Simulation of VOC decomposition using direct and indirect nonthermal plasma
Masaaki Okubo1, *, Tomoyuki Kuroki1, Haruhiko Yamasaki1, Koji Ozawa2, Kazuhiko Kamiya2
* The author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
1 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Osaka Metropolitan University, Japan
2 Overseas Market Development Department, Karumoa Co., Ltd., Japan
Abstract
To provide design guidance for volatile organic compound (VOC) abatement devices, we numerically simulate VOC decomposition in atmospheric-pressure air using direct (in-reactor) and indirect (plasma-injection) nonthermal plasma methods via Microsoft Excel Visual Basic for Applications, and compare predictions with experimental results. Sixteen chemical species, including electrons, are considered for the air plasma with diluted VOC, integrated with a 33-reaction kinetic mechanism to simulate transient species evolutions. The direct-plasma model was calibrated to published toluene (C6H5CH3) decomposition data from a coaxial dielectric-barrier-discharge reactor and then transferred, without further tuning, to predict the performance of the indirect plasma-injection configuration for VOC of allyl disulfide (C6H10S2). Across four tubular-channel regions, simulations capture ozone formation and VOC decomposition trends, yielding predicted outlet concentrations as well as other radical components. The experimental VOC removal efficiency (77.5% - 83.7%) agrees qualitatively with the calculated data (83.7% - 99.9%).
Keywords - Volatile organic compound, nonthermal plasma, ozone, hydroxyl radical, indirect plasma.