Plasma or ionized gas was first identified and described by Sir William Crookes in 1879. It’s the 4th and most common state of matter in the universe - more than 99%, both by mass and by volume. Plasma parameters can take on values varying by many orders of magnitude:
- Size: 10−6 m to 1025 m
- Lifetime: 10−12 s to 1017 s
- Density: 107 m-3 to 1032 m-3
- Temperature: ~0 K to 108 K
- Magnetic fields: 10−4 T to 103 T
Plasma is the least studied state of matter. Since 1879, mankind is still studying plasma properties and parameters, engineering different plasma sources, and developing and implementing commercial applications for plasma based technologies. Presently we know that many important and timely problems can be solved by the application of plasma science and technology:
- Synthesis of new materials, mainly boron nitride nanotubes (BNNT), and surface modifications for the existing ones
- Development of industrial scale technology for production of the boron nitride nanotubes
- Investigation of the composite nanotubes and optimization of their synthesis
- Development and tests of materials modified by nanotubes
- Optimization of the powders composition and properties for the additive manufacturing
- Waste-to-Energy processing (near-elimination of landfills and significant modification of sanitary plants)
- Coal, biosolids, sewage, and bio-mass gasification
- Clean Energy generation by Plasma Assisted Combustion (PAC) and plasma gasification of alternative feedstock
- New fuels development, fuel conversion and activation.
Tremendous market opportunities exist in the US and all over the world for new plasma-based technologies. The US market alone for plasma waste processing is about $90 billion dollars. Converting all waste, which the US generates annually, will cover from 6 to 10% of the national electricity demand. The plasma coal gasification market value is over $30 billion dollars. Clean coal energy is most likely possible only with plasma. Plasma studies and the development of such new plasma assisted technologies requires the coordinated, efficient and focused efforts of the world’s top scientists and engineers, with clear objectives, funding, well organized management, and dedicated research and development facilities.
What our organization has at the moment:
- Extensive experience in development of the 2nd generation ICP/RF plasma sources with power from 10 kW to 500 kW - we are the only RF Plasma School in the USA
- Access to the world's class test facilities due to strategic partnership with Applied Plasma Technologies, Corp. Video tour is available on their website
- Established collaboration with over 500 leading scientists in 10 countries and over 50 research institutions
- Organized International Research Teams working on plasma generation (RF, hybrid), plasma assisted combustion, materials treatment, synthesis of nano-structured materials, waste processing, power generation, deep space propulsion, planetary life support systems, oil and gas
- Annual International Workshop and Exhibition on Plasma Assisted Combustion (IWEPAC) from 2003. From 2011 - International Conference on Plasma Assisted Technologies (ICPAT)
- Annual IEEE special issue on Plasma Assisted Combustion from 2005. Renamed Special Issue on Plasma Assisted Technologies from 2013
- International Expert Council on Plasma Assisted Combustion
- Two published books.
Is this enough to address the 21st century challenges? No. We need an international organization to work out clear objectives and select the most efficient approaches, unite the world’s top researches and coordinate their efforts, establish first-class experimental facilities and provide their proper functioning, and obtain sufficient funding and new technology marketing strategies. We need the International Plasma Technology Center (IPTC) as the first non-government effort of plasma scientists to build a better world based on new peaceful technologies and cooperation without borders. |
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