The Research on Atmospheric Pressure Water Vapour Plasma Generation and Application for the Destruction of Wastes

Viktorija Grigaitiene,Andrius Tamošiunas,Pranas Valatkevičius

doi:10.14311/1745

Abstract

In the Lithuanian Energy Institute an experimental atmospheric pressure Ar/water vapour plasma torch has been designed and tested. The power of plasma torch was estimated 40 ÷ 69 kW, the mean temperature of plasma jet at the exhaust nozzle was 2300÷2900K. The chemical compositionof water vapour plasma was established from the emission spectrum lines at 300 ÷ 800nm range. The main species observed in Ar/water vapour plasma were: Ar, OH, H, O, Cu. The experiments on water vapour steam reforming were performed. The results confirmed that water vapour plasma has the unique properties – high enthalpy and environmentally friendly conditions. It could be employed for environmental purposes such as destruction of wastes into simple molecules or conversion to synthetic gas.

Highlights

Water vapor plasma technology could be applied in some unique areas, such as a biomass conversion, neutralization and utilization of hazardous wastes because of high-temperature processing and heating in comparison to other thermal methods
The water vapour plasma torch serve as the source for a high enthalpy plasma stream, where the organic compounds in the wastes are dissociated into simple atoms
The operational parameters and stable work of the system are dependent on the construction of the plasma generator and its thermal and electrical parameters

Summary

Introduction

Water vapor plasma technology could be applied in some unique areas, such as a biomass conversion, neutralization and utilization of hazardous wastes because of high-temperature processing and heating in comparison to other thermal methods. The water vapour plasma torch serve as the source for a high enthalpy plasma stream, where the organic compounds in the wastes are dissociated into simple atoms. Water vapour plasma is very suitable for fast chemical processes for generation of reactive H and O, because the hydrocarbons can be decomposed effectively. Some authors have developed a water plasma generation devices for gasification of wastes [5, 2, 9] and gasification of organic compounds for the production of synthetic gas [8, 7]. Plasma itself could be as a catalyst, which stimulates chemical processes itself [4]

Methods

Results

Conclusion