Plasma Processes for Energy and Environment

This monograph explores the pervasive role of plasma in some areas related to energy and environment. Plasma processing exploits the fact that plasmas occupy an extremely extended parameter space in density, temperature or chemical reactivity. Density can vary over 30 orders while temperature can vary over 10. Relevant time scales can vary from seconds to picoseconds. Plasmas can provide temperatures and energy densities higher than any other medium. High levels of transient and non-equilibrium conditions can prevail in plasmas. Certain plasmas can have short density and temperature scale lengths enabling fast quenching of chemical products. Plasma processing plays an important role in the realisation of modern photovoltaic devices used for converting solar energy into electricity. Atmospheric contamination from industrial and vehicular emissions is ameliorated through plasma mediated processes. The negative impact of waste in environmental degradation is reduced through plasma processes for waste to energy conversion. Hydrocarbon fuels are made carbon-lean and environmentally less damaging.