In this work, a modular, multi-electrode surface dielectric barrier discharge system for the decomposition of polluted air streams at high volumetric flows, necessary for industrial applications, is designed and constructed....

A twin surface dielectric barrier discharge (SDBD) ignited in a dry synthetic air gas stream is studied regarding the formation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) and their impact on the conversion of admixed n-butane. The discharge is driven by a damped sinusoidal voltage waveform at peak-topeak amplitudes of 8 kVpp to 13 kVpp and pulse repetition frequencies of 250 Hz to 4000 Hz. Absolute densities of O3, NO2, NO3, as well as estimates of the sum of the densities of N2O4 and N2O5 are determined temporally resolved by means of optical absorption spectroscopy using a laser driven broadband light source, suitable interference filters, and a photodiode detector. The measured densities are acquired across the center of the reactor chamber as well as at the outlet of the chamber. The temporal and spatial evolution of the species’ densities is correlated to the conversion of nbutane at concentrations of 50 ppm and 400 ppm, measured by means of flame ionization detectors. The n-butane is admixed either before or after the reactor chamber, in order to separate the impact of short- and long-lived reactive species on the conversion process. It is found that, despite the stationary conversion at the selected operating points, at higher voltages and repetition frequencies the densities of the measured species are not in steady state. Based on the produced results it is presumed that the presence of n-butane modifies the formation and consumption pathways of O3. At the same time, there is no significant impact on the formation of dinitrogen oxides (N2O4 and N2O5). Furthermore, a comparatively high conversion of n-butane, when admixed at the outlet of the reactor chamber is observed. These findings are discussed together with known rate coefficients for the reactions of n-butane with selected RONS.

Electrode erosion through continual long-timescale operation (60 minutes) of identical twin surface dielectric barrier discharges (twin SDBDs) powered either by a microsecond (μs) or a nanosecond timescale (ns) voltage source is investigated. The twin SDBDs are characterized using current-voltage measurements, optical emission spectroscopy, and phase integrated ICCD imaging. The temporally and spatially averaged gas temperature, consumed electric power, and effective discharge parameters (reduced electric field, and electron density) are measured. The μs twin SDBD is shown to operate in a filamentary mode while the ns twin SDBD is shown to operate in a more homogeneous mode (i.e. non filamentary). Despite a similarity of the effective discharge parameters in both the μs and ns twin SDBD, erosion of the nickel coated electrodes caused by operation of the twin SDBD differs strongly. Only the formation of a moderate number of nickel oxide species is observed on the surface of the ns twin SDBD electrodes. In contrast, the nickel coated electrodes are locally melted and considerably higher densities of oxides are observed around the eroded areas of the μs twin SDBD, due to the filamentary nature of the discharge.

Electrode erosion through continual long-timescale operation (60 minutes) of identical twin surface dielectric barrier discharges (twin SDBDs) powered either by a microsecond (μs) or a nanosecond timescale (ns) voltage source is investigated. The twin SDBDs are characterized using current-voltage measurements, optical emission spectroscopy, and phase integrated ICCD imaging. The temporally and spatially averaged gas temperature, consumed electric power, and effective discharge parameters (reduced electric field, and electron density) are measured. The μs twin SDBD is shown to operate in a filamentary mode while the ns twin SDBD is shown to operate in a more homogeneous mode (i.e. non filamentary). Despite a similarity of the effective discharge parameters in both the μs and ns twin SDBD, erosion of the nickel coated electrodes caused by operation of the twin SDBD differs strongly. Only the formation of a moderate number of nickel oxide species is observed on the surface of the ns twin SDBD electrodes. In contrast, the nickel coated electrodes are locally melted and considerably higher densities of oxides are observed around the eroded areas of the μs twin SDBD, due to the filamentary nature of the discharge.

Correction for ‘A scalable twin surface dielectric barrier discharge system for pollution remediation at high gas flow rates’ by Alexander Böddecker et al., React. Chem. Eng., 2022, 7, 2348–2358, https://doi.org/10.1039/D2RE00167E.