Non-thermal plasma reactor design and single structural dielectric barrier

This invention relates to reactors for chemical reduction of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions in the exhaust gases of automotive engines, particularly diesel and other engines operating with lean air fuel mixtures that produce relatively high emission of NOx, and method of manufacturing same. More particularly, the invention pertains to an improved stacked shape nonthermal plasma reactor and system for use with diesel engines and the like. A non-thermal plasma reactor element is provided comprising a multi-cell stack prepared from a plurality of formed building blocks of dielectric material, the walls of the building blocks defining a cell having an exhaust passage for flowing gas to be treated therethrough. A conductive print forming an electrode and connector is disposed on at least one wall of each of the cells and outer insulative plates, disposed on opposite ends of the multi-cell stack, are provided to protect the conductive print. The non-thermal plasma reactor element includes cells defined by a single structural dielectric barrier comprising a "conductor-single structural dielectric barrier-exhaust passage-conductor" arrangement, wherein individual cells of the reactor element are defined by a single structural dielectric barrier.