Three Stages Modeling of n-Octane Reforming Assisted by a Nonthermal Arc Discharge

Abstract

International audienceThis paper presents a simplified one-dimensional kinetic model (phenomenological approach) of a nonthermal are discharge plasma reactor used for n-octane reforming. After a description of the model and its main assumptions, a parametric analysis of plasma reformer performance addressing the influence of plasma volume, H2O/C ratio, O/C ratio, and input electric power is presented. Results focusing on energy efficiency and conversion rate, including comparison with experimental gasoline reforming data, are analyzed and discussed. The parametric study has provided an optimum for actual plasma reformer, H2O/C = 0, O/C = 1.1, and input electric power between 20 and 25% LHV. The model shows that nonequilibrium chemistry is produced via fast mixing of arc plasma jet and reactants to quench radicals and other active species generated in the high-temperature region

Exhaust Gas Fuel Reforming of Diesel Fuel by Nonthermal Arc Discharge for NOx Trap Regeneration Application

“…The exhaust gas Diesel fuel reforming has also been simulated with a 1D kinetic model previously developed for gasoline reforming 31 . The model has been adapted for NOx trap regeneration application.…”

“…This 1D multistage model, presented on figure 3, has been detailed in ref. 31. This model is based on the following assumptions: (i) the medium is adiabatic, (ii) only a fraction of reactants' inlet flow passes through the arc discharge, the remaining fraction passes near the arc and there is no mass transfer between the arc and the cold zone around the arc inside the reactor, (iii) these two fractions; i.e.…”

Three-Dimensional Unsteady MHD Modeling of a Low-Current High-Voltage Nontransferred DC Plasma Torch Operating With Air

“…The high degree of non-equilibrium of this torch is promising for chemical applications to support chemical reactions selectively [26], but suffer from a lack of knowledge of its physics and chemistry. Our researches led to the development of basic knowledge on both experimental [27], [28] and numerical [29], [30] sides. Unfortunately, whereas many studies have been dedicated to high current plasma discharges, the literature on MHD modeling of low current -high voltage plasma torches is very poor and the domain remains almost unexplored.…”

Applying chemical engineering concepts to non-thermal plasma reactors

“…According to the 2017 Plasma Roadmap [1], 'process selectivity, conversion and/or energy efficiency are still not sufficient to justify the large-scale use of non-thermal plasmas' for many environmental applications. Examples of such applications include the conversion of CO 2 [2][3][4][5], the production of syngas or hydrogen [6][7][8][9], liquid fuels [10][11][12], ozone [13][14][15] or the removal of volatile organic compounds or other pollutants from air streams [16][17][18][19][20][21]. These applications usually involve the use of a plasma reactor where both desired and undesired reactions may take place during or following a non-equilibrium electric discharge, eventually with the help of a catalyst.…”