Publication
Title
How process parameters and packing materials tune chemical equilibrium and kinetics in plasma-based conversion
Author
Abstract
Plasma (catalysis) reactors are increasingly being used for gas-based chemical conversions, providing an alternative method of energy delivery to the molecules. In this work we explore whether classical concepts such as equilibrium constants, (overall) rate coefficients, and catalysis exist under plasma conditions. We specifically investigate the existence of a so-called partial chemical equilibrium (PCE), and how process parameters and packing properties influence this equilibrium, as well as the overall apparent rate coefficient, for CO2 splitting in a DBD plasma reactor. The results show that a PCE can be reached, and that the position of the equilibrium, in combination with the rate coefficient, greatly depends on the reactor parameters and operating conditions (i.e., power, pressure, and gap size). A higher power, higher pressure, or smaller gap size enhance both the equilibrium constant and the rate coefficient, although they cannot be independently tuned. Inserting a packing material (non-porous SiO2 and ZrO2 spheres) in the reactor reveals interesting gap/material effects, where the type of material dictates the position of the equilibrium and the rate (inhibition) independently. As a result, no apparent synergistic effect or plasma-catalytic behaviour was observed for the non-porous packing materials studied in this reaction. Within the investigated parameters, equilibrium conversions were obtained between 23 and 71%, while the rate coefficient varied between 0.027 s−1 and 0.17 s−1. This method of analysis can provide a more fundamental insight in the overall reaction kinetics of (catalytic) plasma-based gas conversion, in order to be able to distinguish plasma effects from true catalytic enhancement.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Chemical engineering journal. - Lausanne, 1996, currens
Publication
Lausanne : Elsevier Sequoia , 2019
ISSN
1385-8947 [print]
1873-3212 [online]
DOI
10.1016/J.CEJ.2019.05.008
Volume/pages
372 (2019) , p. 1253-1264
ISI
000471670400116
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (open access)
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Project info
Multi-timescale atomistic modeling of plasma catalysis and plasma-based growth of carbon nanostructures.
CO2 conversion by plasma catalysis: unraveling the influence of the plasma and the nanocatalyst properties on the conversion efficiency.
CO2 conversion to renewable chemical power by synergy between plasma and photocatalysts (SynCO2Chem).
Multi-scale modeling of plasma catalysis/
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 11.06.2019
Last edited 14.01.2025
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