• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.414-419
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• 2019

Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the inhibitory effect of non-thermal dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma by air volume against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB). Methods: Plasma generators (TB-300, Shinyoung Airtec, Seongnam-si, Korea) were operated in a 2A type biosafety cabinet. The plasma generator was set to a wind flow rate of 14 ($80m^3/h$), 18 ($110m^3/h$), and 22 ($150m^3/h$), and exposure times were set to 0 hours, 3 hours, 6 hours, 9 hours, and 24 hours. Results: The inhibitory effects of plasma at air volume 14 with prolonged exposure time of three hours was 20%, 64% at six hours, 82.3% at nine hours, and 100% after 24 hours exposure. With air volume of 18, the inhibitory effects upon plasma exposure were 36% for three hours, and 100% from 24 hours. Greater air volume resulted in greater inhibition of tuberculosis bacterial growth. In particular, the maximum inhibitory effect (100%) was shown in air volume of 22 ($150m^3/h$) after three hours of plasma exposure. Conclusions: The results showed the correlating inhibitory effects of plasma on the growth of MTB in combination with increasing plasma exposure time and air volume.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.20 no.7
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• pp.907-917
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• 2011

This study investigated the application of experimental design methodology to optimization of conditions of air-plasma and oxygen-plasma oxidation of N, N-Dimethyl-4-nitrosoaniline (RNO). The reactions of RNO degradation were described as a function of the parameters of voltage ($X_1$), gas flow rate ($X_2$) and initial RNO concentration ($X_3$) and modeled by the use of the central composite design. In pre-test, RNO degradation of the oxygen-plasma was higher than that of the air-plasma though low voltage and gas flow rate. The application of response surface methodology (RSM) yielded the following regression equation, which is an empirical relationship between the RNO removal efficiency and test variables in a coded unit: RNO removal efficiency (%) = $86.06\;+\;5.00X_1\;+\;14.19X_2\;-\;8.08X_3\;+\;3.63X_1X_2\;-\;7.66X_2^2$ (air-plasma); RNO removal efficiency (%) = $88.06\;+\;4.18X_1\;+\;2.25X_2\;-\;4.91X_3\;+\;2.35X_1X_3\;+\;2.66X_1^2\;+\;1.72X_3^2$ (oxygen-plasma). In analysis of the main effect, air flow rate and initial RNO concentration were most important factor on RNO degradation in air-plasma and oxygen-plasma, respectively. Optimized conditions under specified range were obtained for the highest desirability at voltage 152.37 V, 135.49 V voltage and 5.79 L/min, 2.82 L/min gas flow rate and 25.65 mg/L, 34.94 mg/L initial RNO concentration for air-plasma and oxygen-plasma, respectively.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.289-299
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• 2013

Objectives: For the field application of the dielectric barrier discharge plasma reactor, scale-up of the plasma reactor is needed. This study investigated the possibility of inactivation of microorganisms in sewage using pilot multi-plasma reactor. We also considered the possibility of degradation of total organic carbon (TOC) and nonbiodegradable matter ($UV_{254}$) in sewage. Methods: The pilot plasma reactor consists of plasma reactor with three plasma modules (discharge electrode and quartz dielectric tube), liquid-gas mixer, high voltage transformers, gas supply equipment and a liquid circulation system. In order to determine the operating conditions of the pilot plasma reactor, we performed experiments on the operation parameters such as gas and liquid flow rate and electric discharge voltage. Results: The experimental results showed that optimum operation conditions for the pilot plasma reactor in batch experiments were 1 L/min air flow rate), 4 L/min liquid circulation rate, and 13 kV electric discharge voltage, respectively. The main operation factor of the pilot plasma process was the high voltage. In continuous operation of the air plasma process, residual microorganisms, $UV_{254}$ absorbance and TOC removal rate at optimal condition of 13 kV were $10^{2.24}$ CFU/mL, 56.5% and 8.6%, respectively, while in oxygen plasma process at 10 kV, residual microorganisms, $UV_{254}$ absorbance and TOC removal rate at optimal conditions were $10^{1.0}$ CFU/mL, 73.3% and 24.4%, respectively. Electric power was increased exponentially with the increase in high voltage ($R^2$ = 0.9964). Electric power = $0.0492{\times}\exp^{(0.6027{\times}lectric\;discharge\;voltage)}$ Conclusions: Inactivation of microorganisms in sewage effluent using the pilot plasma process was done. The performance of oxygen plasma process was superior to air plasma process. The power consumption of oxygen plasma process was less than that of air plasma process. However, it was considered that the final evaluation of air and oxygen plasma must be evaluated by considering low power consumption, high process performance, operating costs and facility expenses of an oxygen generator.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.27 no.8
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• pp.621-629
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• 2018

Many chemically active species such as ${\cdot}H$, ${\cdot}OH$, $O_3$, $H_2O_2$, hydrated $e^-$, as well as ultraviolet rays, are produced by Dielectric Barrier Discharge (DBD) plasma in water and are widely use to remove non-biodegradable materials and deactivate microorganisms. As the plasma gas containing chemically active species that is generated from the plasma reaction has a short lifetime and low solubility in water, increasing the dissolution rate of this gas is an important challenge. To this end, the plasma gas and water within reactor were mixed using the air-automizing nozzle, and then, water-gas mixture was injected into water. The dissolving effect of plasma gas was indirectly confirmed by measuring the RNO (N-Dimethyl-4-nitrosoaniline, indicator of the formation of OH radical) solution. The plasma system consisted of an oxygen generator, a high-voltage power supply, a plasma generator and a liquid-gas mixing reactor. Experiments were conducted to examine the effects of location of air-automizing nozzle, flow rate of plasma gas, water circulation rate, and high-voltage on RNO degradation. The experimental results showed that the RNO removal efficiency of the air-automizing nozzle is 29.8% higher than the conventional diffuser. The nozzle position from water surface was not considered to be a major factor in the design and operation of the plasma reactor. The plasma gas flow rate and water circulation rate with the highest RNO removal rate were 3.5 L/min and 1.5 L/min, respectively. The ratio of the plasma gas flow rate to the water circulation rate for obtaining an RNO removal rate of over 95% was 1.67 ~ 4.00.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers C
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• v.48 no.10
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• pp.710-715
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• 1999

The purpose of this work is to develop a high-efficiency air cleaning system for air pollutants such as particulate and gaseous state in indoor environments. In order to enhance a removal efficiency of gaseous state pollutants, we suggested that pulsed discharge plasma be combined with $TiO_2$ photocatalyst (photocatalytic plasma air cleaning unit). We investigated experimentally the basic characteristics of photocatalytic plasma air cleaning unit and measured air pollutants removal efficiency. The wavelength of light radiated from pulsed discharge plasma under the atmospheric condition was 310~380nm. Its energy is enough to excite the $TiO_2$ photocatalyst and it makes a photochemical reaction in the surface of $TiO_2$ photocatalyst. The removal quantity of trimethylamine$((CH_3)_3N)\; was\; 130mg/m^34 which is twice quantity of pulsed discharge plasma without $TiO_2$ phtocatalyst unit. From the result of gas analysis using FT-IR, nitric oxide was not detected and trimethylamine was decomposed to $H_2O\; and \;CO_2$. And trimethylamine removal efficiency was 95%. These experimental results indicate that photocatalytic plasma air cleaning unit is a potential method in removing the pollutants.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 1996.07c
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• pp.1835-1837
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• 1996

Characteristics of Discharge and nonthermal plasma generation in a micro-air gap spacing between a micro-dielectric barrier and a electrode have been investigated experimentally to chert the potential to be used as a micro-scale nonthermal plasma generator. It is found that the output ozone concentration, as a nonthermal plasma intensity parameter, of the micro-air gnp nonthermal plasma generator depended greatly upon the air gap spacing and thickness of the dielectric barrier. As a result, there is a optimal air gap sparing in the same micro dielectric barrier to generate ozone effectively. And the higher ozone concentration was generated from the thinner micro-barrier.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.373-380
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• 2000

A new type of photocatalyst plasma air purification filter for decomposition of some VOCs has been developed. The photocatalyst plasma air purification filter employs the pulsed discharge plasma as an energy source of TiO2. photocatalyst instead of UV light. In closed room(2m3) test removal efficiency of some VOCs was 80∼100% in 15∼24 hours. In the initial step of phptocatalyst plasma reaction. Acetone and Nitromethane etc were detected. But they were completely oxidized to CO2 and H2O.

• Journal of Advanced Marine Engineering and Technology
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• v.39 no.8
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• pp.833-837
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• 2015

Li-air batteries have a promising future for because of their high energy density, which could theoretically be equal to that of gasoline. However, substantial Li-air cell performance limitations exist, which are related to the air cathode. The cell discharge products are deposited on the surfaces of the porous carbon materials in the air electrode, which blocks oxygen from diffusing to the reaction sites. Hence, the real capacity of a Li-air battery is determined by the carbon air electrode, especially by the pore volume available for the deposition of the discharged products. In this study, a simple and fast method is reported for the large-scale synthesis of carbon nanoballs (CNBs) consisting of a highly mesoporous structure for Li-air battery cathodes. The CNBs were synthesized by the solution plasma process from benzene solution, without the need for a graphite electrode for carbon growth. The CNBs so formed were then annealed to improve their electrical conductivity. Structural characterization revealed that the CNBs exhibited both an pore structure and high conductivity.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Illuminating and Electrical Installation Engineers
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.31-36
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• 2016

For the purpose of indoor air purification, air conditioner or purifier is generally used, but the long operating time induced the contamination by cumulation of bacteria in the air filter. The ozone sterilization method can be one of the effective sterilization method for this case. Ozone has not leave a secondary residual contaminants, as well as a strong sterilization power. In this study, nonthermal plasma technology is investigated as an ozone generator for the air filter sterilization. Additionally, nonthermal plasma technology is possible to obtain the generation of negative ions and electrostatic force by simply adjusting the applied voltage.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Industry Convergence
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.115-120
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• 2004

An indoor air cleaner consisting of a dielectric barrier discharge system and an electrostatic precipitator (ESP) was experimentally investigated. The function of the dielectric barrier discharge is to precharge particles by producing nonthermal plasma before indoor air enters ESP, leading to an enhancement in dust collection efficiency. The dependence of particle size distribution on the plasma discharge was examined to understand the mechanism of the particle precharging. The plasma discharge was found to increase the electrical force of the particles, rather than agglomerate them. Coarse particles in the range of 0.5 to $5.0{\mu}m$ were observed to be easily collected by this indoor air cleaner, and the present study laid emphasis on the removal of fine particles of $0.3{\mu}m$. The collection efficiency of the fine particles was largely enhanced by the plasma discharge.