuel flexibility, and satisfaction of major gravimetric and vol...

This paper presents the results of development and experimental investigations of a plasma fuel nozzle (PFN) concept as the most prospective tool to realize plasma-assisted combustion in different heat engines. The results of plasma source selection and optimization, fuel atomizer options consideration and comparison, and influence on the combustio...

Theoretical investigations of the working processes in a plasma coal pilot gasification system have been conducted. The obtained results and recommendations can be used for modeling the operational modes of plasma gasification system, as well as geometry optimization, and the engineering design of prospective power generation units.

Combustion dynamics are investigated for plasma-enhanced methane-air flames in premixed and nonpremixed configurations using a transient arc dc plasmatron. Planar laser-induced fluorescence images of hydroxyl (OH) and carbon monoxide (CO) radicals are obtained over a range of equivalence ratios (φ = 0.7 - 1.3), flow rates (6-18 LPM), and plasma pow...

The nine papers in this special issue focus on plasma assisted combustion.

In the article results of investigation of a reverse vortex hybrid plasma torch were described. The hybrid plasma torch is a combination of RF plasma torch and arc plasma torch. In this kind of torch reverse vortex gas stabilization was used to increase an efficiency of plasma energy. At the start operational mode arc plasma jet is used for the ign...

In the above titled paper (ibid., vol. 37, no. 12, pp. 2302-2313, Dec. 09), the funding information in the first footnote was incorrectly presented. It is presented correctly here.

This paper describes the experiments with the plasma-assisted combustion system as applied to gaseous hydrocarbons. The system is based on a nonsteady-state gas-discharge plasmatron with a low average current. One of the subjects of the investigations is to elucidate a correlation between the discharge burning regimes in the plasmatron and the prop...

This paper presents quantitative planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) imaging of nitric oxide (NO) in a transient-arc direct-current plasmatron igniter using premixed air/fuel mixtures. Quantitative measurements of NO are reported as a function of gas flow rate (20-50 standard cubic feet per hour), plasma power (100-900 mA, 150-750 W), and equi...

In this paper, we report on the experimental investigations of two innovative technologies combined in one device, namely, the application of an initiated streamer microwave (MW) discharge for ignition and flame control in a reverse-vortex combustion chamber, also known as a Tornado combustor. The pulsed subcritical streamer MW discharge (SSD) in a...

This paper presents thermodynamic and kinetic modeling of plasma-aided bituminous coal gasification. Distributions of concentrations, temperatures, and velocities of the gasification products along the gasifier are calculated. Carbon gasification degree, specific power consumptions, and heat engineering characteristics of synthesis gas at the outle...

This paper deals with the investigation of nonsteady-state discharge regimes in the plasmatron as applied to air-hydrocarbon mixtures. The electrode system is based on the design of a classical high-current arc plasmatron. Compared with a thermal plasmatron mode, the averaged discharge current in the described device has been decreased to about 0.2...

Spatially resolved nitric oxide (NO) concentrations in plasma-enhanced flames of a transient arc plasmatron are presented using planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF). Quantitative measurements of NO are made by comparing the laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) signal to a well defined flat-flame calibration torch and using a NO addition method base...

Experimental investigations of several engineered prototypes of a non-thermal plasma igniter for high speed flows have been conducted. Selected for prototyping approach allows significant decrease in electrical power consumption due to fuel application. Developed and investigated igniter designs have realized different schemes of plasma and fuel in...

The major advantages of a new plasma-assisted fuel reformation system are its cost effectiveness and technical efficiency. Applied Plasma Technologies has proposed its new highly efficient hybrid-type plasma-assisted system for organic fuel combustion and gasification. The system operates as a multimode multipurpose reactor in a wide range of plasm...

The ten papers in this special issue focus on plasma-assisted combustion.

Oxidant selection is the highest priority for advanced coal gasification-process development. This paper presents comparative analysis of the Powder River Basin bituminous-coal gasification processes for entrained-flow plasma gasifier. Several oxidants, which might be employed for perspective commercial applications, have been chosen, including air...

Transient discharge is a perspective source of non-thermal plasma for ignition and flame control in variety of applications, including gas turbines, rocket engines, burners, furnaces, fuel reformers, etc.. Due to relatively low temperature and power consumption from 10 W to 1.5 kW non-thermal plasma sources provide such advantages as dramatically e...

This paper deals with investigation of a new regime in a plasma ignition and flame control system. The system is based on a classical high-current arc plasmatron. The glow-to-spark transitions, the current spark pulses are accidentally superimposed on the non-equilibrium plasma of the plasma torch. The spark discharges initiate the combustion proce...

The mathematical model of a direct-current arc at atmospheric pressure and low currents has been proposed. This paper presents the results of 2-D simulations for an air arc within the plasmatron channel, as well as the anode, composite cathode, and external regions. The model does not employ any adjustable parameter and therefore enables direct com...

Theoretical and experimental investigations of working processes in a triple vortex combustor with spatial arc have been conducted. Selected concept of portable triple vortex plasma assisted combustor can provide higher performanc e, wider turn down ratios, more efficient propellants utilization, decrease combustor and engine weight, demonstrate po...

The eleven papers in this special issue are devoted to the topic of plasma-assisted combustion.

The major advantages of plasma treatment systems are cost effectiveness and technical efficiency. A new efficient electrodeless 1-MW hybrid plasma torch for waste disposal and coal gasification is proposed. This product merges several solutions such as the known inductive-type plasma torch, innovative reverse-vortex (RV) reactor and the recently de...

This paper deals with the investigation of a new regime in a plasma ignition and flame control system as applied to air-hydrocarbon mixtures. The system is based on the design of a classical high-current arc plasmatron. Compared with a thermal plasmatron mode, the average discharge current in the described device has been decreased to about 0.1 A....

This paper describes a new type of plasma ignition and flame control system. The main features of the plasmatron operation modes are extremely low average current (about 0.1 A) and low average power (less than 100 W). However, it demonstrates reliable ignition and flame stabilization in a wide range of equivalence ratios. Physical mechanism of igni...

Theoretical investigations of the reverse vortex combustor (RVC) with plasma stabilization have been conducted. Different effects of spatial arc on the burnout processes inside the combustor and ecological characteristics have been considered. The results of this work and recommendations can be used for the reverse vortex combustion chamber operati...

The development of a new generation of combustion chambers with plasma torch and spatial arc should be based on better understanding of the physical and chemical processes of turbulent combustion in highly swirled flows and the modeling of such combustors taking into account the complexity of their 3D geometry and variety of operation modes. Theore...

The plasma assisted Tornado combustor, which aerodynamics dramatically differs from a conventional direct vortex combustor has been developed and preliminary tested. This device combines several innovative solutions, such as recently developed double and triple vortex fluid apparatus, non-equilibrium plasma pilot and plasma chemical reactor. The pl...

This paper deals with investigations of gas discharge in a recently developed plasma pilot for ignition and flame control. The characteristic features of this discharge burning mode are extremely low current (about 0.1 A) and low average power (less than 100 W). However, ignition and flame stabilization in a wide range of equivalence ratios for air...

A Reverse Vortex Combustor, in which aerodynamics dramatically differ from the conventional direct vortex combustor has been developed and preliminary testing has been done. A laser Doppler velocimetry system was used to measure the mean axial and swirl velocity components and their respective fluctuations in the "Tornado" combustor under cold, non...

The Black Sea (known as the Euxine Sea in antiquity) is an inland sea between southeastern Europe and Asia Minor. It is connected to the Mediterranean Sea by the Bosporus and the Sea of Marmara, and to the Sea of Azov by the Strait of Kerch. The Black Sea has an area of 422,000 km 2 and a maximum depth of 2210 m. Countries bordering on the Black Se...

Theoretical and experimental investigations of a gaseous fuel burning reverse vortex combustor have been conducted. A generalized method based on numerical solution of the conservation and transport equations for multi-component, chemically reactive turbulent system was utilized. Selected models of turbulent transposition provide adequate descripti...

Major results of development and experimental investigations of plasma igniters and pilots for gas turbine engine improvements are presented. Plasma igniters demonstrated reliable starts of real aircraft turbines at 12+ km altitude. Plasma pilots and plasma fuel nozzles realized simultaneous fuel atomization, ignition and partial fuel oxidation wit...

Atmospheric and high pressure discharges have been extensively studied during the last three decades for ignition and combustion support. In particular, thermal DC arc and non-thermal corona discharges were utilized. Thermal plasma discharges, like DC arc, are associated with very high gas temperatures (~10,000 K), NOx emissions in case of air and...

This paper considers the idea and the first test results of a combined cycle plasma torch (CCPT) application for flame holding in high-speed combustors. The CCPT was developed by Applied Plasma Technologies (APT) and is based on a low-power transient discharge plasma pilot (1) with fuel or air-fuel mixture feeding into the arc chamber, so that the...