Description: THE PURPOSE OF THIS BOOK IS TO INTRODUCE THE READER TO MANY OF THE APPLICATIONS OF THE PLASMA ARC. THE APPLICATIONS ARE ALMOST ENDLESS AND IT IS ONE OF THE EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES OF TOMORROW.Synopsis: According to Geoplasma, Municipal Waste Disposal is one of the most pressing environmental problems of the 21st centruy. According to the United States EPA, over 245 million tons of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) were generated in the United States in 2005. Population growth has consequently resulted in a significant increase in Municipal waste for disposal. Simultaneously, there has been increased pressure on business and civic leaders for better land use, environmental stewardship and sustainable development. Plasma Arc processing of waste materials is an innovative solution. It not only effectively disposes of waste but also creates large quantities of energy from MSW, a renewable resource. The combinations of solid waste disposal challenges and the recent steep increases in energy costs make plasma arc applications an important alternative to waste disposal in many markets, particularly island and peninsular states and densely populated areas where land costs are at a premium and shipping costs are prohibitive
About the Author: GEORGE SITES, BSEET, has been interested in electronics since his early teens when he assembled his first electronic kit in the basement of his parents' home. Throughout high school he specialized in courses that broadened his understanding of electronics. In 1967, after graduating from West High School in Columbus, Ohio, he enlisted in the United States Navy where he received specialized training in Radar technology and Electronic Countermeasures. He served with distinction and achieved the rank of Second Class Petty Officer OS2. In addition to serving two tours of duty in the Mediterranean and two tours at Guantanamo Bay, he also founded the Navy's first Rock and Roll band - Smoke. Upon Honorable Discharge he enrolled at Devry Institute of Technology where he studied Home Electronics repair. He next attended Franklin University and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Electronics Engineering Technology while being repeatedly listed on the Dean's and President's Lists. Following almost two decades at Halmar Electronics, where he initially developed his skills in various electronic systems, he was recruited by HDR Power Systems to develop the Power Products Group. While at HDR he has served as Vice-President of Power Products and as Director of Engineering. His first United States Patent was awarded in 1981 He has been published numerous times in key trade magazines and published his first book in 2004, AN INTRODUCTION TO SCR POWER CONTROLS. His second book, PLASMA AT WORK was published in early 2007. A third book on power electronics is in the works. He was inducted into the Strathmore "Who's Who" in 2006. He is a recognized leader in the electronic power control industry. His career in power control started in 1971 and he has been involved in designing plasma power supplies since 1976. His equipment is installed all over the world. He has designed and built more than 500 plasma power supplies, many for gasification systems. His gasification plasma power supplies are installed in various countries including the United States, Japan and India to name a few. More than 250,000 power control units designed by Mr. Sites are installed around the world being used in many different applications.