New Plasma Device Could Potentially Revolutionize Energy Generation and Storage

A research team from the University of Missouri has developed a method of creating and controlling plasma that could potentially revolution American energy generation and storage. 

Besides liquid, gas and solid, matter has a fourth state, known as plasma, according to engineer Randy Curry, who led the project. Fire and lightning are familiar forms of plasma, and life on Earth greatly depends on the energy transmitted by this life source during fusion reactions from the sun.

Yet Curry warns that without federal funding for basic research, the United States could miss out on the possibility to develop new plasma energy technologies. The basic research program was originally funded by the Office of Naval Research, but continued research has been funded by MU, according to a press release.

Curry's device launches a ring of plasma as far as two feet that doesn't emit radiation is completely safe for humans to be in the same room with. However, certain safety precautions must also be taken as the temperature of the plasma can become hotter than the surface of the sun. The secret to Curry's success was developing a way to make the plasma form its own self-magnetic field, which holds it together while it travels through the air.

"Launching plasma in open air is the 'Holy Grail' in the field of physics," said Curry, professor of electrical and computer engineering in the University of Missouri's College of Engineering. "Creating plasma in a vacuum tube surrounded by powerful electromagnets is no big deal; dozens of labs can do that. Our innovation allows the plasma to hold itself together while it travels through regular air without any need for containment."

The plasma device at MU could be enlarged to handle much larger amounts of energy, according to Curry. With sufficient funding, they could develop a system within three to five years that would also be considerably smaller.

"We have a world-class team at MU's Center for Physical & Power Electronics, but that team will evaporate without funding," Curry said. "Department of Defense funding for basic research led to our plasma innovation. The sequester's funding cuts threaten America's ability to compete in the future of energy technology. Not only will research not be advanced, a new generation of Americans won't be trained to take the reins of American engineering leadership."

Curry is the Logan Distinguished Professor of Electrical & Computer Engineering and Director of the Center for Physical & Power Electronics.