SMuK 2023 – scientific programme

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P: Fachverband Plasmaphysik

P 4: HEPP II

P 4.1: Talk

Monday, March 20, 2023, 16:30–16:55, CHE/0091

CO₂ dissociation using a microwave plasma torch - a study on industrially relevant parameters — •Christian Karl Kiefer¹, Rodrigo Antunes¹, Ante Hecimovic¹, Arne Meindl¹, and Ursel Fantz^1,2 — ¹Max-Planck-Institut für Plasmaphysik, 85748 Garching, Germany — ²University of Augsburg, 86159 Augsburg, Germany

Under laboratory conditions, microwave plasma torches are known to be an energetically highly efficient CO₂ conversion technology, for pressures ranging from 100 mbar up to atmospheric pressure. However, issues relevant for industrial application such as the wall-plug energy efficiency, including the energy consumption of peripheral equipment, the performance for impure CO₂ streams directly from carbon capture facilities and the stability at long-term operation are usually not addressed. To fill that gap, the wall-plug energy efficiency of a lab-scale microwave plasma torch was determined reaching values up to 17.9%, corresponding to an electrical power consumption of 19.6 kWh per produced Nm³ of carbon monoxide. The effect of Ar, N₂, O₂ and air admixture to the CO₂ feed gas stream was investigated. Experiments show that small amounts of nitrogen can even increase energy efficiency whereas the most detrimental effect on CO₂ dissociation was found for air admixture. Finally, a durability test over 29 h was performed, demonstrating that microwave plasma torch operation is very reproducible and stable in all figures of merit with short ramp-up times, making it a promising technology for intermittent operation.