PLASMA EXCITATION PROCESSES IN FLUE-GAS SIMULATED WITH MONTE-CARLO ELECTRON DYNAMICS

The excitation of gas molecules in flue gas by electron impact is calc ulated with a Monte Carlo (MC) algorithm for electron dynamics in part ially ionized gases. The MC algorithm is straightforward for any mixtu re of molecules for which cross sections are available. Electron drift is simulated in the first case for homogeneous electric fields and in the second case for secondary electrons which are produced by electro n-beam irradiation. The electron energy distribution function, <(epsil on)over bar>(e), (v) over bar(d), <(lambda)over bar>, the energy branc hing and the rate of excitation are calculated for standard gas mixtur es of Ar-N-2, O-2 and H2O. These fundamental process parameters are ne eded for the study of reactions to remove NOx from flue gas. The calcu lated results indicate that the production of highly excited molecules in the high electric field of a streamer corona discharge has an effi ciency similar to that of electron-beam irradiation.