Vol. 12, No.2, pp.109-113 (2019)
Chemical Kinetics of the Plasma Gas-hase in Humid Air Non-thermal Atmospheric Pressure Discharges
R. Barni, E. C. Dell’Orto, and C. Riccardi
Dipartimento di Fisica G. Occhialini, Università degli Studi di Milano - Bicocca, Milano, Italy
Abstract
We have studied the performances of plasma reactors based on dielectric barrier discharges operating in a streamer regime. Detailed modeling of the chemical kinetics happening in an air plasma gas-phase has been investigated and we present results concerning the simulation of humid air plasma gas-phase. Experimental information on the discharge regimes has been gathered both on a standard, electrode facing configuration and in a surface discharge. Data have been used to perform a numerical simulation of the relevant plasma chemical kinetics in both configurations. The evolution of the gas-phase composition during and after the interaction in the discharge region was calculated under different operating conditions. The model can be used also to predict the evolution of a humid air mixture containing traces of nitrogen oxides. The results have been used to predict the reduction of nitrogen oxides achievable and to study the role played by the different discharge parameters in order to determine the optimal interaction between plasma and gas mixture.
Keywords - Chemical kinetics, dielectric barrier discharge, humid air plasmas, nitrogen oxides