Conversion of tar and CO2 by gliding arc plasma

• Grant number: 13/05092-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: April 01, 2013
• End date: March 31, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Aerospace Engineering
• Agreement: Vale-FAPEMIG-FAPESPA
• Principal Investigator: Gilberto Petraconi
• Grantee: Armando José Pinto
• Host Institution: Divisão de Ciências Fundamentais (IEF). Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica (ITA). Ministério da Defesa (Brasil). São José dos Campos , SP, Brazil
• Company: Ministério da Defesa (Brasil). Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica (ITA). Divisão de Ciências Fundamentais (IEF)

Abstract

The aim of this work is to study the mechanisms of conversion of tar and CO2 in the synthesis gas (SynGas, a mixture of mostly CO and H2) by gliding arc plasma at atmospheric pressure under different oxidizing media (steam, air and oxygen). The gases obtained will be analyzed by a mass spectrometer and gas analyzer. The active species in the plasma will be monitored and analyzed in situ by Optical Emission Spectroscopy (OES). The effects of operating parameters such as the discharge power and the flow rate of carrier gas (air, steam and oxygen) on the gas yields as well as on the emission intensities of the active species will be studied in order to obtain a correlation with the yields of main components in the gas products. Theoretical studies will be conducted about the kinetics of the decomposition of the tar and CO2 in the discharge by means of thermochemical modeling of the process. Based on the experimental and theoretical results, a possible mechanism of tar and CO2 decomposition in an oxidizing media under gilding arc plasma conditions will be proposed and discussed. This reactor, after optimization, will integrate a gasification system at the laboratorial scale for testing and possible innovations in gasification systems assisted by plasma. (AU)