2D Numerical Simulation of the Dichlorodifluoromethane Decomposition with O2 and H2 in Thermal Argon Plasma Reactor

Abstract

A two dimensional analysis of the (CCl2F2) decomposition with O2 and H2 in DC thermal argon plasma reactor is carried out numerically using a CFD simulation. Firstly, a thermodynamic investigation of Ar/C/Cl/F/O/H system is conducted at a temperature range between 300K and 6000K in order to determine the main species and chemical reactions resulting from the decomposition of CCl2F2. Secondly, a two dimensional study is done numerically using the Fluent software with the turbulence model (K-?) to solve the partial differential equations describing the mass, momentum and energy conservations which are all combined with the chemical kinetics of 17 species and 21 reactions obtained through the previous investigation. The results show that the CCl2F2 is completely destroyed after breaking down into CO, CO2, HCl, HF and H2O at the outlet of the plasma reactor. Moreover, the addition of hydrogen in stoichiometric ratio is sufficiently enough to eliminate the chlorine, fluorine and hydroxyl radicals which make the whole process much less detrimental to the environment.