Nitrogen Fixation by Gliding Arc Plasma: Better Insight by Chemical Kinetics Modelling

Weizong Wang; Bhaskar Patil; Stjin Heijkers; Volker Hessel; Annemie Bogaerts

doi:10.1002/cssc.201700095

journal article Apr 04, 2017

Nitrogen Fixation by Gliding Arc Plasma: Better Insight by Chemical Kinetics Modelling

Weizong Wang

Bhaskar Patil Stjin Heijkers Volker Hessel

Annemie Bogaerts

ChemSusChem Vol. 10 No. 10 pp. 2145-2157 · Wiley

View at Publisher Save 10.1002/cssc.201700095

Abstract

AbstractThe conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into valuable compounds, that is, so‐called nitrogen fixation, is gaining increased interest, owing to the essential role in the nitrogen cycle of the biosphere. Plasma technology, and more specifically gliding arc plasma, has great potential in this area, but little is known about the underlying mechanisms. Therefore, we developed a detailed chemical kinetics model for a pulsed‐power gliding‐arc reactor operating at atmospheric pressure for nitrogen oxide synthesis. Experiments are performed to validate the model and reasonable agreement is reached between the calculated and measured NO and NO2 yields and the corresponding energy efficiency for NOx formation for different N2/O2 ratios, indicating that the model can provide a realistic picture of the plasma chemistry. Therefore, we can use the model to investigate the reaction pathways for the formation and loss of NOx. The results indicate that vibrational excitation of N2 in the gliding arc contributes significantly to activating the N2 molecules, and leads to an energy efficient way of NOx production, compared to the thermal process. Based on the underlying chemistry, the model allows us to propose solutions on how to further improve the NOx formation by gliding arc technology. Although the energy efficiency of the gliding‐arc‐based nitrogen fixation process at the present stage is not comparable to the world‐scale Haber–Bosch process, we believe our study helps us to come up with more realistic scenarios of entering a cutting‐edge innovation in new business cases for the decentralised production of fertilisers for agriculture, in which low‐temperature plasma technology might play an important role.

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254

Citations

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References

Details

Published: Apr 04, 2017
Vol/Issue: 10(10)
Pages: 2145-2157
License: View

Authors

W

Weizong Wang

Department of Chemistry, research group PLASMANT University of Antwerp Universiteitsplein 1 2610 Antwerp Belgium

B

Bhaskar Patil

Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry Laboratory of Chemical Reactor Engineering/ Micro Flow Chemistry and Process Technology Eindhoven University of Technology P. O. Box 513 5600 MB Eindhoven The Netherlands

S

Stjin Heijkers

Department of Chemistry, research group PLASMANT University of Antwerp Universiteitsplein 1 2610 Antwerp Belgium

V

Volker Hessel

Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry Laboratory of Chemical Reactor Engineering/ Micro Flow Chemistry and Process Technology Eindhoven University of Technology P. O. Box 513 5600 MB Eindhoven The Netherlands

A

Annemie Bogaerts

Department of Chemistry, research group PLASMANT University of Antwerp Universiteitsplein 1 2610 Antwerp Belgium

Funding

European Community's Seventh Framework Program Award: CP-IP 309376

European Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowship Award: 657304

FWO project Award: G.0383.16N

Cite This Article

Weizong Wang, Bhaskar Patil, Stjin Heijkers, et al. (2017). Nitrogen Fixation by Gliding Arc Plasma: Better Insight by Chemical Kinetics Modelling. ChemSusChem, 10(10), 2145-2157. https://doi.org/10.1002/cssc.201700095

Nitrogen Fixation by Gliding Arc Plasma: Better Insight by Chemical Kinetics Modelling

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