Three-dimensional modelling of non-equilibrium Ar-CO₂ solar-enhanced microwave atmospheric plasma for CO₂ conversion

Abstract:

Solar-Enhanced Microwave Plasma (SEMP) carbon dioxide (CO₂) conversion has the potential to be a more economically-viable and environmentally-benign method for converting CO₂ to higher-value products. We present the computational modelling of an experimentally-characterized SEMP reactor operating with an Ar-CO₂ mixture at atmospheric pressure and with 700 W of microwave power and up to 525 W of solar power (incident concentrated solar radiation). The model comprises fully-coupled descriptions of electron transport, species conservation, fluid flow, heat transfer, electrostatics-microwave electromagnetic, and radiative transport phenomena. The model is implemented in a three-dimensional (3D) description of the reactor geometry, which has been demonstrated to be essential for the realistic depiction of microwave-plasma coupling. The simulation results show increased CO₂ conversion caused by the greater power density of the plasma due to the direct absorption of solar radiation.

Presentation Summary:



Solar-plasma carbon dioxide conversion exploits the combined use of concentrated solar radiation and electricity towards more sustainable and economically-viable processes. This talk presents recent progress in the understanding of CO₂ conversion in a Solar-Enhanced Microwave Plasma (SEMP) reactor via a self-consistent plasma flow model. The model encompasses a 3D description of the reactor to appropriately describe microwave-plasma coupling, together with a fully-coupled treatment of electron transport, Ar-CO₂plasma species conservation, fluid flow, heat transfer, electrostatics-microwave electromagnetic, and radiative transport phenomena. The simulation results reveal the mechanisms for enhanced CO₂ conversion by the incorporation of solar radiation in a microwave plasma.