A Numerical Model for Plasma Reactor Design: Application to CO2 Conversion for Mars In-Situ Resource Utilization

Plasma-assisted CO₂ conversion is a promising chemical synthesis technique for Mars In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU). Nonthermal plasmas leverage electron excitation chemistry to achieve kinetic activation and split the stable bonds of CO₂ at modest temperatures and pressures. By splitting CO₂ present in the Martian atmosphere, plasma reactors could create breathable oxygen and fuel for astronauts to explore the red planet. Many plasma sources have been explored for CO₂ conversion, and an understanding of the fundamental atomic processes in CO₂ plasmas has led to validated chemical kinetic mechanisms. However, there are limited parametric exploration studies that compare plasma chemical performance under varied operating conditions. Understanding the chemical processes' coupled pressure, temperature, and reduced electric-field dependence will inform the system-level reactor design, including the pumps, heaters, and electronics required. These comparisons are necessary to go beyond fundamental plasma studies and engineer a competitive technological candidate for Martian ISRU. In this investigation, we use a 0-D chemical kinetic model to explore the performance of a nanosecond repetitively pulsed plasma reactor under different operating conditions and gain insights for future reactor design.