Application of Argon Plasma Jet for Methane Hydrate Decomposition by Radio Frequency Irradiation

Abstract

Abstract-In this study, decomposition of methane hydrate using argon plasma jet investigated in the pressure range of 0.1MPa to 2.0MPa. The plasma generated under the high-pressure condition, which is difficult to achieve when using radio frequency (RF) plasma in the liquid method. By using emission spectrometer analysis, the excitation temperature is found to increase as the gas pressure increases, whereas, it decreases as the argon flow rate increases. During the process of plasma irradiation, the required essential reactions for methane hydrate decomposition, such as methane hydrate dissociation (MHD), steam methane reforming (SMR), and methane cracking reaction (MCR) were not completely satisfied due to an insignificant amount of methane. The gas chromatography analysis confirmed that the methane cracking reaction (MCR) was only occurred to generate hydrogen and the C (s) , due to the absence of C 2 H 2 and C 2 H 4 as the byproducts. In comparison with the other primary reactions of methane hydrate decomposition, steam methane reforming reaction became dominant in converting methane into hydrogen. Although the hydrogen production efficiency is less than that of radio frequency plasma in liquid, the reduction of CO 2 by the thermal decomposition of Teflon from CO making it possible is considered as an advanced promising technique in the future.

Hydrate Dissociation Using Microwaves, Radio Frequency, Ultrasonic Radiation, and Plasma Techniques

“…The hydrate was synthesized at (P = 7 MPa and T = 273 K) and consequently dissociated through the in-liquid plasma technique. [72] also conducted an experimental study on a novel technique of argon plasma jet for the purpose of methane hydrate dissociation. The plasma jet was generated (f = 27.12 MHz, w = 200 W) under high pressure of 0.1 MPa to 2 MPa.…”

Spectroscopic Measurement of High Argon Jet Plasma Flow Rate for Methane Hydrate Decomposition

“…Likewise, some parameters in plasma processing such as ionization, dissociation, and excitation are essential to understand related to plasma science, and optical emission spectroscopy is one of the techniques to determine those parameters. The excitation temperature is describing the plasma discharge and characterizes a population of excited atomic levels [25]. The free electron motion temperature is usually related to the electronic excitation temperature (Texc) of the bound electrons in an atom or molecule since the excitation processes that determine the distribution of excited states are mainly driven by free electrons [20].…”