Modeling of the Electrostatic Corona Discharge Reactor

S. Mukkavilli, C. K. Lee, K. Varghese, L. L. Tavlarides

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

79 Scopus citations

Abstract

A model for the electrostatic corona discharge reactor (ECDR) in a pin-plate configuration is presented. The main objective of this model is to describe the fundamental chemistry and physics governing the discharge behavior and to predict the ECDR performance under various operating conditions. In this approach, the electric field strength is estimated assuming a space-charge free field. A two-term spherical harmonic expansion is used to solve the Boltzmann equation for the electron energy distribution function (EEDF) and calculate the electron-molecule reaction rates using collision cross-section data. Species continuity equations are solved for the dry and wet air systems to predict ozone and NOx at various feed flow rates (1630, 4890, 14 670 cm/s) and an applied voltage of 10 kV. Our calculations indicate that the Maxwell EEDF cannot be used as it overpredicts the electron molecule rate coefficients by several orders of magnitude. The electric field strength is observed to strongly influence the rates of destruction of the feed molecules and the formation of the primary products 03 and NOx. As the space velocity is decreased, 03 exit concentration decreases due to the secondary reactions that destroy ozone. For wet air systems, O3 and NOx exit concentrations decreased by a factor of 100 and 2, respectively, in comparison to the dry air systems.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)652-660
Number of pages9
JournalIEEE Transactions on Plasma Science
Volume16
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1988

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Nuclear and High Energy Physics
  • Condensed Matter Physics

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