Reduction of NO x /SO2 by Wire-plate Type Pulsed Discharge Reactor with Pulsed Corona Radical Shower

Pulsed discharge deNO _x /deSO₂ process has been studied for over 20 years, but how to achieve higher removal rate at lower cost remains one of the crucial issues for realization of its industrial application. This paper presents a novel deNO _x /deSO₂ process that combines a wire-plate type pulsed discharge reactor and a corona radical shower. Our aim is to increase the deNO _x /deSO₂ rate of wire-plate type reactor by enhancing the generation of radicals with pulsed corona radical shower. Effect of a nozzle electrode on the production of OH radical was studied by emissive spectrum, and deNO _x /deSO₂ experiments using a wire-plate reactor with pulsed corona radical shower were conducted. The experimental results demonstrated that corona radical shower could enhance the production of radicals and the deNO _x /SO₂ performance of a wire-plate reactor. This study will play a positive role in the industrial application of wire-plate pulsed discharge deNO _x /deSO₂ reactor.     

Density distribution of high energy electrons in pulsed corona discharge of NO+N2 mixture

Emission spectroscopy of the high-voltage pulsed positive corona discharge in a line-cylinder reactor is used to investigate the high-energy electron density distribution in the discharge gap. The relative overall emission intensity spatial distribution profile of the A2Sigma+ --> X2Pi transition of NO is successfully recorded against a severe electromagnetic pulse interference coming from the corona discharge at one atmosphere. The spectroscopic investigation shows that the high-energy electron density in the discharge has a nonlinearly decline in the radial distribution. When varying the discharge voltage, the absolute emission intensity of NO is different but the radial distribution profile is similar. If an oxygen flow was introduced into the discharge reactor, the emission intensity of NO decreases tremendously and, therefore, the high-energy electron density decreases reasonably.     

Ozone Production in the Negative DC Corona: The Dependence of Discharge Polarity

The rate of production and the spatial distribution of ozone in the negative DC corona discharge are predicted with a numerical model. The results are compared to prior experimental data and to results previously presented by the authors for the positive corona discharge. In agreement with experimental data, ozone production rate in the negative corona is an order of magnitude higher than in the positive corona. The model reveals that this significant difference is due to the effect of discharge polarity on the number of energetic electrons in the corona plasma. The number of electrons is one order of magnitude greater and the chemically reactive plasma region extends beyond the ionization region in the negative corona. The paper also extends our prior modeling effort to lower velocities where the Joule heating reduces ozone production. The magnitude of the reduction is characterized by a new dimensionless parameter referred to as the electric Damkohler's third number(Da_III–e).     

Optical Study of Radicals (OH, O, H, N) in a Needle-plate Negative Pulsed Streamer Corona Discharge

Optical emission spectroscopy has been applied to study the OH radicals and O, H, and N active atoms produced by a high-voltage negative pulsed streamer corona discharge of N₂ and H₂O mixture gas in a needle-plate reactor at one atmosphere. The relative vibrational populations and the vibrational temperature of N₂(C, v′) were determined. The effects of pulsed peak voltage, pulsed repetition rate, and the addition of O₂ on the relative populations of OH(A²Σ) radicals, O(3p⁵P), H_α (3P), and N(3p⁴P) active atoms were investigated. It was found that the relative populations of those radicals increase with increasing pulsed peak voltage and pulsed repetition rate. The relative population of OH(A²Σ) radicals decreases with increasing O₂ flow rate, while the relative populations of O (3p⁵P), H_α (3P), and N (3p⁴P) active atoms exhibit a maximum over the studied range of the O₂ flow rate. The involved physicochemical processes have also been discussed.     

Loss and recovery in hydrophobicity of silicone rubber exposed to corona discharge

This paper describes the loss and recovery in the hydrophobicity of unfilled high temperature vulcanized silicone rubber (HTV-SR) resulting from corona discharge. In this study, HTV-SR specimens were exposed to corona stress generated by a parallel needle-plane electrode system, and physicochemical analyses on the surface layer of SR before and after corona discharge treatment were carried out by using Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). It is demonstrated that hydrophilic OH groups that are by-products of ageing can be formed instead of hydrophobic CH₃ groups on the surface of aged SR and the corona discharge plays an important role on the temporary loss of hydrophobicity. After a substantial period of ‘rest’, the hydrophobic recovery of SR results from the diffusion of low-molecular weight (LMW) silicone fluid from the bulk onto the aged layer.     

Optical study of OH radical in a wire-plate pulsed corona discharge

In this study, the emission spectra of OH (A2sigma --> X2pi, 0-0) emitted from the high-voltage pulsed corona discharge (HVPCD) of N2 and H2O mixture gas and humid air in a wire-plate reactor were successfully recorded against a severe electromagnetic interference coming from HVPCD at one atmosphere. The relative vibrational populations and the vibrational temperature of N2 (C, v') were determined. The emission spectra of the deltaupsilon = +1 (1-0, 2-1, 3-2, 4-3) vibration transition band of N2 (C3pi(u) --> B3pi(g)) is simulated through gauss distribution. The emission intensity of OH (A2sigma --> X2pi, 0-0) has been exactly gotten by subtracting the emission intensity of the deltaupsilon = +1 vibration transition band of N2 (C3pi(u) --> B3pi(g)) from the overlapping spectra. The relative population of OH (A2sigma) has been obtained by the emission intensity of OH (A2sigma --> X2pi, 0-0) and Einstein's transition probability. The influences of pulsed peak voltage and pulse repetition rate on the relative population of OH (A2sigma) radicals in N2 and H2O mixture gas and humid air are investigated separately. It is found that the relative population of OH (A2sigma) rises linearly with increasing the applied peak voltage and the pulse repetition rate. When the oxygen is added in N2 and H2O mixture gas, the relative population of OH (A2sigma) radicals decreases exponentially with increasing the added oxygen. The main involved physicochemical processes have also been discussed.     

Model of the Negative DC Corona Plasma: Comparison to the Positive DC Corona Plasma

A numerical model of the negative DC corona plasma along a thin wire in dry air is presented. The electron number density and electric field are determined from solution of the one-dimensional coupled continuity equations of charge carriers and Maxwell's equation. The electron kinetic energy distribution is determined from the spatially homogeneous Boltzmann equation. A parametric study is conducted to examine the effects of linear current density (0.1–100 A per cm of wire length), wire radius (10–1000 m), and air temperature (293–800 K) on the distribution of electrons and the Townsend second ionization coefficient. The results are compared to those previously determined for the positive corona discharge. In the negative corona, energetic electrons are present beyond the ionization boundary and the number of electrons is an order of magnitude greater than in the positive corona. The number of electrons increases with increasing gas temperature. The electron energy distribution does not depend on discharge polarity.     

Investigation of spatially resolved spectra of OH and N2+ in N2 and H2O mixture wire-plate positive pulsed streamer discharge

Optical emission spectroscopy has been applied to study the spatially resolved measurements of the emission intensities of OH (A(2)Sigma-->X(2)Pi, 0-0) and N(2)(+) (B(2)Sigma(u)(+)-->X(2)Sigma(g)(+), 0-0, 391.4 nm) produced by a high-voltage positive pulsed streamer discharge consisting of a gas mixture of N(2) and H(2)O in a wire-plate reactor under severe electromagnetic interference at atmospheric pressure. The effects of pulse peak voltage, pulse repetition rate, and the added O(2) flow rate on the spatial distributions of the emission intensity of OH (A(2)Sigma-->X(2)Pi, 0-0) and N(2)(+) (B(2)Sigma(u)(+)-->X(2)Sigma(g)(+), 0-0, 391.4 nm) in the lengthwise direction (direction from wire to plate) are investigated. It has been found that the emission intensities of OH (A(2)Sigma-->X(2)Pi, 0-0) and N(2)(+) (B(2)Sigma(u)(+)-->X(2)Sigma(g)(+), 0-0, 391.4 nm) rise with an increase in both pulse peak voltage and pulse repetition rate and decrease with an increase in oxygen flows added in an N(2) and H(2)O gas mixture. The emission intensity of OH (A(2)Sigma-->X(2)Pi, 0-0) decreases with increasing the distance from the wire electrode. The emission intensity of N(2)(+) (B(2)Sigma(u)(+)-->X(2)Sigma(g)(+), 0-0, 391.4 nm) is nearly constant at 0-4mm from wire electrode, and sharply increases near the ground electrode. The vibrational temperature of N(2) (C) increases with increasing O(2) flows and keeps almost constant in the lengthwise direction under the present experimental conditions. The main physicochemical processes involved are also discussed in this paper.     

Chlorinated Organic Compound Removal by Gas Phase Pulsed Streamer Corona Electrical Discharge with Reticulated Vitreous Carbon Electrodes

Trichloroethylene (TCE) and vinyl chloride (VC) removal by gas phase pulsed corona discharge was investigated with attention to energy efficiency and byproduct identification. Approximately 50–95% removal of TCE and vinyl chloride was observed, depending on the energy density applied to the gas. Water vapor reduced TCE removal in some experiments. Evidence was found for post-corona reactions leading to removal of vinyl chloride downstream of the plasma discharge, while significant post-corona removal of TCE was not observed. Removal efficiencies of 100–900 g/kW-hr in the case of 1000 ppm feed of TCE, and of 2–24 g/kW-hr for a 100 ppm feed of vinyl chloride were found. In the TCE experiments, the formation of dichloroacetyl chloride was observed, while an unknown byproduct was found with vinyl chloride. The addition of a platinum-rhodium coated electrode was found to reduce the post-corona removal of vinyl chloride at low energy density.     

Nitric Oxide Conversion and Ozone Synthesis in a Shielded Sliding Discharge Reactor with Positive and Negative Streamers

Positive and negative streamer discharges in atmospheric pressure air were generated in a shielded sliding discharge reactor at operating voltages as low as 5 kV for a gap length of 1.6 cm. In this reactor, electrodes are placed on top of a dielectric layer and one of the electrodes, generally the one on ground potential, is connected to a conductive layer on the opposite side of the dielectric. The energy per pulse, at the same applied voltage, was more than a factor of seven higher than that of pulsed corona discharges, and more than a factor of two higher than that of sliding discharges without a shield. It is explained on the basis of enhanced electric fields, particularly at the plasma emitting electrode. Specific input energy required for 50 % removal from ~1,000 ppm initial NO could be reduced to ~18 eV/molecule when ozone in the exhaust of negative streamers was utilized. For sliding discharges and pulsed corona discharges this value was ~25 eV/molecule and it was 35 eV/molecule for positive shielded sliding discharges. Also, the ozone energy yield from dry air was up to ~130 g/kW h and highest for negative streamer discharges in shielded sliding discharge reactors. The high energy density in negative streamer discharges in the shielded discharge reactor at the relatively low applied voltages might not only allow expansion of basic studies on negative streamers, but also open the path to industrial applications, which have so far been focused on positive streamer discharges.     

气体放电对SO_2和SO_3~(2-)氧化的影响

研究气体放电对SO2和亚硫酸盐氧化的影响,采用了直流电源和交直流叠加电源进行气体放电.结果表明,气体放电对于SO2氧化促进作用很少;但对溶液中的SO2-3的氧化则有明显促进作用.通过对两个反应过程的机理分析,认为亚硫酸盐溶液氧化快是因为气体放电产生的OH等自由基和液相里的亚硫酸根起作用,引发链反应,促进了溶液中四价硫被空气中的O2氧化为六价硫的过程.而气相中的SO2与OH等自由基作用不能形成链反应,所以影响不明显.实验表明,选择交直流叠加电源进行气体放电比用纯粹直流电源放电效果更好.     

Evaluation of Energy Utilization Efficiencies for SO2 and NO Removal by Pulsed Corona Discharge Process

Pulsed corona discharge process was applied to the removal of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides from simulated flue gas. The energy transfer efficiency of the pulse generation circuit and the energy utilization efficiencies for SO ₂ and NO removal are evaluated and discussed. When the pulse-forming capacitance was five times larger than the geometric capacitance of the reactor, the energy utilization efficiency was maximized, and the energy requirements for NO and SO ₂ removal could be lowered. With regard to radical utilization efficiency, producing small amounts of radicals frequently was found to be more advantageous than producing large amounts of radicals less frequently. Removal efficiency of SO ₂ increased with the applied peak voltage, but the energy utilization efficiency was nearly independent of the peak voltage when the peak field intensity was high enough to induce corona discharge (above 10 kV cm ^–1 in this system).     

介质阻挡放电中OH自由基对甲醛脱除的影响

对管线式介质阻挡放电中的甲醛脱除进行了实验研究, 测量了介质阻挡放电产生的OH (A²Σ→X ²Π, 0-0)自由基发射光谱. 研究了在一个大气压下不同放电峰值电压、放电频率、添加氩气和氧气时甲醛脱除率与OH自由基发射光谱强度的变化关系. 实验结果表明: 在氮气含甲醛体系中, 提高放电峰值电压、放电频率和增大氩气含量时, 甲醛脱除率随OH (A²Σ→X ²Π, 0-0)自由基发射光谱强度的增强而提高; 当在氮气含甲醛体系中增大氧气含量时, 甲醛脱除率随OH (A²Σ→X ²Π, 0-0)自由基发射光谱强度的减弱而降低. 在11.5 kV放电峰值电压和9 kHz放电频率下, 氮气含甲醛体系中甲醛脱除率达93.8%.     

气体放电对SO2和SO32－氧化的影响

研究气体放电对SO2和亚硫酸盐氧化的影响,采用了直流电源和交直流叠加电源进行气体放电.结果表明,气体放电对于SO2氧化促进作用很少;但对溶液中的SO32－的氧化则有明显促进作用.通过对两个反应过程的机理分析,认为亚硫酸盐溶液氧化快是因为气体放电产生的OH等自由基和液相里的亚硫酸根起作用,引发链反应,促进了溶液中四价硫被空气中的O2氧化为六价硫的过程.而气相中的SO2与OH等自由基作用不能形成链反应,所以影响不明显.实验表明,选择交直流叠加电源进行气体放电比用纯粹直流电源放电效果更好.     

可用于光催化研究的脉冲放电流光光源

利用针板形式的电极系统、正极性纳秒级脉冲电压供电、在空气和水混合条件下产生脉冲放电流光,研究了脉冲放电流光与电气参数、溶液电导率、鼓泡空气流量的变化关系,利用脉冲放电流光和纳米颗粒的半导体TiO2结合对酸性橙染料(AO7)溶液进行脱色效果的实验研究。结果表明,脉冲放电流光可以诱导TiO2发生光催化活性,在脉冲放电等离子体处理效果的基础上,提高AO7的脱色效果。     

Pulsed Corona Discharge-Induced Reactions of Acetophenone in Water

The reactions of acetophenone in water by pulsed corona discharges have been investigated to provide fundamental information concerning the reactions of acetophenone in water. Experimental results indicated that photolysis of acetophenone did not involve a hydroxyl radical mechanism and the majority flux of hydroxyl radicals originated from the dissociation of gas-phase oxygen in the plasma channels. The rate constants for photolysis and pyrolysis were determined to be 1.5×10^–7 M-s^–1, 2.2×10^–4 s^–1, respectively. The rate constant for the oxidative reactions was measured as 1.2×10^–7 M-s^–1. Results from this study support the proposal that acetophenone degradation reaction proceed through the oxidative reaction pathway, where molecular oxygen accelerates acetophenone degradation, photolysis, and pyrolysis pathways.     

Ozone Production in the Positive DC Corona Discharge: Model and Comparison to Experiments

A numerical model of ozone generation in clean, dry air by positive DC corona discharges from a thin wire is presented. The model combines the physical processes in the corona discharge with the chemistry of ozone formation and destruction in the air stream. The distributions of ozone and nitrogen oxides are obtained in the neighborhood of the corona discharge wire. The model is validated with previously published experimental data. About 80% of the ozone produced is attributed to the presence of excited nitrogen and oxygen molecules. A parametric study reveals the effects of linear current density (0.1–100 A/cm of wire), wire radius (10–1000 m), temperature (300–800 K) and air velocity (0.05–2 m/s) on the production of ozone. The rate of ozone production increases with increasing current and wire size and decreases with increasing temperature. The air velocity affects the distribution of ozone, but does not affect the rate of production.     

Comparison Between Air Filamentary and Helium Glow Dielectric Barrier Discharges for the Polypropylene Surface Treatment

Recently, a glow like dielectric controlled barrier discharge (GDBD) working at atmospheric pressure has been observed. Such a discharge could replace a filamentary dielectric controlled barrier discharge (FDBD) used in corona treatment systems to improve the wettability or the adhesion of polymers. So it is of interest to compare these two types of discharges and their respective effect on a polymer surface. This is the aim of an extensive study we have undertaken. The first step presented here is the comparison of a filamentary discharge in air with a glow discharge in helium. Helium is the most appropriate gas to realize a glow discharge at atmospheric pressure. Air is the usual atmosphere for a corona treatment. The plasma was characterized by emission spectroscopy and current measurements. The surface transformations were indicated by the water contact angle, the leakage current measurement and the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Results show that the helium GDBD is better than air FDBD to increase polypropylene wettability without decreasing the bulk electrical properties below a certain level. Contact angle scattering as well as leakage current measurements confirm that the GDBD clearly results in more reproducible and homogeneous treatment than the FDBD.     

Deposition of polyacrylic acid films on PDMS substrate in dielectric barrier corona discharge at atmospheric pressure

This paper reports on deposition of acrylic acid films polymerized by an efficient and cost‐effective technique of dielectric barrier corona discharge at atmospheric pressure. The liquid acrylic acid was vaporized and carried by argon gas into plasma to deposit polyacrylic acid films on polydimethylsiloxane substrate. A nonthermal corona discharge was generated in a pyrex flask using a steel tube‐to‐plate asymmetric electrode configuration. The plasma was excited using an in‐house developed power supply operating with continuous wave signals of 10‐kHz frequency. The emission spectra of plasma species were recorded to know their contribution during deposition process. The deposited surfaces were characterized using contact angle measurements, atomic force microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and film thickness measurements. A maximum film growth rate of 363 nm/min was achieved under optimal condition of discharge. The results suggest that this plasma technique is capable of depositing organic coatings with a high concentration of carboxylic functional groups that could be potentially used for biomedical and microfluidic applications.