Modelling study on the oxidation of methane in an atmospheric pressure dielectric barrier discharge

摘要

A one-dimensional fluid model is developed in order to study the gas phase chemistry in an atmospheric pressure dielectric barrier discharge at 300 K used as a chemical reactor for the oxidation of methane. Primarily, the effect of the oxidizing agent - oxygen or carbon dioxide - on the conversion of methane and on the selectivities of the desired end products - methanol, formaldehyde and syngas - has been investigated. As a result, the spatially averaged densities of the various plasma species as a function of time are shown. Besides, the conversion of the reactants and the yields of the reaction products as a function of residence time in the reactor are obtained. Furthermore, the main underlying reaction pathways governing the conversion process are determined through a comparison of the different production and loss rates for the value-added end products.