Physics and applications of the Gliding Arc discharge

Summary form only given. Gliding Arc is a transitional type of atmospheric pressure arc discharges, which can provide relatively high levels of electron density, current and power-typical for thermal plasmas, together with relatively low temperature and elevated electric field-typical for cold non-equilibrium plasmas. This "hybrid thermal/non-thermal" plasma of the Gliding Arc combines features and advantages (sometimes unfortunately disadvantages as well) of the so different discharges as thermal arc and low temperature glow or corona discharges. The Gliding Arc discharge finds already interesting and successful practical applications in fuel and waste treatment, in environmental control. The Gliding Arc discharge in the transitional ENE mode was successfully applied in particular for hydrogen and syngas production by partial oxidation and steam reforming of methane, and for exhaust gas cleaning from different volatile organic compounds. The Gliding Arc plasma parameters in the case of fast linear propagation and rotation was characterized and quantified by the high speed image intensified spectrally resolved video and ICCD diagnostics, synchronized voltage-current measurements, and also by microwave interferometry and infrared spectroscopy.