Simulations are conducted using a multiphysics platform to model the role naturally induced convection plays in heat and mass transport within a non-isothermal plasma discharge chamber. A pin-to-plane discharge using carbon dioxide-containing gas can be used to possibly decompose that carbon dioxide. The present study characterizes the role that convection plays in the diffusion of various products such as ions and excited-state species throughout the test chamber. Multiphysics software including computational fluid dynamics was employed in a two-dimensional transient simulated approximation of a closed reactor with a large pin serving as the cathode and a bottom plate serving as the anode. The simulation time was varied to account for complexities in the chemistry and the mesh to best capture the important discharge phenomena. Mesh validation was undertaken using the relevant minimum sizes required by the plasma, fluid flow, and heat transfer solvers. The flow induced by natural convection from the discharge was then compared to the flow induced by natural convection around a resistance heater operating with the same power input as the plasma. The results of this simulation are used to inform improvements on a parallel experimental system used to study the discharge, such as placement of gas concentration sensors and to better understand the heat and mass transfer through the discharge.


Using Computational Fluid Dynamics to Analyze Convection in Pin-to-Plane Plasma Discharge

Division / Sponsors: 
Heat Transfer Division (HTD), Fluids Engineering Division (FED)

Heat Transfer Summer Conference
Paper Proceedings: https://asmedigitalcollection.asme.org/HT/HT2020/volume/83709

18th International Conference on Nanochannels, Microchannels, and Minichannels
Paper Proceedings: https://asmedigitalcollection.asme.org/ICNMM/ICNMM2020/volume/83693

Fluids Engineering Division Summer Meeting
Paper Proceedings: https://asmedigitalcollection.asme.org/FEDSM/FEDSM2020/volume/83716

HT-ICNMM2020 - Virtual Conference, SHTC - Virtual Conference, FEDSM2020 - Virtual Conference

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