Optimization of a continuous pulsed corona reactor

Pulsed corona discharge processes utilize chemical radicals, ions, and high ly reactive molecules produced from a high-voltage pulsed electrical discha rge. Recently, these processes have been used for treating organic contamin ants in wastewater. The chemistry induced by the pulsed streamer corona in the aqueous phase involves several reactions and is based on hydrogen perox ide. The principal objective of this work is to minimize the amount of hydr ogen peroxide needed in a plug-flow reactor to degrade phenol to a prespeci fied level. A simplified model of the corona reactor is utilized in conjunc tion with dynamic optimization. Scaling analysis and quasi-steady-state ass umptions are used to derive analytical expressions for calculating the opti mal hydrogen peroxide concentration profile. Simulations are performed to v erify the performance of this optimization strategy. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.