APPLICATIONS OF PLASMA TECHNOLOGY IN ENERGY SECTOR

Year 2017, Volume: 3 Issue: 1, 18 - 44, 30.06.2017

Özge Yazıcıoğlu , T.yaşar Katırcıoğlu

Abstract

Today, the use of plasma technology in production of
energy from waste, biomass and coal has become quite widespread in the world
due to the unique and outstanding features of plasma. Experimental and
theoretical studies have shown that plasma based system in energy production is
a promising alternative to classical system in terms of efficiency, environmental
and economic aspects. Plasma assisted combustion, gasification and pyrolysis
are different methods used in energy production. Considering the plasma
technology applications in energy sector, it is widely used in developed
countries like Europe and USA for the energy production from the waste and
biomass, but plasma is generally preferred in eastern countries like China,
Kazakhstan and Russia for plasma coal gasification and plasma assisted coal
burning at thermal plant. Different plasma torch systems (AC, DC and RF) used
in these applications are seen in the literature. This paper gives an overview
on plasma technologies in energy production from different energy sources
(waste, biomass, coal) by different techniques such as combustion, gasification
and pyrolysis. In comparison of AC, DC and RF plasma torches in the scientific
literature, it has been considered that AC plasma torch is a prominent
technology due to some advantages especially in high power as megawatt levels.
Lastly, economic assessment is presented and estimated budget for system
installation is given for different systems. Although the technology readiness
level of the plasma technologies has a level of maturity (over 6) in our
facilities at AR&TeCS (ARTECS Inc., Ankara University Technopolis, Gölbaşı,
Ankara), the application on the different type of waste management or plasma
assisted coal burning/gasification needs some additional R&D activities
especially in simulation and modelling for obtaining optimum conditions,
process development and controlling of gasification/combustion process.
Finally, some technical experience from the high-power alternating current (AC)
plasma system established at AR&TeCS is shared.

Keywords

Plasmatron, High power, Alternative Current, AC, Coal, Biomass, Waste

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