Reduction of CO2 from combustion gases by DC corona torches

An experimental investigation has been conducted to reduce CO₂ from combustion gases by using DC corona torches. This plasma device, the corona torch, consists of two small-diameter hollow electrodes. The gas flow enters the upstream cylindrical hollow electrode and exits at a downstream cylindrical hollow electrode. Therefore, all the reactive gas passes through the active corona-induced plasma zone. High-speed gas flow near the exit of the electrode cools the electrodes; hence, the chemical reactions and the stability of discharge are enhanced. Various amounts of argon gas were added to the model combustion gas (N₂:O₂:CO₂=0.745:0.15:0.105). The results show that the CO₂ gas reduction rate increases with increasing corona current when the model gas is seeded with argon. The CO₂ gas reduction rate increases when the percentage of argon gas in the mixture increases up to 20%, and decreases when the percentage of argon gas in the mixture increases above 20%