Novel and efficient microwave plasma furnace for processing and syngas production

兰开斯特化学工程博士项目使用微波等离子体炬气化有机废物，确定了大气压微波等离子体处理的规模扩大，实现了组件的高效率和寿命赠款（2009-2022）STG 008248/1和ST/P002056/1中，兰开斯特RF加速器工程师提出了一种解决方案，其允许等离子体在大直径无衬里镍钢管中撞击，其中壁损失大大减少，并且没有等离子体追踪回到发生器的趋势。随后的本科项目证明了原理。已经申请了专利。创新是使用模式转换器来产生低损耗的横向电模式，其中电场平行于壁。这允许在波导中形成非辐射切口，其允许壁找到它们自己的电势，限制电子扩散到壁。切割也阻止了等离子体跟踪回到发生器。充满能量的等离子体的最初实验工作最初并不是作为本科项目的一部分计划的，该项目是开发模式转换器并进行冷测试。由于模式转换器工作良好，我们借用设备进行热测试。可用的测试时间只有几个小时，并且由于差距的微波扼流圈尚未开发，因此认为微波泄漏水平应终止实验。等离子体运行了大约30分钟，非常稳定，等离子体容器的裸露铝壁没有变得过热，表明壁的损耗很低。在这个项目中，我们计划首先完成扼流圈的开发，这样等离子体就可以在没有微波泄漏的情况下运行。然后，我们将对等离子体进行处理，并了解如何将其用于加工一系列原料。工业公司将被挑选谁可能想要使用这项技术，并将被邀请提交样品进行调查。目标可能是气化、废物销毁、等离子体合成或表面改性。废物气化可能是实现温室气体净零排放的一项重要技术。我们相信，微波等离子气化技术对某些有毒废物流具有优势。优化工作也将进行。

ssues with the scale up of atmospheric pressure Microwave (MW) Plasma Processing, achieving high efficiencies and longevity of components, was identified by a Lancaster Chemical Engineering PhD project using MW plasma torches for the gasification of organic waste.Inspired by STFC funded research, principally Cockcroft Institute grants (2009-2022) STG008248/1 and ST/P002056/1, a solution was proposed by the Lancaster RF accelerator engineers allowing plasmas to be struck in large diameter unlined Nickel steel pipes with greatly reduced wall losses and no tendency for the plasma to track back to the generator. Proof of principle was demonstrated by a subsequent undergraduate project. A patent application has been made. The innovation is to use a mode converter to generate a low loss transverse electric mode where the electric field is parallel to the walls. This allows a non radiating cut to be made in the waveguide that allows the walls to find their own potential limiting electron diffusion to the walls. The cut also stops the plasma tracking back to the generator.The initial experimental work with a fully energised plasma, was not initially planned as part of the undergraduate project, the project was to develop the mode converter and undertake cold testing. As the mode converter worked perfectly, we borrowed equipment to undertake a hot test. The available test time was only a few hours and as the microwave choke for the gap has not been developed, it was deemed that the level of microwave leakage was such that the experiment should be terminated. The plasma was run for about 30 minutes, it was very stable and the bare aluminium walls for the plasma vessel did not become excessively hot indicating low losses to the walls.In this project we plan initially to complete the development of the choke so the plasma can be run without microwave leakage. We will then characterise the plasma and understand how it can be used to process a range of feedstocks. Industrial companies will be sort who may want to use the technology and will be invited to submit samples for investigation. The aims might be for gasification, waste destruction, plasma synthesis or surface modification. Gasification of waste is likely to be an important technology targeting net zero greenhouse gas emission. We believe that microwave plasma gasification offers an advantage for certain toxic waste streams.Optimisation work will also be undertaken.