Simulation study of DBD discharge characteristics and active particle-assisted methane combustion

Abstract

Abstract This paper established a model of the coaxial dielectric barrier discharge (DBD). Ar-CH4 is fed into the mixture as a working gas. Using 10.0 kHz as power research in different voltage and dielectric materials and medium thickness has influences on producing active particle mole fraction. The simulation results show that when the voltage increase, the molar concentration of O3 and H energetic particles increase obviously. When the thickness of the medium increases, the molar concentration of O3 and H decreases. When the dielectric constant of the dielectric material increases, the molar concentration of O3 and H also increases. The molar concentration of OH active particles also changed, but the law was unclear. At the same time, when the discharge voltage is 15 kV, the dielectric thickness is 2 mm, the dielectric constant is 3.75, and the DBD discharge is uniform and stable, the molar concentration of O3 and H is 0.069% and 0.056% respectively. The corresponding concentrations of O3 and H active particles were introduced into the established methane combustion reaction model. The study found that the joining of O3 and H energetic particles make the reaction begin to move significantly ahead of time. That has a promoting effect on the rate of the methane combustion reaction. In the methane combustion reaction model with different equivalence ratios, O3 with a molar concentration of 0.069% and H with a molar concentration of 0.056% introduced, it is concluded that these two active particles also have a tremendous promoting effect on the expansion of the thin burning limit of methane.