Modeling of a counterflow plasma reactor

Abstract

Modeling of a counterflow plasma reactor is presented

Modeling on the Momentum and Heat/Mass Transfer Characteristics of an Argon Plasma Jet Issuing into Air Surroundings and Interacting with a Counter-Injected Argon Jet

“…In the calculation, T 01 = 8,500 K and U 01 = 350 m/s have been chosen as the plasma jet-inlet temperature and velocity, as in [10]. Figures 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 present the modeling results for the case with the same plasma jet-inlet temperature and Figure 2 shows that due to the counter injection of the quenching gas, a distinct gasinterface layer with great temperature gradient (called as stagnation layer in Ref. [6]) is formed between the plasma torch exit and the counter-flow injector exit.…”

“…In early 1990s, a plasma reactor with counter-flow injection was developed in the High Temperature and Plasma Laboratory of the University of Minnesota and successfully employed for synthesizing various advanced ceramic powders including carbides, nitrides, oxides, solid solutions, etc. [3][4][5]. In such a reactor, particulate matter (e.g.…”

“…liquid precursor or raw-material particles) and its carrier gas were co-axially counter-injected into the hightemperature plasma flow exiting from a DC arc plasma torch. Modeling study showed that due to the counter injection of carrier gas, large recirculation zones were formed in the reactor, which could increase the residence time of precursor particles to more than 100 ms and thus could ensure complete evaporation and decomposition of the particles and complete reactions to form the desirable products in the plasma reactor [4]. In recent years, nanoparticles have been synthesized by use of DC arc or RF (radio-frequency) induction thermal-plasma reactors with counter-injected quenching gas [6][7][8][9].…”

Modeling of the heat transfer and flow features of the thermal plasma reactor with counter-flow gas injection

“…[3,4], experimental and modeling studies were conducted concerning the characteristics of the laminar thermal plasma reactor with counter-injected liquid feedstock. Those studies showed that many parameters, such as the operation parameters of the plasma torch (e.g., the input power, the working-gas flow rate, etc.…”

“…Compared to the traditional plasma reactors with lateral carrier-gas injection, the plasma reactor with counter injection of the cold fluid (gas or liquid) can improve the reaction environment significantly, such as enhancing the residence time of the reactants in the hot core region, stimulating the intimate mixing of reactants with the plasma, and controlling the particle sizes by reducing particle coagulation or coalescence, etc. In early 1990s, a counter-flow liquid injection plasma reactor for synthesis of advanced ceramic powders was developed in the High Temperature and Plasma Laboratory of the University of Minnesota [3,4]. In recent years, the plasma reactor has been employed for synthesizing aluminum nano-particles with counter-injection of pre-heated carrier-gas (argon) and AlCl 3 vapor with temperature in the range of 165-180°C [5].…”