EXAIRDEC

*Corresponding author: nick.martin@npl.co.uk Tel: +44 20 8943 7088

Ultra-short gas-phase Pulsed Corona Discharge Reactor, Assessment of VOC Abatement Performance
a

N A Martina*, A Lilleya , J Tompkinsa, M Kajub, A Gregorb, G Schleiningd, B McKennae, L Lundbergf , G Surzenkovf

National Physical Laboratory, Hampton Road, Teddington, Middlesex TW11 0LW, United Kingdom
b

Eesti Innovatsiooni Instituut O, Sepapaja 6, 11415 Tallinn, Estonia

University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, BOKU, Department of Food Science and Technology, Muthgasse 18, A-1190 Vienna, Austria
d e

EFFoST, PO Box 8129, Wageningen 6700 EV, NL Setton O, Pirita tee 20, 10127 Tallinn, Estonia

Labglass AB, Brdakra Rdahus 2, 240 33 Lberd, Sweden

f

Introduction
Existing contaminant removal systems in the food processing industry (FPI) are of low efficiency, carry substantial capital and operating costs (due to lost energy), and require frequent replacement of extraction system filters. The remaining vapours condense and settle in the ventilation system, cannot be used with heat exchangers, and potentially create a fire hazard in the rapid air flow. We report the development of a cost effective alternative prototype for use in the FPI, based on a novel ultra-short gas-phase pulsed corona discharge (PCD) reactor designed for the abatement of gaseous volatile organic compounds (VOCs), some of which are odorous, and particulates.

Tests carried out in December 2011 found that the optimum operation of this prototype was at an air flow rate of nominally 200 m3 hr 1 (at STP) with the VOCs as shown in Table 1.

Exairdec December 2011 Test Results

Compound Test conditions Outlet Indicated Concentration / ppm Discharge off 5 Ethanol 75 C 1% water vapour 200 m3 hr1 15 22 30 4 Ethanol 80 C 8% water vapour 250 m3 hr1 12 19 26 4 Acetone 75 C 1% water vapour 200 m3 hr1 14 26 41 12 24 33 10 16 22 96 Discharge on 1 4 9 20 2 7 13 20 1 7 16 31 9 20 31 2 6 10 67 VOC removal Efficiency 85% 72% 60% 33% 59% 47% 34% 26% 71% 50% 38% 23% 24% 16% 7% 76% 60% 53% 30%

EXAIRDEC Project: Pulsed Corona Discharge and Dielectric Barrier Discharge

The novelty of the PCD reactor in this application is that the power generator produces ultra-short, high voltage (HV) pulses with a high repetition rate, using advanced magnetic-pulse compression (MPC) technology. This enables operation without problems of arcing, in an environment of high humidity, as found in the FPI. A laboratory test chamber, where controlled atmospheres of VOCs could be introduced and monitored, under well characterised gas concentrations and environmental conditions, was developed and employed to evaluate 2 reactor designs: a pulsed corona discharge (PCD) and a pulsed dielectric barrier discharge (DBD). VOCs (including ethanol, acetaldehyde, acetone and toluene), water vapour and particles were introduced and were monitored with and without the discharge switched on.

Acetone

75 C 1% water vapour 250 m3 hr1 6 C 1% water vapour 200 m3 hr1 80 C 1% water vapour 200 m3 hr1

Acetaldehyde

Toluene

Table 1 Results for ethanol, acetone, acetaldehyde and toluene measured by FID

Particulates
Oil mist droplets (emery oil) were introduced into the air supply in the test facility and an optical particle counter was employed to measure their size and number concentration. Repeated tests demonstrated that the discharge system could significantly reduce the concentration of particles by approximately 30% and suggested that the removal was largely independent of the particle size.
Effect of combined PCD and DBD System on Oil Droplets
Discharge off

Discharge on Discharge
Particle Number Concentration (P cm3) Discharge off 1 Discharge on 1 Discharge off 2 Discharge on 2 Discharge off 3

Particle Diameter (Microns)

Figure 3: Particle number concentration versus particle size distribution

Figure 1: Test facility

Transient and final products produced in the discharge

The formation of transient products in the discharge was monitored using a FTIR spectrometer. The example given shows ozone (at concentrations as high as 155ppm), which was always present with the discharge on, and was necessary to achieve a high VOC (acetaldehyde in this example) removal rate.
Ozone Water Vapour

The VOC inlet and outlet concentrations were measured using Flame ionisation detectors (FIDs) and the outlet gas was also monitored with a Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer, which could measure certain transients, water vapour, and carbon dioxide. Active sampling with the sorbent Chromosorb-106 was employed to detect VOCs produced in the discharge at trace levels (some at parts per billion (ppb)). The results show that both electrical discharge systems could remove VOCs from the airstream, but the PCD design was more efficient, and will be employed exclusively in the next prototype in this project. A combination of the present PCD and DBD systems was also tested, which increased the VOC removal efficiency, due to the longer residence time from the larger discharge volume. Tests were carried out with typical organic compounds found in food processing over a range of: concentrations (nominally 5 to 100parts per million (ppm)), air flow rates, gas temperatures, and humidity (by steam injection). The example shown here is for ethanol as the VOC with the discharge switched off, PCD + DBD on, DBD on, PCD + DBD on, DBD on, and discharge off, from measurements carried out at the Figure 2: Ethanol results outlet with a FID.

Ozone

Carbon Dioxide

Water Vapour

Acetaldehyde

Figure 4: Fourier transform infrared spectrum showing ozone near 1000 cm-1

Figure 5: Chromatograms from active sampler results for ethanol with and without discharge on

Active sampling was used to measure organic end products formed in the discharge, many at low concentrations (ppb). Thermal desorption of samplers followed by gas chromatography with flame ionisation or mass spectrometric detection was used to identify and quantify the compounds.

Further development
The next prototype will employ two PCD reactors in series, with design changes to minimise the release of ozone, and will be tested in the laboratory and in the field at an appropriate food processing site.
This research was supported by the European Commission FP7 R4SME project EXAIRDEC, (Grant No. 243632-2).
9978/0212