Modeling of a Microwave Plasma Driven Biomass Pyrolitic Conversion for Energy Production

Abstract

The thermal decomposition of biomass particles in a microwave plasma operating at atmospheric pressure conditions has been theoretically investigated. The set of equations, including thermal balance equations for the gas and biomass particles and kinetic rate balance equations for stable and intermediate components of biomass decomposition was solved for two different assumptions: thermal equilibrium and non‐equilibrium. The thermal equilibrium assumption is acceptable given the high temperature and high reaction rates achievable in the microwave plasma environment, and although it hides the evolution of the pyrolysis process, it allows the description of the detailed chemical composition of the stable pyrolysis by‐products (H2, CO, C2H2, and C [solid]).

Plasma technology for lignocellulosic biomass conversion toward an electrified biorefinery

“…, Ar and N 2 , heat transfer shall be adequately described to obtain mechanistic insights. 220 In reactive plasmas (H 2 ), the mechanism is way more complex arising from plasma-driven radical chemistry and heat transfer phenomena. When hydrogen is the plasma agent, high concentrations of hydrogen radicals generated in the plasma zone (reactions (16) and (17)) 188 enable hydrogen abstraction (dehydrogenation) reactions:e − + H 2 → H + H + e − e − + H 2 → H + H + + 2e − …”

Special issue on numerical modelling of low‐temperature plasmas for various applications — part II: Research papers on numerical modelling for various plasma applications

“…A related, environmental topic is the conversion of biomass, for which microwave plasmas can again be utilized. Tsyganov (Brest State Technical University) and colleagues from the University of Lisbon develop a model for the pyrolytic conversion of biomass in a microwave plasma operating at atmospheric pressure . The model includes the thermal balance equations for the gas and biomass particles and the kinetic rate balance equations for stable and intermediate compounds of biomass decomposition.…”