Glow discharge reactors for hydrazine synthesis

Abstract

The synthesis of hydrazine from ammonia at a pressure of 10 torr has been studied in two types of glow discharge reactors, viz., a crossed discharge reactor and a beam scanning reactor. These reactors were developed in an attempt to eliminate the problems associated with beam constriction phenomena. A limited amount of work was carried out with the first reactor and when it became apparent that it had no real advantages, it was abandoned in favour of the beam scanning reactor. The latter has now been studied in depth using both continuous and pulsed DC power supplies. It has been found that both hydrasine formation and ammonia conversion are improved by beam scanning. Under certain conditions, the effects of operating variables may be described through two parameters; the product of the discharge current and mean residence time in the continuous discharge and the pulse number in the pulsed discharge. Decreasing values of these parameters are associated with an increasing efficiency of hydrazine production.