Publication
Title
Electrical stability and performance of a nitrogen-oxygen atmospheric pressure gliding arc plasma
Author
Abstract
Nonthermal plasmas are currently being studied as a green alternative to the Haber-Bosch process, which is, today, the dominant industrial process allowing for the fixation of nitrogen and, as such, a fundamental component for the production of nitrogen-based industrial fertilizers. In this context, the gliding arc plasma (GAP) is considered a promising choice among nonthermal plasma options. However, its stability is still a key parameter to ensure industrial transfer of the technology. Nowadays, the conventional approach to stabilize this plasma process is to use external resistors. Although this indeed allows for an enhancement of the plasma stability, very little is reported about how it impacts the process efficiency, both in terms of NOx yield and energy cost. In this work, this question is specifically addressed by studying a DC-powered GAP utilized for nitrogen fixation into NOx at atmospheric pressure stabilized by variable external resistors. Both the performance and the stability of the plasma are reported as a function of the utilization of the resistors. The results confirm that while the use of a resistor indeed allows for a strong stabilization of the plasma without impacting the NOx yield, especially at high plasma current, it dramatically impacts the energy cost of the process, which increases from 2.82 to 7.9 MJ/mol. As an alternative approach, we demonstrate that the replacement of the resistor by an inductor is promising since it allows for decent stabilization of the plasma, while it does not affect either the energy cost of the process or the NOx yield.
Language
English
Source (journal)
ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering. - -
Publication
Washington : Amer chemical soc , 2024
ISSN
2168-0485
DOI
10.1021/ACSSUSCHEMENG.3C08257
Volume/pages
12 :13 (2024) , p. 5211-5219
ISI
001186347900001
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (open access)
The author-created version that incorporates referee comments and is the accepted for publication version Available from 16.09.2024
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Project info
Experimental and theoretical study of the fundamental mechanisms of nitrogen fixation by plasma and plasma-catalysis: towards the development of novel, environmentally friendly and efficient processes (NITROPLASM).
Experimental and theoretical study of the fundamental mechanisms of nitrogen fixation by plasma and plasma-catalysis: towards the development of novel, environmentally friendly and efficient processes. (NITROPLASM)
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 29.03.2024
Last edited 10.04.2024
To cite this reference