Optical diagnostics and some results of gas treatment by way of nonthermal electrical discharges

Pollutant gas treatment by electrical discharges is subject to numerous investigations. For most requirements, the feasibility and potential success have been established; there are, however, widely differing claims as regards the energy efficiency, also in connection with power conditioning requirements. We report the outcome of several different approaches to the treatment problem: final result of treatment of model gases by AC driven or pulsed dielectric barrier or corona discharge; destruction of dioxin-related model compounds-one successful dioxin removal experiment; time-resolved emission spectroscopy of a repetitive positive streamer discharge, giving access to reaction rates; and simulation of species evolution during and after a streamer transit