Plasma Jet CO2-to-CO Conversion with Product Gas Recycling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Plasma-based CO2-to-CO conversion technologies face limitations in conversion rate and energy efficiency, and lack effective methods for heat and oxygen recuperation, preventing their scalability to industrial applications.
Innovation Solution
A method and system utilizing plasma technology with carbon donor particles and recycling of the product gas without separation, allowing oxygen species to bind with carbon, thereby increasing conversion efficiency and preventing recombination, and using a carbon reaction chamber to enhance CO production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If plasma-based CO2-to-CO conversion is used, then CO production is achieved, but conversion rate and energy efficiency are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent recycles the product gas containing unreacted CO2 back to the plasma reactor inlet, recovering valuable CO2 that would otherwise be lost and enabling multiple conversion passes to improve overall productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback loop where product gas is analyzed and recycled back to the reactor, creating a closed-loop system that continuously optimizes conversion and prevents CO loss
2Loss of energy
If product gas is recycled without separation, then energy efficiency increases, but CO and CO2 mix and conversion rate decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary portion of CO2 needed for conversion while recycling the rest, separating the valuable CO product from unreacted CO2 to maintain high conversion rates while minimizing energy waste
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the composition parameters of the gas mixture by selectively removing CO and controlling CO2 levels, optimizing the balance between conversion rate and energy efficiency through parameter adjustment
3Quantity of substance
If gas phase separation is implemented, then CO and CO2 are separated, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the plasma process itself to achieve partial separation and concentration of CO, eliminating the need for complex external separation systems by leveraging the plasma reactions to naturally concentrate the desired product
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
The method significantly enhances CO2 conversion rates and energy efficiency by recycling the product gas through a plasma jet generator and carbon reaction chamber, achieving higher CO concentrations and reducing the need for gas phase separation.
Implementation Method 1
igniting a plasma in the process gas by the plasma jet generator, thereby obtaining a plasma jet comprising CO and oxygen species
Implementation Method 2
introducing the plasma jet into a carbon reaction chamber comprising carbon donor particles, thereby allowing oxygen species in the plasma jet to preferentially bind with carbon to form CO
Data Source
AI summary
The current invention relates to a method for producing CO from CO2, comprising the steps of: providing process gas comprising CO2, and optionally CO, to a plasma jet generator; igniting a plasma in the process gas by the plasma jet generator, thereby obtaining a plasma jet comprising CO and O species; introducing the plasma jet into a carbon reaction chamber; extracting product gas from the reaction chamber, said product gas comprising said CO and CO2 and recycling at least part of the product gas and providing said product gas comprising CO and CO2 to a plasma jet generator. The invention also relates to a system for converting CO2 to CO, comprising: a carbon reaction chamber and a plasma jet generator, wherein said gas outlet of the reaction chamber is in fluid communication with the process gas inlet of a plasma jet generator.