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Chemical Engineering Journal, Volume 234, December 2013, Pages 240-246. Jing-Lin Liu, Xiao-Song Li, Xiaobing Zhu, Kai Li, Chuan Shi, Ai-Min Zhu.
Laboratory of Plasma Physical Chemistry, School of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering & School of Chemistry, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China.
Abstract
A novel plasma shade with large reactive space generated by rotating spark channels was used for the first time for oxidative reforming of simulated biogas (CH4:CO2:O2 = 3:2:2) to produce high-concentration syngas (CO + H2) with low energy cost. This unique plasma exhibited rapid- and slow-zones where the conversion of O2, CH4 and CO2 and dry-basis concentration of syngas () changed at two significantly different paces with specific energy input (SEI ). With increasing SEI , the conversion and first increased rapidly at SEI < 84 kJ/mol, while the conversion and increased at a much slower pace at SEI > 84 kJ/mol. Moreover, V-shape profile of syngas energy cost (ECCO+H2) versus SEI was observed. Thereby, the optimal SEI was found at which the lowest ECCO+H2 (1.0 eV/molecule) and a very high (73%) were simultaneously achieved. The good stability of the plasma reaction at the optimal SEIwas verified over an 8-hour test.
Additional information
The research interests of Prof. Zhu’s group at Dalian University of Technology, China, focus on non-thermal plasma (NTP) technologies for environmental, energy and chemical engineering applications, in particular
(1) Plasma reforming of biogas, natural gas and greenhouse gas;
(2) Plasma catalytic processes for indoor air and waste gas purification;
(3) Plasma synthesis of nano-TiO2 powders and films and their photocatalytic applications.
More information about Prof. Zhu group’s work is available via the websites:http://labplpc.dlut.edu.cn and http://helf.dlut.edu.cn.
Attached is an image of a featured plasma shade for biogas reforming that is taken during the plasma reaction. Reactant and product molecules drawn in the image intend to kindly understand the featured plasma shade technique for biogas reforming reaction with added O2.
