TECHNIQUES FOR NONTHERMAL PLASMA PROCESSING OF NO IN N-2

This paper presents a comparative assessment of three types of electri cal discharge reactors: 1) pulsed corona, 2) dielectric-barrier discha rge, and 3) dielectric-pellet bed reactor, The emphasis is on the effi ciency for electron-impact dissociation of N-2 (e + N-2 --> e + N + N) and the subsequent chemical reduction of NO by nitrogen atoms (N + NO --> N-2 + O), By measuring the concentration of NO as a function of i nput energy density in dilute mixtures of NO in N-2, it is possible to determine the specific energy cost for the dissociation of N-2, Our e xperimental results show that the specific energy consumption (eV per NO molecule reduced) of different types of electrical discharge reacto rs are all similar, These results imply that, during radical productio n in electrical discharge reactors, the electric field experienced by the plasma is space charge shielded to approximately the same value. T he specific energy consumption for the dissociation of N-2 using elect rical discharge processing is measured to be around 240 eV per nitroge n atom produced, In the NO-N-2 mixture, this corresponds to a specific energy consumption of around 240 eV per NO molecule reduced.