Novel and efficient microwave plasma furnace for processing and syngas production

用于加工和合成气生产的新型高效微波等离子炉

• 批准号: ST/Y509966/1
• 负责人: Amos Dexter
• 金额: $ 61.59万
• 依托单位: Lancaster University
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Research Grant
• 财政年份: 2024
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2024 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=ST%2FY509966%2F1
• 关键词: Novel; efficient; microwave; plasma; furnace

ssues with the scale up of atmospheric pressure Microwave (MW) Plasma Processing, achieving high efficiencies and longevity of components, was identified by a Lancaster Chemical Engineering PhD project using MW plasma torches for the gasification of organic waste.Inspired by STFC funded research, principally Cockcroft Institute grants (2009-2022) STG008248/1 and ST/P002056/1, a solution was proposed by the Lancaster RF accelerator engineers allowing plasmas to be struck in large diameter unlined Nickel steel pipes with greatly reduced wall losses and no tendency for the plasma to track back to the generator. Proof of principle was demonstrated by a subsequent undergraduate project. A patent application has been made. The innovation is to use a mode converter to generate a low loss transverse electric mode where the electric field is parallel to the walls. This allows a non radiating cut to be made in the waveguide that allows the walls to find their own potential limiting electron diffusion to the walls. The cut also stops the plasma tracking back to the generator.The initial experimental work with a fully energised plasma, was not initially planned as part of the undergraduate project, the project was to develop the mode converter and undertake cold testing. As the mode converter worked perfectly, we borrowed equipment to undertake a hot test. The available test time was only a few hours and as the microwave choke for the gap has not been developed, it was deemed that the level of microwave leakage was such that the experiment should be terminated. The plasma was run for about 30 minutes, it was very stable and the bare aluminium walls for the plasma vessel did not become excessively hot indicating low losses to the walls.In this project we plan initially to complete the development of the choke so the plasma can be run without microwave leakage. We will then characterise the plasma and understand how it can be used to process a range of feedstocks. Industrial companies will be sort who may want to use the technology and will be invited to submit samples for investigation. The aims might be for gasification, waste destruction, plasma synthesis or surface modification. Gasification of waste is likely to be an important technology targeting net zero greenhouse gas emission. We believe that microwave plasma gasification offers an advantage for certain toxic waste streams.Optimisation work will also be undertaken.

兰卡斯特化学工程博士项目确定，使用微波等离子炬气化有机废物。微波（MW）等离子处理可实现组件的高效率和长寿命。受到 STFC 资助的研究的启发，主要是科克罗夫特研究所拨款（2009-2022）STG008248/1和ST/P002056/1，提出了一个解决方案兰卡斯特射频加速器工程师允许等离子体在大直径无衬里镍钢管中受到撞击，大大减少了壁损失，并且等离子体不会回流到发生器。随后的本科项目证明了原理证明。已申请专利。创新之处在于使用模式转换器来产生低损耗横向电模式，其中电场平行于壁。这允许在波导中进行非辐射切割，从而允许壁找到它们自己的电势，限制电子扩散到壁。切断还阻止等离子体跟踪回发生器。完全激发等离子体的初始实验工作最初并未计划作为本科生项目的一部分，该项目是开发模式转换器并进行冷测试。由于模式转换器工作正常，我们借用了设备进行了热测试。可用的测试时间只有几个小时，并且由于间隙的微波扼流圈尚未开发出来，因此认为微波泄漏的程度足以终止实验。等离子体运行了大约 30 分钟，非常稳定，等离子体容器的裸铝壁没有变得过热，表明壁的损耗较低。在这个项目中，我们最初计划完成扼流圈的开发，以便等离子体可以在没有微波泄漏的情况下运行。然后，我们将表征等离子体并了解如何使用它来处理一系列原料。将对可能想要使用该技术的工业公司进行分类，并邀请其提交样品进行调查。目的可能是气化、废物销毁、等离子体合成或表面改性。废物气化可能是一项旨在实现温室气体净零排放的重要技术。我们相信微波等离子体气化为某些有毒废物流提供了优势。还将开展优化工作。