Fluid modelling of a packed bed dielectric barrier discharge plasma reactor

A packed bed dielectric barrier discharge plasma reactor is computationally studied with a fluid model.Two different complementary axisymmetric 2D geometries are used to mimic the intrinsic 3D problem.It is found that a packing enhances the electric field strength and electron temperature at the contact points of the dielectric material due to polarization of the beads by the applied potential.As a result, these contact points prove to be of direct importance to initiate the plasma.At low applied potential, the discharge stays at the contact points, and shows the properties of a Townsend discharge.When a high enough potential is applied, the plasma will be able to travel through the gaps in between the beads from wall to wall, forming a glow-like discharge.Therefore, the inclusion of a so-called "channel of voids" is indispensable in any type of packed bed modelling.