Simulation of Microwave Discharge in Liquid n-Heptane in the Presence of Argon in the Discharge Region.

A zero-dimensional model is presented for a microwave discharge in liquid n-heptane at atmospheric pressure with continuous introduction of argon into the plasma region. The model includes equations describing the formation of a solid phase from n-heptane degradation products. Along with the detailed kinetics of thermal pyrolysis of n-heptane, processes involving argon atoms and processes involving electrons, ions, and excited species are included. To determine the electron energy distribution function, the Boltzmann equation is used. For comparison with the spectral characteristics of the discharge, the kinetic scheme includes the processes of excitation of the radiative states of the hydrogen atom and the C2 molecule. Calculations have made it possible to explain the appearance of Hα lines at sufficiently high concentrations of introduced argon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]