Ozone and Nitrogen Oxides Generation in Gas Flow Enhanced Hollow Needle to Plate Discharge In Air

Siemens made the first ozone generation system by corona discharge about hundred and fifty years ago. At present mainly two types of atmospheric pressure electrical discharges - corona discharge and dielectric barrier discharge are used for production of ozone. Another type of discharge, which can be used for this purpose, is multineedle to plate electrical discharge enhanced by the gas flow. Contrary to the conventional arrangement when the gas is flowing around the needles we studied the discharge in which the gas was pumped through the needles. Results of studies of ozone and nitrogen oxides production by DC electrical discharge in air at atmospheric pressure with a single hollow needle to plate electrode configuration enhanced by the flow of air through the needle for both polarities of the needle, different airflow rates and currents are presented in this paper.     

Simulation of Ozone Synthesis in Oxygen- and Air-Fed Surface Discharge Arrangements

Surface discharge (SD) arrangements are used in commercial ozone generators like conventional arrangements with a gas gap. While in oxygen the characteristics of the ozone production are comparable in both arrangements, the efficiency of ozone production from air is significant lower in SDs. From experimental results it is believed that high temperatures in the discharge cause this “poisoning” of air-fed SD ozone generators. To clarify this, the ozone synthesis from air near atmospheric pressure is investigated with the help of a two-dimensional self-consistent modeling of the discharge development and the relevant plasma-chemical reactions. The temperature in the discharge area is determined from energy densities of electrons and ions and included in the relevant chemical reaction system. The results show a significant temperature increase in front of the metallic surface electrodes combined with an increased concentration of nitrogen oxides.     

Ozone Production in a Dielectric Barrier Discharge with Ultrasonic Irradiation

Ozone production has been investigated using an atmospheric pressure dielectric barrier discharge in pure O₂ at room temperature with and without ultrasonic irradiation. It was driven at a frequency of either 15 kHz or ～40 kHz. The ozone production was highly dependent on the O₂ flow rate and the discharge power. Furthermore, powerful ultrasonic irradiation at a fundamental frequency of ～30 kHz with the sound pressure level of ～150 dB into the discharge can improve the ozone production efficiency, particularly when operated at the frequency of 15 kHz at the flow rate of 15 L/min.     

Ozone Generation from Oxygen and Air: Discharge Physics and Reaction Mechanisms

Industrial ozone generation uses a special high pressure, low temperature electrical discharge which is referred to as the dielectric barrier discharge or silent discharge. The filamentary structure of this discharge and the properties of individual microdischarges are discussed. The main reaction paths for the excited atomic and molecular species in oxygen and air are identified. Possible approaches to obtain high power densities, high ozone generating efficiencies or high ozone concentrations are discussed.     

Verification of Ozone Clusters (O6 & O9)

The use of silica gel for the storing of ozone was investigated. The ozone gas that was discharged from the silica gel was found to be different from normal ozone which is generated by the ozone generator that makes ozone with electric discharge. Ozone clusters could be synthesized by this method, which detaches ozone from silica get without requiring any additional energy. These ozone clusters didn't decompose at room temperature and atmospheric pressure over a half-day. We confirmed that the cluster was heavier than a heavy standard gas, the presence of clusters with an analysis using GC/MS, and the existence of ozone clusters by the bonding energy using a computer simulation by MOPAC.     

Ozone Storage Oriented to Power Load Leveling

This paper investigates the ozone storing properties of silica gel. There are three kinds of storing technologies for ozone at present: First, ozone gas is stored at high pressure in a gaseous state. As ozone is used, it is discharged from the container. Second, silica gel (which stores ozone at low temperatures) is able to adsorb ozone. When the silica gel is heated, ozone becomes detached. Third, silica gel that is stored under high atmospheric pressure can adsorb ozone. To detach ozone, the atmospheric pressure is reduced.

It has been found that it is unnecessary to change the temperature and pressure inside the container when removing ozone from silica gel. This means that ozone can be detached from silica gel using very little energy. This system is proposed for storing ozone in industry, and this system is effective for Power Load Leveling.     

Research Note: Penetration of Ozone Gas Across the Shell of Hen Eggs

Increasing evidence indicates that ozone gas is effective against Salmonella on and within shell eggs. However, information on the penetration of ozone across egg shell is limited. In this study, whole hen egg shells, filled with indigotrisulfonate solution (OD₆₀₀ ～1), were exposed to ozone gas (12–14% wt/wt O₃ in O₂) at 1.5 liters/min and atmospheric pressure for ≤ 40 min with appropriate controls. Ozone penetrated the shells over time (r²?=?0.9974) causing indigo decoloration and increasing its transmittance from 16 to 28% after gas exposure for 40 min. This study confirms ozone penetration through egg shell using a simple qualitative technique.     

Destruction of Ozone Off–Gas by Thermal Catalytic Method

In the operation ofozone treatment plants, one will have to deal with ozone inthe off–gas exhaust air. In higher concentrations in the exhuast air, ozone has the unpleasant property of being detrimental to plant, animal and man.

The normal ozone concentration inambient air should not be more than 1/10of the MAK–value. Insmall treatment plants inEurope the small amount of ozone off–gas can be diluted with atmospheric airso that itis permitted to be discharged into the outside air. For larper plants there isthe choice between a thermal and catalytic ozone destruction, or a process that combines both. In the Lengg Waterworks the exhaust air of the reaction chamber was passed through a thermal destruction systen. From the granular activated carbon (GAC) filters theair was passed into the atmosphere untreated. It was ascertained that during GAC back–washing 1200 PPtl ozone were in the exhaust air. This ozone concentration was much too high.     

Experimental Study of Ozone Generation by Negative Corona Discharge in Mixtures of N2 and O2

Ozone generation by negative DC corona discharge in N₂-O₂ mixtures has been experimentally investigated using a coaxial wire-cylinder corona reactor operating at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. The experiments have been carried out under different gas flows (15 cm³ min^?1 to 200 cm³ min^?1) and gas compositions (5% to 90% of O₂), and the effect of these parameters on the corona current, the ozone density and the efficiency of the ozone generator have been analyzed. The global rate coefficients for ozone formation and destruction have also been evaluated, and their values compared with those reported by other authors. The maximum efficiency for ozone production was found in gas mixtures with oxygen content about 70–80%.     

The Effect of SF6 on Ozone Generation using Dielectric Barrier Discharge

This paper reports the results of an experimental study of effect of SF₆ on ozone generation within a Dielectric Barrier Discharge (DBD) fed by both pure oxygen and dry air. The chemical reaction mechanisms relevant to the process of ozone generation (and destruction) are discussed. The experimental results show the oxygen source should avoid the presence of SF₆ but the addition of a small amount of SF₆ in an air discharge can improve ozone concentration and ozone produce efficiency.     

Kinetic Modeling of Ozone Generation via Dielectric Barrier Discharges

A mathematical model combining chemical kinetic and reactor geometry is developed for ozone synthesis in dry O₂ streams with a wire-tube dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) reactor. Good agreement is found between the predicted ozone concentrations and experimental data. Sensitivity analysis is conducted to elucidate the relative importance of individual reactions. Results indicate that the ground-state oxygen atom is the most important species for O₃ generation; however, ozone generation will be inhibited if the O atom is overdosed. The excited species, that is, O(¹ D) and O₂(b ¹Σ), can decompose O₃ and suppress ozone synthesis. The model developed is then applied to modify the original DBD reactor design for the enhancement of ozone yield. With a thinner dielectric thickness, more than 10% increase of ozone concentration is achieved.     

Optimal Sizing of a DBD Ozone Generator Using Response Surface Modeling

Dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) reactors used as ozone generators are well known today and widely used for water treatment and air disinfection. The purpose of this article is to propose an experimental procedure based on the response surface modeling in order to optimize the geometrical dimensions of the cylindrical shape ozone generator, i.e., the discharge gap and the electrodes length. Because an effective ozone generator is expected to give high ozone concentration with a minimum of power requirements, the applied high voltage was associated with the geometrical parameters to carry out a composite centered faces design. Obtained results indicate that for an efficient ozone generator, length of the electrodes needs to be optimized while the discharge gap should be minimized.     

Ozone Generation with Narrow–Band UV Radiation

Ozone formation in oxygen at atmospheric pressure following the photodissociation of O₂ molecules in the vacuum UV range is tudied. A new VUV source based on incoherent xenon excimer radiation from a dielectric–barrier discharge provided narrow–band UV radiation at 172 nm with a half–width of 14 nm. The formation of ozone from the initial photodissociation fragments O(³P) and O(¹D) is treated theoretically and compared to measurements.     

Energy Distribution In A Commercial Ozone Generating System

A model of energy flow in an ozone generating commercial installation using atmospheric air is presented in this paper. An analysis of the model operation has been presented in a system approach. Correctness of the model has been verified for the data of a real installation of output capacity mO₃ ~5 kg O₃/h. Results obtained give encouragement to follow examinations in this field.     

Evaluation of Variations in Ground-Level Ozone (O3) Concentrations

This article presents the results of measuring the concentrations of ground-level ozone (O₃) in ambient air and meteorological parameters (atmospheric pressure, temperature, wind speed, and relative humidity during the year 2008. The measurements were performed at measuring station located near Campo Grande, away from local sources of O₃. Fourier analysis, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) were used as tools for mathematical analysis of the indicated occurrence. The results of Fourier analysis indicate that not only the daily cycles but also the weekly and monthly cycles are visible in all periods as well as the 12-h cycles. The statistical analysis of the obtained data, based on PCA have shown that approximately 60% of the variance in the measured values can be described with two factors. The attempt of O₃ distribution modeling, using MLRA, resulted in a linear model whose coefficient of determination was equal to R² = 0.98. The results of the study indicate that all these methods are useful for understanding the impact of meteorological parameters on variations of ozone concentration over time.     

Ozone Dissolution vs. Aqueous Methylene Blue Degradation in Semi-Batch Reactors with Dielectric Barrier Discharge over the Water Surface

Ozone accumulation in water was compared with aqueous methylene blue (MB) degradation in a stirred semi-batch reactor. Comparable concentrations of gas-phase ozone, generated by parallel-plate dielectric-barrier AC discharge in high-purity oxygen, were allowed to contact the tested liquid using one of three regimens of ozone generation: (1) dry ex-situ; (2) humid ex-situ; and (3) humid in-situ ( “electroozonation” ). Results from (1) and (2) were similar, whereas in case (3) a slower ozone accumulation rate was contrasted by a three times faster MB degradation. A faster decomposition of aqueous ozone due to an assumed prevalence of free-radical induced MB degradation over direct ozonation in case (3) are indicative of a process similar to glow-discharge electrolysis.     

Ozone Production Influenced by Increasing Gas Pressure in Multichannel Dielectric Barrier Discharge for Positive and Negative Pulse Modes

This paper describes the influence of gas pressure on the conversion of O₂ to O₃ and the ozone production efficiency in a multichannel dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) reactor utilizing positive and negative pulses. Results show that conversion of O₂ to O₃ is continuously enhanced by the increase of gas pressure (0.1–0.24 MPa) while the rising speed of oxygen conversion with the increasing gas pressure at fixed specific input energy is reduced above 0.15 MPa. The maximum ozone generation efficiency is increased with increasing gas pressure (0–0.2 MPa) while positive pulse exhibits higher energy efficiency. The maximum ozone generation efficiency is suppressed with further increase of gas pressure (0.2–0.24 MPa) while no significant difference in ozone generation efficiency is observed for two unipolar pulse modes. Results also show that 0.2 MPa is the optimal working gas pressure to obtain the maximum ozone generation efficiency and increasing gas pressure would lead to remarkable increase of ozone generation efficiency for ozone production at high energy densities in multichannel DBD.     

Basic Parameters of Coplanar Discharge Ozone Generator

Coplanar discharge is a new type of barrier discharge, and has some advantages for high-concentration ozone generation. In this article, basic parameters of coplanar discharge are clarified by experimental and theoretical approaches. Coplanar electrodes consist of many pairs of line electrodes printed on a glass plane, and are covered with dielectric layer. The discharge properties, ozone diffusion process, and surface reaction are discussed. Finally, the scaling rule of a coplanar discharge ozone generator is demonstrated by fabrication of a 3 kg/h ozone generator.     

New Generation of Low Pressure Mercury Lamps for Producing Ozone

Producing ozone by means of a low pressure mercury discharge is still limited by such economical and technical factors as efficiency and lifetime of Low Pressure Mercury Lamps (LPMLs). With the introduction of a new “long life coating” technology for LPMLs at Heraeus, these lamps show up as an effective and reliable VUV-light source that can be used in ozone generation. Different coating technologies are compared in terms of radiation losses in the coating and depreciation of the mercury resonance line at λ=185 nm. The parameters of new ozone generating lamps are presented. A simple model with consideration of both the resonance lines at λ=185 nm and λ=254 nm for a practical calculation of ozone concentration in an air flow is proposed.     

Theoretical Study of the Ozone Production and NOx Molecules Processing in N2/O2 Pulsed Discharge

Environmental decontamination is a major challenge due to the rapid growth of industrial and technological development, requiring an important consumption of fossil energies. Nowadays, a new way to treat polluting molecules based on the use of nonequilibrium reactive plasmas, is under development. These plasmas are generated by electrical discharges at atmospheric pressure, for neutralizing or transforming the toxic oxides. In this respect, the goal of the present work is to analyze the possibilities of treatment of NO_x molecules and ozone generation by pulsed discharge. The study was carried out by using a one-dimensional model based on the parallel resistor network concept, consisting in dividing the discharge volume into plasma elements which are connected in no way but through their contribution to the total resistance of the plasma. The model calculations indicate the effect of gas heating and inhomogeneous preionization on the ozone production and NO_x destruction.