Energy efficiency improvement in nitric oxide reduction by packed DBD plasma: optimization and modeling using response surface methodology(RSM)

The non-thermal plasma (NTP) is a superior proposed method for nitric oxide removal because of operation at atmospheric pressure and ambient temperature. The energy consumption is the main challenge of using this technology. The packed plasma reactor with dielectric materials has been extensively investigated; it has higher energy efficiency. In this study, the energy efficiency and the other effectiveness factors in nitric oxide removal by NTP reactor packed with ceramic and glass beads optimized and modeled using Response Surface Methodology. The findings showed the maximum energy efficiency was 132.69g/J in the optimal conditions of initial concentration, gas flowrate, and duty cycle(voltage) equal to 1050 ppm, 2.5 L/min, and 9%(22KV), respectively in the packed reactor with ceramic beads by 1.7 times than the empty reactor. It is concluded that the use of ceramic beads as a dielectric material in the discharge space significantly increased energy efficiency in the removal of nitric oxide.