Plasma-based multi-reforming for Gas-To-Liquid: tuning the plasma chemistry towards methanol

Abstract

Because of its unique properties, plasma technology has gained much prominence in the microelectronics industry. Recently, environmental and energy applications of plasmas have gained a lot of attention. In this area, the focus is on converting CO2 and reforming hydrocarbons, with the goal of developing an efficient single-step ‘gas-to-liquid’ (GTL) process. Here we show that applying tri-reforming principles to plasma—further called ‘plasma-based multi-reforming’—allows us to better control the plasma chemistry and thus the formed products. To demonstrate this, we used chemical kinetics calculations supported by experiments and reveal that better control of the plasma chemistry can be achieved by adding O2 or H2O to a mixture containing CH4 and CO2 (diluted in N2). Moreover, by adding O2 and H2O simultaneously, we can tune the plasma chemistry even further, improving the conversions, thermal efficiency and methanol yield. Unlike thermocatalytic reforming, plasma-based reforming is capable of producing methanol in a single step; and compared with traditional plasma-based dry reforming, plasma-based multi-reforming increases the methanol yield by more than seven times and the thermal efficiency by 49%, as revealed by our model calculations. Thus, we believe that by using plasma-based multi-reforming, ‘gas-to-liquid’ conversion may be made efficient and scalable.

Suppressing the formation of NOx and N2O in CO2/N2 dielectric barrier discharge plasma by adding CH4: scavenger chemistry at work

“…For these plasmas, the formation of NO x is much higher, and the dominant pathway proceeds through vibrationally excited N 2 states, rather than through the metastable N 2 state and N radicals. 9,10 Finally, these results are a clear indication that the plasma chemistry can be controlled to a certain extent by adding small amounts of additives; a similar demonstration has been given by Snoeckx et al 33 in their work on the selective formation of methanol. Despite the seeming trivialness of this insight, directing more research towards simple chemical intervention steps-before turning to complex engineering or plasma-catalysis combinations-could lead to short-term promising advancements in the eld of plasma-based CO 2 conversion and hydrocarbon reforming.…”

Technologies to Manage Used Automotive Oil Filters in Iran: A Review Study

“…The recent technologies recommended employing plasmatron reformation of used motor oil to generate addedvalue gaseous products such as H 2 , CH 4 , CO 2 , CO, etc. The gaseous products can be used in other sections of the recycling unit, such as finishing and reformation operations [44][45][46][47][48].…”

Structural modifications of calcium based catalysts by non-thermal plasma in the CO2 reforming of CH4 and the influence of water

“…The other oxygenates quantified were ethanol, acetaldehyde, acetone and formaldehyde. Bogaerts et al [20] performed chemical kinetics calculations and showed that methanol selectivity can be increased by more than a factor 4 when 32% of water was added in the feed. The differences observed could result from the higher energy density used in our study: 12kJ/L against 3 kJ/L in ref [20].…”

“…Bogaerts et al [20] performed chemical kinetics calculations and showed that methanol selectivity can be increased by more than a factor 4 when 32% of water was added in the feed. The differences observed could result from the higher energy density used in our study: 12kJ/L against 3 kJ/L in ref [20]. At this energy density, methanol would readily be decomposed under the plasma discharge as soon as it is formed, by electron impact dissociation.…”