Properties of plasma flames sustained by microwaves and burning hydrocarbon fuels

Abstract

Plasma flames made of atmospheric microwave plasma and a fuel-burning flame were presented and their properties were investigated experimentally. The plasma flame generator consists of a fuel injector and a plasma flame exit connected in series to a microwave plasma torch. The plasma flames are sustained by injecting hydrocarbon fuels into a microwave plasma torch in air discharge. The microwave plasma torch in the plasma flame system can burn a hydrocarbon fuel by high-temperature plasma and high atomic oxygen density, decomposing the hydrogen and carbon containing fuel. We present the visual observations of the sustained plasma flames and measure the gas temperature using a thermocouple device in terms of the gas-fuel mixture and flow rate. The plasma flame volume of the hydrocarbon fuel burners was more than approximately 30-50 times that of the torch plasma. While the temperature of the torch plasma flame was only 868 K at a measurement point, that of the diesel microwave plasma flame with the addition of 0.019 lpm diesel and 30 lpm oxygen increased drastically to about 2280 K. Preliminary experiments for methane plasma flame were also carried out, measuring the temperature profiles of flames along the radial and axial directions. Finally, we investigated the influence of the microwave plasma on combustion flame by observing and comparing OH molecular spectra for the methane plasma flame and methane flame only.

Elimination of dimethyl methylphosphonate by plasma flame made of microwave plasma and burning hydrocarbon fuel

“…13,14,[17][18][19] The main parts of an experimental configuration for destruction of DMMP, as shown schematically in Fig. 13,14,[17][18][19] The main parts of an experimental configuration for destruction of DMMP, as shown schematically in Fig.…”

A Comprehensive Review of the Influence of Electric Field on Flame Characteristics

“…Improving the utilization efficiency of existing energy and developing alternative clean energy is the focus of current research. New combustion technologies such as electric field combustion and plasma combustion have gradually entered the public's field of vision in recent years [1][2][3]. The first group of scholars to study flame conductivity pointed out that during the combustion process, not only free ions but also free electrons are generated in the flame, so the electromagnetic field can influence the combustion from the outside of the flame.…”

A decontamination study of simulated chemical and biological agents

“…OH intensity in CH 4 flame combined with the microwave plasma is ten times stronger than that in CH 4 -only flame. 12 Obviously, the microwave plasma provides the benefit in the fuel combustion, showing higher flame temperature and more oxygen-atom density. Figure 1 shows a schematic presentation of the reaction chamber ͑a͒ in an overview and ͑b͒ in a cross-sectional view.…”

“…12, we presented the influence of the microwave plasma on the fuel combustion described in terms of an emission spectrum of hydroxyl ͑OH͒ molecules, which are abundantly observable in many kinds of flames and hot gases containing oxygen and hydrogen. Also, the perfect combustion of hydrocarbon fuels produces gaseous water and carbon dioxide as final products.…”