Optimization of a continuous pulsed corona reactor

Abstract

Pulsed corona discharge processes utilize chemical radicals, ions, and highly reactive molecules produced from a high-voltage pulsed electrical discharge. Recently, these processes have been used for treating organic contaminants in wastewater. The chemistry induced by the pulsed streamer corona in the aqueous phase involves several reactions and is based on hydrogen peroxide. The principal objective of this work is to minimize the amount of hydrogen peroxide needed in a plug-flow reactor to degrade phenol to a prespecified level. A simplified model of the corona reactor is utilized in conjunction with dynamic optimization. Scaling analysis and quasi-steady-state assumptions are used to derive analytical expressions for calculating the optimal hydrogen peroxide concentration profile. Simulations are performed to verify the performance of this optimization strategy.