Circular CO2 conversion by means of atmospheric plasma (BluePlasma). (BluePlasma)

Within this project, a larger R&D atmospheric plasma reactor will be constructed, aiming to increase the TRL of plasma technology to TRL4 - technology validated in a controlled environment. The optimal conditions to convert CO2 into CO using atmospheric plasma will be established by combining theoretical simulations with experimental observations in the R&D unit. The efficiency of the CO2 to CO conversion will be increased in several steps: • Step-wise integration of parallel plasma reactors on a single anode plate: Module 1 starting with 4 reactors with 20 L/min and 1kW of power per reactor (meaning 80 L/min and 4kW total). The target performance is 10% CO2 conversion (single-pass) and 30% energy efficiency. • In the next step, 7 reactors will be integrated on a single anode plate, in a hexagonal pattern. By this stage, the capacity of the plasma reactors will be 140 L/min of flow rate and 7kW of power (Module 2). The target performance is 15% CO2 conversion (single-pass) and 35% energy efficiency. • Module 3 will combine the power of Module 1 and 2 for a configuration of up to 11 reactors (220 L/min total capacity and 11kW power) in a hexagonal-like pattern, while maintaining strict power and efficiency requirement for each reactor node. The target performance is 20% CO2 conversion (single-pass) and 40% energy efficiency. • The CO production will be boosted by up to 50% by adding a carbon bed in the post-plasma stream, starting from module 1, but with sufficient capacity for Module 3. The target performance is 25% CO2 conversion (Boudouard reaction) and 50% boost in CO output. • An outflow-recirculation system will boost the CO2 conversion even further by increasing the residence time of unreacted gas in the main plasma reactor. Together with the carbon bed, this system can bring the overall CO2 conversion to at least 75%. • Novel structured catalysts will be used for plasma catalysis with a target lifetime of 1 year. This will further increase the CO2 conversion in the plasma phase by 10-20 %. The target is 90% CO2 reduction or more, in combination with the above-mentioned methods.

Keywords:PLASMA MODELING, CO2 CONVERSION, PLASMA REACTOR

Disciplines:Chemistry of plasmas, Flow chemistry, Energy conversion, Chemical process design

Project type:Collaboration project