Gliding Plasma Gas Conversion with Rotating Electrode
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional gas conversion apparatuses using gliding plasma have a limited plasma region, resulting in low gas conversion rates and difficulty in controlling the conversion process, with most material gas not reacting with plasma before discharge, and the conversion rate is not efficiently adjustable for different desired products.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus induces gliding plasma between the inner wall of a reaction chamber and an electrode member, with a magnetic field generating unit to rotate the plasma, forming a larger plasma region and allowing controlled contact time with the material gas, enhancing conversion efficiency and selectivity by adjusting the plasma's swirling speed and direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional gliding plasma apparatus uses fixed parallel electrode plates, then the structure is simple, but the plasma region is limited and gas conversion rate is low
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces a rotating electrode that can rotate around its axis, transforming the static plasma field into a dynamic one. This rotation creates a moving plasma region that continuously contacts the material gas, significantly increasing the effective plasma-gas interaction area and conversion rate without substantially complicating the apparatus structure
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a two-dimensional planar plasma field between parallel plates to a three-dimensional rotating plasma field. The electrode rotation adds a temporal and spatial dimension to the plasma-gas interaction, creating a cylindrical plasma region that encompasses a larger volume and provides multiple contact opportunities for the material gas
2Productivity
If material gas flows quickly through the plasma region, then residence time is short and conversion is incomplete, but slowing down gas flow reduces productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The rotating electrode creates a continuous moving plasma field that continuously interacts with the material gas throughout its rotation cycle. This ensures that gas molecules undergo prolonged exposure to plasma energy without requiring extended residence time, maintaining high conversion rates while preserving productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic rotation of the electrode creates time-varying plasma regions that sweep through the gas flow path multiple times. This dynamic interaction effectively increases the cumulative exposure time of gas molecules to plasma without requiring the gas to remain stationary or slow-moving in a single location
3Productivity
If plasma region is small, then the apparatus is compact, but most material gas does not react with plasma
Solution Approach 1:
The invention expands the plasma region from a confined two-dimensional area between parallel plates to a three-dimensional cylindrical volume created by the rotating electrode. This dimensional expansion dramatically increases the plasma-gas interaction volume and the probability of reaction without significantly increasing the apparatus footprint
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach significantly increases the gas conversion rate, achieving conversion rates over 75% and yields of acetylene greater than 35%, surpassing the performance of conventional methods, with improved control over the conversion process.
Implementation Method 1
a power source applying electricity to the reaction chamber and the electrode member for inducing plasma between an inner wall of the reaction chamber and the electrode member
Implementation Method 2
a magnetic field generating unit installed outside the reaction chamber to rotate the plasma induced inside the reaction chamber in a circumferential direction of the electrode member for forming a plasma region
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for converting gas using gliding plasma. The apparatus includes: a reaction chamber; an electrode member inside the reaction chamber and insulated from the reaction chamber; a power source applying electricity to the reaction chamber and the electrode member; a magnetic field generating unit installed outside the reaction chamber to rotate plasma induced inside the reaction chamber in a circumferential direction of the electrode member for forming a plasma region; and a gas supplying unit supplying material gas into the reaction chamber to allow the material gas to pass through the plasma region for converting the material gas into a different gas by energy received from the plasma. In the gas conversion apparatus, the plasma region can be widely formed in the reaction chamber to increase gas conversion rate.