Records |
Author |
Tsonev, I.; O’Modhrain, C.; Bogaerts, A.; Gorbanev, Y. |
Title |
Nitrogen Fixation by an Arc Plasma at Elevated Pressure to Increase the Energy Efficiency and Production Rate of NOx |
Type |
A1 Journal article |
Year |
2023 |
Publication |
ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering |
Abbreviated Journal |
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Volume |
11 |
Issue |
5 |
Pages |
1888-1897 |
Keywords |
A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT) |
Abstract |
Plasma-based nitrogen fixation for fertilizer production is an attractive alternative to the fossil fuel-based industrial processes. However, many factors hinder its applicability, e.g., the commonly observed inverse correlation between energy consumption and production rates or the necessity to enhance the selectivity toward NO2, the desired product for a more facile formation of nitrate-based fertilizers. In this work, we investigated the use of a rotating gliding arc plasma for nitrogen fixation at elevated pressures (up to 3 barg), at different feed gas flow rates and composition. Our results demonstrate a dramatic increase in the amount of NOx produced as a function of increasing pressure, with a record-low EC of 1.8 MJ/(mol N) while yielding a high production rate of 69 g/h and a high selectivity (94%) of NO2. We ascribe this improvement to the enhanced thermal Zeldovich mechanism and an increased rate of NO oxidation compared to the back reaction of NO with atomic oxygen, due to the elevated pressure. |
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Corporate Author |
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Thesis |
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Publisher |
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Place of Publication |
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Language |
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Wos |
000924366700001 |
Publication Date |
2023-02-06 |
Series Editor |
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Series Title |
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Abbreviated Series Title |
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Series Volume |
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Series Issue |
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Edition |
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ISSN |
2168-0485 |
ISBN |
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Additional Links |
UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles |
Impact Factor |
8.4 |
Times cited |
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Open Access |
OpenAccess |
Notes |
Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek, G0G2322N ; Horizon 2020 Framework Programme, 965546 ; |
Approved |
Most recent IF: 8.4; 2023 IF: 5.951 |
Call Number |
PLASMANT @ plasmant @c:irua:194281 |
Serial |
7239 |
Permanent link to this record |
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Author |
Wang, K.; Ceulemans, S.; Zhang, H.; Tsonev, I.; Zhang, Y.; Long, Y.; Fang, M.; Li, X.; Yan, J.; Bogaerts, A. |
Title |
Inhibiting recombination to improve the performance of plasma-based CO2 conversion |
Type |
A1 Journal Article |
Year |
2024 |
Publication |
Chemical Engineering Journal |
Abbreviated Journal |
Chemical Engineering Journal |
Volume |
481 |
Issue |
|
Pages |
148684 |
Keywords |
A1 Journal Article; Plasma-based CO2 splitting Recombination reactions In-situ gas sampling Fluid dynamics modeling Kinetics modeling Afterglow quenching; Plasma, laser ablation and surface modeling Antwerp (PLASMANT) ; |
Abstract |
Warm plasma offers a promising route for CO2 splitting into valuable CO, yet recombination reactions of CO with oxygen, forming again CO2, have recently emerged as critical limitation. This study combines experiments and fluid dynamics + chemical kinetics modelling to comprehensively analyse the recombination reactions upon CO2 splitting in an atmospheric plasmatron. We introduce an innovative in-situ gas sampling technique, enabling 2D spatial mapping of gas product compositions and temperatures, experimentally confirming for the first time the substantial limiting effect of CO recombination reactions in the afterglow region. Our results show that the CO mole fraction at a 5 L/min flow rate drops significantly from 11.9 % at a vertical distance of z = 20 mm in the afterglow region to 8.6 % at z = 40 mm. We constructed a comprehensive 2D model that allows for spatial reaction rates analysis incorporating crucial reactions, and we validated it to kinetically elucidate this phenomenon. CO2 +M⇌O+CO+M and CO2 +O⇌CO+O2 are the dominant reactions, with the forward reactions prevailing in the plasma region and the backward reactions becoming prominent in the afterglow region. These results allow us to propose an afterglow quenching strategy for performance enhancement, which is further demonstrated through a meticulously developed plasmatron reactor with two-stage cooling. Our approach substantially increases the CO2 conversion (e.g., from 6.6 % to 19.5 % at 3 L/min flow rate) and energy efficiency (from 13.5 % to 28.5 %, again at 3 L/min) and significantly shortens the startup time (from ~ 150 s to 25 s). Our study underscores the critical role of inhibiting recombination reactions in plasma-based CO2 conversion and offers new avenues for performance enhancement. |
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Wos |
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Publication Date |
2024-01-10 |
Series Editor |
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Series Title |
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Abbreviated Series Title |
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Series Volume |
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Series Issue |
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Edition |
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ISSN |
1385-8947 |
ISBN |
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Additional Links |
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Impact Factor |
15.1 |
Times cited |
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Open Access |
Not_Open_Access |
Notes |
Key Research and Development Program of Zhejiang Province, 2023C03129 ; Vlaamse regering; European Research Council; National Natural Science Foundation of China, 51976191 52276214 ; Horizon 2020 Framework Programme; Fonds De La Recherche Scientifique – FNRS; Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek, 1101524N ; Vlaams Supercomputer Centrum; Horizon 2020, 101081162 810182 ; European Research Council; |
Approved |
Most recent IF: 15.1; 2024 IF: 6.216 |
Call Number |
PLASMANT @ plasmant @ |
Serial |
8993 |
Permanent link to this record |
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Author |
Tsonev, I.; Boothroyd, J.; Kolev, S.; Bogaerts, A. |
Title |
Simulation of glow and arc discharges in nitrogen: effects of the cathode emission mechanisms |
Type |
A1 Journal Article |
Year |
2023 |
Publication |
PLASMA SOURCES SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY |
Abbreviated Journal |
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Volume |
32 |
Issue |
5 |
Pages |
054002 |
Keywords |
A1 Journal Article; Plasma, laser ablation and surface modeling Antwerp (PLASMANT) ; |
Abstract |
Experimental evidence in the literature has shown that low-current direct current nitrogen discharges can exist in both glow and arc regimes at atmospheric pressure. However, modelling investigations of the positive column that include the influence of the cathode phenomena are scarce. In this work we developed a 2D axisymmetric model of a plasma discharge in flowing nitrogen gas, studying the influence of the two cathode emission mechanisms—thermionic field emission and secondary electron emission—on the cathode region and the positive column. We show for an inlet gas flow velocity of 1 m s<sup>−1</sup>in the current range of 80–160 mA, that the electron emission mechanism from the cathode greatly affects the size and temperature of the cathode region, but does not significantly influence the discharge column at atmospheric pressure. We also demonstrate that in the discharge column the electron density balance is local and the electron production and destruction is dominated by volume processes. With increasing flow velocity, the discharge contraction is enhanced due to the increased convective heat loss. The cross sectional area of the conductive region is strongly dependent on the gas velocity and heat conductivity of the gas. |
Address |
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Corporate Author |
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Thesis |
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Publisher |
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Place of Publication |
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Editor |
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Language |
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Wos |
000987841800001 |
Publication Date |
2023-05-01 |
Series Editor |
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Series Title |
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Abbreviated Series Title |
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Series Volume |
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Series Issue |
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Edition |
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ISSN |
0963-0252 |
ISBN |
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Additional Links |
UA library record; WoS full record |
Impact Factor |
3.8 |
Times cited |
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Open Access |
Not_Open_Access |
Notes |
This research is financially supported by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement No. 965546. |
Approved |
Most recent IF: 3.8; 2023 IF: 3.302 |
Call Number |
PLASMANT @ plasmant @c:irua:196972 |
Serial |
8788 |
Permanent link to this record |