Experimental Study of Electric and Spectroscopic Characteristics of Electric Discharge in LPG

Ahmed Abd Elradi¹, Nasser N. Morgan^1,2, Sobhy Ghalab^1,2, Mansour Elsabagh^1,2, Safwat Hassaballa^1,2, Ahmed Samir^1*, Farouk F. Elakshar^1,2, Abdou A. Garamoon^1,2

¹Center of Plasma Technology, Al Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt.

DOI: 10.4236/jmp.2014.515146                

Abstract

Electric discharge has been carried out in LPG using DC high voltage (0.4 - 3 KV) at gas pressure in the range of 1 to 25 torr. The electric and spectroscopic characteristics of the discharge were studied at different discharge conditions. Deviations from Paschen’s law were observed as a result of the change of the distance between the two the electrodes. Two discharge modes, namely glow discharge and spark discharge modes, has been observed in the discharge current waveforms. The discharge current waveforms indicate a repetitive pulsed behaviour with frequencies of 5 kHz to 5 MHz depending upon the applied voltage and the gas pressure. The emitted spectra from the discharge are also studied near both the cathode and the anode using different electrode materials. H_α line and C2 Swan band system are observed, which confirms the conversion of LPG to hydrogen and carbon clusters.

Keywords

Liquefied Petroleum Gas, Electric Discharge, Hydrogen Production, Propane Decomposition, Butane Decomposition

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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