The Use of the Thermal and Electronic Effect in a Cold Plasma Reactor for Ozone Synthesis

Abstract

Air or pure oxygen flowing into the discharge gap of a cold plasma reactor is the primary method for ozone production on commercial scale. The modelling of the conversion of oxygen into ozone has been set up by means of a kinetic scheme in which opposite reactions are considered. The forward reaction occurs via electronic activation, while the reverse reaction is temperature-dependent. Experimental results are in accord with this scheme, and lead to the following primary conclusions: the plasma temperature is a linear function of the applied power, while isothermal operation is the better from an economic point of view.

The ozone molecule formed and destroyed in the cold plasma is suggested to be i.e., the first electronic excited state of ozone (triplet state).

Key Words:

• Ozone
• Excited Ozone
• Cold Plasma Reactor
• Electronic Activation
• Thermal Activation
• Modelling
• Ozone Production