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Title: Specific energy cost for nitrogen fixation as NO x using DC glow discharge in air

Abstract

Abstract We report on factors influencing the specific energy costs of producing NO x from pin-to-pin DC glow discharges in air at atmospheric pressure. Discharge current, gap distance, gas flowrate, exterior tube wall temperature and the presence and position of activated Al 2 O 3 catalyst powder were examined. The presence of heated catalyst adjacent to the plasma zone improved energy efficiency by as much as 20% at low flows, but the most energy efficient conditions were found at the highest flowrates that allowed a stable discharge (about 10–15 l min −1 ). Under these conditions, the catalyst had no effect on efficiency in the present study. The lowest specific energy cost was observed to be between about 200–250 GJ/tN. The transport of active chemical species and energy are likely key factors controlling the specific energy costs of NO x production in the presence of a catalyst. Air plasma device design and operating conditions must ensure that plasma-generated active intermediate chemical species transport is optimally coupled with catalytically active surfaces.

Authors:
ORCiD logo; ORCiD logo; ORCiD logo
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Northern Illinois Univ., DeKalb, IL (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), High Energy Physics (HEP)
OSTI Identifier:
1573854
Alternate Identifier(s):
OSTI ID: 1801513
Grant/Contract Number:  
SC0001934
Resource Type:
Published Article
Journal Name:
Journal of Physics. D, Applied Physics
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Name: Journal of Physics. D, Applied Physics Journal Volume: 53 Journal Issue: 4; Journal ID: ISSN 0022-3727
Publisher:
IOP Publishing
Country of Publication:
United Kingdom
Language:
English
Subject:
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY

Citation Formats

Pei, Xuekai, Gidon, Dogan, and Graves, David B. Specific energy cost for nitrogen fixation as NO x using DC glow discharge in air. United Kingdom: N. p., 2019. Web. doi:10.1088/1361-6463/ab5095.
Pei, Xuekai, Gidon, Dogan, & Graves, David B. Specific energy cost for nitrogen fixation as NO x using DC glow discharge in air. United Kingdom. https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6463/ab5095
Pei, Xuekai, Gidon, Dogan, and Graves, David B. Mon . "Specific energy cost for nitrogen fixation as NO x using DC glow discharge in air". United Kingdom. https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6463/ab5095.
@article{osti_1573854,
title = {Specific energy cost for nitrogen fixation as NO x using DC glow discharge in air},
author = {Pei, Xuekai and Gidon, Dogan and Graves, David B.},
abstractNote = {Abstract We report on factors influencing the specific energy costs of producing NO x from pin-to-pin DC glow discharges in air at atmospheric pressure. Discharge current, gap distance, gas flowrate, exterior tube wall temperature and the presence and position of activated Al 2 O 3 catalyst powder were examined. The presence of heated catalyst adjacent to the plasma zone improved energy efficiency by as much as 20% at low flows, but the most energy efficient conditions were found at the highest flowrates that allowed a stable discharge (about 10–15 l min −1 ). Under these conditions, the catalyst had no effect on efficiency in the present study. The lowest specific energy cost was observed to be between about 200–250 GJ/tN. The transport of active chemical species and energy are likely key factors controlling the specific energy costs of NO x production in the presence of a catalyst. Air plasma device design and operating conditions must ensure that plasma-generated active intermediate chemical species transport is optimally coupled with catalytically active surfaces.},
doi = {10.1088/1361-6463/ab5095},
journal = {Journal of Physics. D, Applied Physics},
number = 4,
volume = 53,
place = {United Kingdom},
year = {Mon Nov 11 00:00:00 EST 2019},
month = {Mon Nov 11 00:00:00 EST 2019}
}

Journal Article:
Free Publicly Available Full Text
Publisher's Version of Record
https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6463/ab5095

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Cited by: 37 works
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