BACK-CORONA GENERATED PLASMA FOR DECOMPOSITION OF HYDROCARBON GASEOUSCONTAMINANTS

A back-corona discharge has been tested as a plasma source for decompo sition of hydrocarbons (CxHy). A back-corona discharge has hitherto no t been applied for these purposes. The results of laboratory experimen ts show that the back-corona discharge can decomposite hydrocarbons, s imilarly to a do or pulsed streamer corona discharge, with similar ene rgy expense and conversion rate. However, the final concentration of C xHy after the same residence time of 60 s is lower for back-corona dis charges. The back-corona also produces less CO and NOx during the deco mposition process.