Plasma Processes for Renewable Energy Technologies

The use of renewable energy is an effective solution for the prevention of global warming. On the other hand, environmental plasmas are one of powerful means to solve global environmental problems on nitrogen oxides, (NOx), sulfur oxides (SOx), particulate matter (PM), volatile organic compounds (VOC), and carbon dioxides (CO2) in the atmosphere. By combining both technologies, we can develop an extremely effective environmental improvement technology. Based on this background, a Special Issue of the journal Energies on plasma processes for renewable energy technologies is planned. On the issue, we focus on environment plasma technologies that can effectively utilize renewable electric energy sources, such as photovoltaic power generation, biofuel power generation, wind turbine power generation, etc. However, any latest research results on plasma environmental improvement processes are welcome for submission. We are looking, among others, for papers on the following technical subjects in which either plasma can use renewable energy sources or can be used for renewable energy technologies: Plasma decomposition technology of harmful gases, such as the plasma denitrification method; Plasma removal technology of harmful particles, such as electrostatic precipitation; Plasma decomposition technology of harmful substances in liquid, such as gas–liquid interfacial plasma; Plasma-enhanced flow induction and heat transfer enhancement technologies, such as ionic wind device and plasma actuator; Plasma-enhanced combustion and fuel reforming; Other environment plasma technologies

Reduction of Nitrogen Oxides in Diesel Exhaust using Dielectric Barrier Discharges driven by current-mode power supplies

Ce travail vise à relever le défi de l'amélioration du traitement des NOx basé sur les décharges de barrière diélectrique (DBD) en mettant en œuvre une solution avec des alimentations en mode courant au lieu de l'approche traditionnelle en mode tension. Dans un premier temps, une alimentation d'expérimentation capable de délivrer des impulsions de courant carrées à plusieurs degrés de liberté est mise en œuvre. Le dimensionnement, l'analyse des éléments parasites et la conception de l'alimentation sont entièrement développés. Avec l'alimentation proposée, le fonctionnement électrique du réacteur DBD est contrôlé par les degrés de liberté suivants : amplitude du courant, fréquence et durée des impulsions, ainsi que le nombre d'impulsions de courant injectées dans le DBD et le temps d'inactivité entre les groupes d'impulsions. L'étude paramétrique des conditions électriques et l’acquisition des mesures concernant le gaz est réalisée à l'aide d'un banc de test automatisé, qui standardise les expériences et simplifie l'acquisition des données. Une méthodologie est proposée pour l'analyse des données, y compris le diagnostic électrique de la DBD, l'analyse des gaz et le traitement d'image des photographies de la décharge. Les résultats expérimentaux ont montré un rôle déterminant du temps de repos sous tension nulle pour garantir un traitement uniforme des gaz, une dispersion des streamers sur toute la surface du réacteur et des températures du réacteur acceptables. L'impact des autres paramètres électriques a également été étudié pour optimiser l'efficacité du traitement. Dans un mélange gazeux NO / N2, des efficacités d'élimination allant jusqu'à 99% ont été obtenues. Les effets de l'injection d’O2, du débit total de gaz et de la concentration de NO ont également été analysés

Current Air Quality Issues

Air pollution is thus far one of the key environmental issues in urban areas. Comprehensive air quality plans are required to manage air pollution for a particular area. Consequently, air should be continuously sampled, monitored, and modeled to examine different action plans. Reviews and research papers describe air pollution in five main contexts: Monitoring, Modeling, Risk Assessment, Health, and Indoor Air Pollution. The book is recommended to experts interested in health and air pollution issues

Aerosols and Electrical Discharge: 1. Examination of Potential Climate Impact of Mercury Control in Electrostatic Precipitators (ESPs); 2. Instantaneous Bioaerosol Inactivation by Non-Thermal Plasma

One common technology for airstream aerosol (or particulate matter) control is through electrical discharge. Electrical discharge within a neutral gas under atmospheric conditions has two major essential applications related to either its physical or chemical properties. Devices such as electrostatic precipitators (ESPs) are widely applied to reduce stationary PM emission utilizing physical properties of electrical discharge. Separately, the chemical properties of the high voltage discharge can be utilized in several chemical processes, including bioaerosol disinfection. This dissertation had two research focuses related to either the physical or chemical properties of electrical discharge on aerosol control. The first study focus is on potential impact of mercury emission control by powdered activated carbon (PAC) injection to climate change due to low removal efficiency of PAC in ESPs. The injection into the flue gas of PAC is the most mature technology for controlling mercury emissions from coal combustion. However, carbonaceous particles are known to have poor capture in ESPs. Thus, the advent of mercury emissions standards for power plants has the potential for increased emissions of PAC, whose climate change impact is unclear. The study conducted the first comparative measurements of optical scattering and absorption of aerosols comprised of varying mixtures of coal combustion fly ash and PAC. A partially fluidized bed (FB) containing fly ash-PAC admixtures with varying PAC concentrations elutriates aerosol agglomerates. A photo-acoustic extinctiometer (PAX) extractively samples from the FB flow, providing measurements of optical absorption and scattering coefficients of fly ash (FA) alone and FA-PAC admixtures. The results indicate that the increase of carbonaceous particles in the FB emissions can cause a significant linear increase of their mass absorption cross sections. Thus, widespread adoption of activated carbon injection in conjunction with ESPs has the potential to constitute a new source of light absorbing (and climate warming) particle emissions. The second research focus is on packed-bed non-thermal plasma (NTP) discharges and its in-flight inactivation of bacteriophage MS2 and Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome virus (PRRSv). To reduce threats of airborne infectious disease outbreaks, there exists a need for control measures that provide effective protection while imposing minimal pressure differential, where NTP can be a solution. In the first part of this study, a low-cost consumer-grade ultrasonic humidifier is proved to consistently suspend dry MS2 aerosols into a constant air flow, and the ultrasonic atomization rate can be monitored in real-time by laser-photodiode light attenuation measurements. In the second part, suspended viral aerosols in a controlled airstream were subjected to NTP exposure within a packed-bed dielectric barrier discharge reactor. Results of plaque assays for MS2 and TCID50 (50% Tissue culture infective dose) for PRRSv showed increasing inactivation of aerosolized viruses (42% to >99%) with increasing applied voltage. No evidence showed that the lipid layer of enveloped PRRSv offered any protection against inactivation, and the virus were inactivated comparably to MS2 by the reactor. Increasing the air flow rate did not significantly impact virus inactivation effectiveness. Activated carbon based ozone filters greatly reduced residual ozone, in some cases down to background levels, while adding less than 20 Pa pressure differential to the 45 Pa differential pressure across the packed bed. The study shows promising results that the prototype packed bed NTP reactor has the potential to reduce airborne infectious disease transmission into indoor environment without significant ozone emission and pressure drop.PHDEnvironmental EngineeringUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/146103/1/xiatian_1.pd

Heterogeneous chemical reactions—A cornerstone in emission reduction of local pollutants and greenhouse gases

The current state and challenges of advanced experimental and modeling methods for a better understanding of heterogeneous chemical reactions are discussed using examples from developing and future technologies in the area of emission reduction of local pollutants and greenhouse gases. In situ and operando experimental techniques using laser and X-ray absorption spectroscopy, for instance, are able to resolve spatial and temporal concentration and temperature profiles in the near-wall gas phase, the interphase and inside the solid bulk. They have been exploited for a better understanding of the interaction of chemical reactions and transport processes. The experimental elucidation of chemical conversion on the microscopic scale leads to elementary step-like surface reaction mechanisms. The microkinetic description of gas-surface reactions is still challenging due to the complex influence of the modification of the solid material itself on the microscopic scale during the chemical reaction, which is caused by intrinsic materials’ modifications due to adsorbed species and temperature variations. Furthermore, transient inlet and boundary conditions on the reactor scale have a strong impact on the material and reaction rate. In addition to thermochemical reactions, an additional complexity comes into play with electrochemical ones. This paper will discuss heterogeneous chemical reactions in the light of emerging technologies such as emission control of natural gas and hydrogen fueled engines, use of CO$_{2}$ in chemical (methanation, dry reforming) and steel industry (off-gas reforming), hydrogen production by pyrolysis of methane, small-scale ammonia synthesis and use, and recyclable carbon-free energy carriers. Hence, this article will also reveal a new playground and the potential of methods, know-how, and skills of the combustion community to significantly contribute to the solution of climate-change relevant challenges

Ignition Systems for Gasoline Engines : 4th International Conference, December 6 - 7, 2018, Berlin, Germany

In addition to increasing electrification, forecasts show a worldwide increase in the number of gasoline engines being produced. Rising industrialization will likely lead to 120 million new registrations, at least 75% of them for vehicles based on combustion engines, by the year 2030. Ambitious climate targets will remain a chimera as long as the gasoline engine is not adapted to help significantly reduce carbon emissions. In addition to the requirements of the established markets, we must be prepared for new challenges in emerging economic regions in particular. Engines require greater optimization while remaining sufficiently robust to meet the demands of use all around the world. In addition to the Miller combustion cycle, the industry needs engines that employ strongly charge-diluted combustion to achieve efficiencies significantly above 40%. Instrumental in this will be ignition processes with great potential to shift ignition limits. The question we have to ask ourselves is how can ignition systems help further boost the efficiency of the combustion engine? Together with the participants we discussed this key question during the 4th International Conference on Ignition Systems for Gasoline Engines

Energy: A continuing bibliography with indexes

This bibliography lists 1096 reports, articles, and other documents introduced into the NASA Scientific and Technical Information System from April 1, 1979 through June 30, 1979

Energy, a continuing bibliography with indexes. Issue 33

This bibliography lists 1211 reports, articles, and other documents introduced into the NASA scientific and technical information system from January 1, 1981 through March 31, 1981