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Title: Basic energy efficiency of plasma production in electrical discharge and electron beam reactors

Abstract

Non-thermal plasma processing is an emerging technology for the abatement of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NO{sub x}) in atmospheric pressure gas streams. Either electrical discharge of electron beam methods can produce these plasmas. This paper presents a comparative assessment of various non-thermal plasma reactors. The goal of our project is two-fold: (1) to understand the feasibility and scalability of various non-thermal plasma reactors by focusing on the energy efficiency of the electron and chemical kinetics, and (2) to optimize process parameters and provide performance and economic data. Experimental results using a compact electron beam reactor, pulsed corona reactor and dielectric-barrier discharge will be presented. These reactors have been used to study the removal of NO{sub x} and a wide variety of VOCs. The effects of background gas decomposition and gas temperature on the decomposition chemistry have been studied. The decomposition mechanisms are discussed to illustrate how the chemistry could strongly affect the economics of the process. An analysis of the electron kinetics show that electrical discharge reactors are the most suitable only for processes requiring O radicals. For pollution control applications requiring copious amounts of electrons, ions, N atoms or OH radicals, the sue of electron beammore » reactors is generally the best way of minimizing the electrical power consumption.« less

Authors:
; ; ; ;  [1];  [2]; ;  [3]
  1. Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (United States)
  2. Plasma and Materials Technologies, Inc., Chatsworth, CA (United States)
  3. First Point Scientific, Inc., Agoura Hills, CA (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Energy Research, Washington, DC (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
491775
Report Number(s):
UCRL-JC-125486; CONF-9611178-1
ON: DE97052678
DOE Contract Number:  
W-7405-ENG-48
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Resource Relation:
Conference: Symposium on non-thermal plasma technology for air contaminant control, Tokyo (Japan), 1 Nov 1996; Other Information: PBD: 1 Nov 1996
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; 70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION; ORGANIC COMPOUNDS; REMOVAL; NITROGEN OXIDES; VOLATILE MATTER; PLASMA; REACTORS; AIR POLLUTION ABATEMENT; ELECTRON BEAMS; REACTION KINETICS; EXPERIMENTAL DATA; DIELECTRIC MATERIALS; CORONA DISCHARGES

Citation Formats

Penetrante, B M, Hsiao, M C, Bardsley, J N, Merritt, B T, Vogtlin, G E, Kuthi, A, Burkhart, C P, and Bayless, J R. Basic energy efficiency of plasma production in electrical discharge and electron beam reactors. United States: N. p., 1996. Web. doi:10.2172/491775.
Penetrante, B M, Hsiao, M C, Bardsley, J N, Merritt, B T, Vogtlin, G E, Kuthi, A, Burkhart, C P, & Bayless, J R. Basic energy efficiency of plasma production in electrical discharge and electron beam reactors. United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/491775
Penetrante, B M, Hsiao, M C, Bardsley, J N, Merritt, B T, Vogtlin, G E, Kuthi, A, Burkhart, C P, and Bayless, J R. 1996. "Basic energy efficiency of plasma production in electrical discharge and electron beam reactors". United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/491775. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/491775.
@article{osti_491775,
title = {Basic energy efficiency of plasma production in electrical discharge and electron beam reactors},
author = {Penetrante, B M and Hsiao, M C and Bardsley, J N and Merritt, B T and Vogtlin, G E and Kuthi, A and Burkhart, C P and Bayless, J R},
abstractNote = {Non-thermal plasma processing is an emerging technology for the abatement of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NO{sub x}) in atmospheric pressure gas streams. Either electrical discharge of electron beam methods can produce these plasmas. This paper presents a comparative assessment of various non-thermal plasma reactors. The goal of our project is two-fold: (1) to understand the feasibility and scalability of various non-thermal plasma reactors by focusing on the energy efficiency of the electron and chemical kinetics, and (2) to optimize process parameters and provide performance and economic data. Experimental results using a compact electron beam reactor, pulsed corona reactor and dielectric-barrier discharge will be presented. These reactors have been used to study the removal of NO{sub x} and a wide variety of VOCs. The effects of background gas decomposition and gas temperature on the decomposition chemistry have been studied. The decomposition mechanisms are discussed to illustrate how the chemistry could strongly affect the economics of the process. An analysis of the electron kinetics show that electrical discharge reactors are the most suitable only for processes requiring O radicals. For pollution control applications requiring copious amounts of electrons, ions, N atoms or OH radicals, the sue of electron beam reactors is generally the best way of minimizing the electrical power consumption.},
doi = {10.2172/491775},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/491775}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1996},
month = {Fri Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1996}
}