A Study of Ozone Generation by Negative Corona Discharge Through Different Plasma Chemistry Models

The Steady radial distribution of chemical species in a wire‐to‐cylinder ozone generator filled with pure oxygen has been computed by applying four different plasma chemistry models of increasing complexity. The most complete model considers ten species (e, O₂ ⁺, O₂ ^?, O₃ ^?, O^?, O₂, O₂(¹Δ_g), O₂(¹∑_g ⁺), O and O₃) and 79 reactions, including ionization by electron impact, electron attachment and detachment, electron-ion recombination, charge transfer, etc. The chemical model is coupled with the electrical model through Poisson's equation. The spatially averaged ozone density has been computed as a function of the current intensity and compared with the experimental values obtained by UV spectroscopy.     

Dimensional Analysis of Detrimental Ozone Generation by Negative Wire-to-Plate Corona Discharge in Both Dry and Humid Air

A semi-empirical equation is derived to provide a correlation between the ozone generation rate of a negative wire-to-plate corona discharge in both dry and humid air and a series of design/operating parameters. A basic correlation is first derived by applying dimensional analysis on negative wire-to-plate corona discharge in dry air. Further development on the basic correlation is carried out by integrating the influence of humidity. The derived equation is validated by previously reported experimental data and numerical model. The new semi-empirical equation is comprehensive and useful in guiding the design/operation of indoor corona devices under actual ambient operating conditions.     

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.     

Ozone Generation by Hybrid Discharge Combined with Catalysis

In this paper, combining hybrid discharge with pellet alumina catalyst is used for ozone generation. The hybrid discharge including corona discharge (CD), surface discharge (SD) and dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) may happen in the device. Factors that affect the ozone production efficiency and concentration are studied, such as energy density, power, gas flow rate, frequency, peak voltage and catalysts.     

A Study of Ozone Synthesis in Coaxial Cylinder Pulse Streamer Corona Discharge Reactors

Synthesis of ozone in coaxial cylinder non-thermal plasma reactors with different structures was investigated in this paper. With digital measuring technology, the absorption energy of non-thermal plasma reactors induced by pulse streamer corona was estimated. In the view of energy absorption of non-thermal plasma reactors, pulse input energy depended on reactor structures, as well as pulse parameters, such as pulse amplitude and DC bias. With coaxial cylinder reactors energized by pulse voltage, the influences on ozone generation of pulse voltage polarity, pulse amplitude, and pulse repetition rate were studied. It was found that positive pulse voltage induced higher ozone generation than negative pulse voltage and higher amplitude pulses generated more ozone. Increasing the pulse repetition rate at a low level increased ozone generation to some extent, but then leveled off with further increasing. A critical repetition rate was found at which the ozone synthesis was the most efficient. Lower pulse amplitude was associated with higher critical repetition rate. Superimposing DC bias on pulse voltage was an effective method to enhance ozone generation. Besides, discharge modes and electrode structures of reactors affect ozone generation. A mixed discharge mode of volume and surface discharges was the most effective mode to generate ozone in all of the experimental discharge modes, namely volume, surface, volume and surface mixed discharge modes. Moreover, helix-cylinder reactors were better than wire-to-cylinder reactors in generating ozone.     

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.     

Gas Phase Reactions in Silent Electric Discharges Part III: Investigation of Chemical Reactions Involving Electron-Molecule Collisions in Various Mixtures of O2 with Ar,N2 or CO

Electron-molecule collisions play a significant role in chemical transformations in a silent electric discharge. The reaction rate coefficients of electron-molecule collisions in various gaseous mixtures of Ar, N₂ or CO with O₂ have been investigated. These coefficients can be determined experimentally and calculated theoretically. The measured values are in good agreement with those calculated by theoretical methods. The reaction rate coefficients of electron-O₂ molecule collisions increase with decrease of the amount of O₂ in Ar/O₂ mixtures, but decrease with decrease of the amount of O₂ in N₂/O₂ or CO/O₂ mixtures.     

Ozone Production by an Ultra-Short Triggered Dielectric Barrier Discharge.

This work was motivated by the ozone production improvement by a dielectric barrier discharge supplied with a high voltage triggered pulsed generator. Particular attention was focused on the ozone generator cell geometry and on the type of electrical generator. A comparative parametrical analysis on two configurations of reactor was performed: an annular and a surface configuration. This study emphasizes that surface discharges coupled to ultra-short triggered high voltage generators stand out as an efficient process to produce ozone in large quantities.     

The Effect of Relative Humidity on Ozone Production by Corona Discharge in Oxygen or Air – A Numerical Simulation – Part I : Oxygen

The simulation of the temporal evolution of the various neutral gaseous species studied (O, O₃, H, OH, HO₂, H₂O₂) use corona effects. The physical conditions of the discharge were used. The reactions take place in dry or humid oxygen, after the dissociation of O₂ and H₂O by an electronic pulse. When water vapor is present, there is a probability of production of H₂O₂ in oxygen. Temperature and humidity have cumulative effects. With multiple pulses, the O₃ maximal concentration is obtained for a limited number of pulses.     

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.     

A Study of the Physical and Chemical Processes Active in Ozone Generation by Carbon Dioxide Fed Corona Discharges

Ozone generation in both positive and negative corona discharges DC corona, both operated in glow regime, feed by dry CO₂ has been studied. Higher ozone concentrations were observed in negative corona discharges. Ozone formation was found to be strongly dependent upon both the flow rate of the gas and on the radius of the outer electrode. The physical characteristics of the discharge were monitored through measurement of the discharge current. Small increases in the gas flow rate were observed to cause a significant increase in the discharge current of a negative corona discharge but little/no effect was observed in positive corona.     

Possibility of Improvement on Ozone Production by Using the Back-Corona Effect

Electrostatic precipitators’ problems and experimental results in point-to-plane or wire-to-cylinder systems indicate that the presence of a thin layer of porous dielectric material on the electrodes increases the discharge current for the same applied potential. This socalled Back-Corona effect, which generally reduces the sparking potential, depends on the active electrode polarity; nature, and thickness and porosity of the insulating layer; and position on the active or passive electrode of the deposited particles or insulating layer. In laboratory experiments in a point-to-plane device, with a dielectric porous layer on the plane, the current may be many times higher than its “normal” value (clean electrodes). In a DC negative wire-to-cylinder system, where the ozone concentration depends quasi directly on the discharge current, it appears possible to increase the ozone production, for the same running conditions (gas flow, electrical circuit, etc.).     

Generation of Active Oxidant Species by Pulsed Dielectric Barrier Discharge in Water-Air Mixtures

Experimental research into the electrical and optical parameters of pulsed dielectric barrier discharge (PDBD) was undertaken. PDBD was applied to humid air containing water droplets as a means of water oxidative treatment with short-living species generated in the discharge zone. In spectral analysis of PDBD, only small concentrations of nitric oxides were detected at the resulting electric field strength and electron mean energy sufficient for generation of OH-radicals. The water droplets served as electric field strength concentrators: PDBD was ignited close to the water droplets' surface.     

The Effect of Gaseous Diluents on Ozone Generation from Oxygen

Ozone generation in a negative corona discharge has been experimentally investigated using both a pure oxygen and in binary mixtures of oxygen with several gases. The concentration of ozone (O₃) in such mixtures is found to be dependent both on the input energy density η, dissipated in unit volume of gas mixture and on the type and the concentration of the additives. The experimentally measured dependencies of ozone concentration on the input energy density (O₃) = f(η) have been fitted using the Vasiliev–Kobozev–Eremin formula and the specific rate coefficients for ozone formation K_f and ozone decomposition K_d have been calculated. Using Ar, N₂ or CO₂ as admixtures, an increase in the specific rate coefficient for ozone generation was observed for increasing concentrations of added gaseous impurity into oxygen. In contrast, admixtures with SF₆ or CCl₂F₂ caused a substantial reduction of K_f values. The absolute values of ozone concentration at constant input energy density were observed to decrease with decreasing concentrations of oxygen in all mixtures.     

Influence of Field Strength and Energy Distribution of Different Barrier Discharge Arrangements on Ozone Generation

Because of different field strength and energy density distributions in volume (VD), surface (SD) and coplanar discharge (CD) arrangements the ozone yield will differ in general. While in VD configurations the initial field strength distribution is rather uniform, the situation is quite different in CD and especially SD devices. The distributions change during discharge development as well as the energy density in the discharge region and by this the ozone yields. The situation in SD arrangements is discussed in detail and is compared with those in VD and CD configurations.     

A Study of the Physical and Chemical Processes Active in Corona Discharges Fed by Carbon Dioxide

Ozone generation in both positive and negative corona discharges DC corona, both operated in glow regime, feed by dry CO₂ has been studied. Higher ozone concentrations were observed in negative corona discharges. Ozone formation was found to be strongly dependent upon both the flow rate of the gas and on the radius of the outer electrode. The physical characteristics of the discharge were monitored through measurement of the discharge current. Small increases in the gas flow rate were observed to cause a significant increase in the discharge current of a negative corona discharge but little/no effect was observed in positive corona.     

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.     

The Effect of Relative Humidity on Ozone Production by Corona Discharge in Oxygen or Air – A Numerical Simulation – Part II : Air

The simulation of the temporal evolution of the various neutral gaseous species studied (O, O₃, H, OH, HO₂, H₂O₂, N, NO, NO₂, NO₃, N₂O, N₂O₅, HNO₂, and HNO₃) use corona effects. The physical conditions of the discharge were used. The reactions take place in dry or humid air, after the dissociation of O₂, N₂, and H₂O by an electronic pulse. When water vapor is present, there is a probability of production of H₂O₂, HNO₂, and HNO₃ in air. Temperature and humidity have cumulative effects. With multiple pulses, the O₃ maximal concentration is obtained for a limited number of pulses.     

Productivity and Efficiency of Ozone Synthesis in Coplanar Discharge Arrangements

In order determine the potential of coplanar discharge arrangements with short electrode distances for the production of ozone, a numerical model of the discharge behavior has been developed. The temporal and spatial distributions of the discharge parameters e.g. those of the field strength, the densities of the charged particles in the gas region and on the dielectric surface and that of the energy release reveal that the ozone production results from the electron phase of the discharge. Quantitative data of the productivity and efficiency of the ozone yield in a certain system are presented, which are in agreement with experimental results.