Behavior of Plasma and Particles in a Spouted Bed Plasma Reactor

Abstract

Particle fluidization by a plasma jet using polypropylene particles was examined in order to understand the plasma behavior and particle behavior in a spouted bed plasma reactor. In the experiment, a two-dimensional spouted bed plasma reactor was used to evaluate the effects of plasma and fluidization conditions such as applied voltage, gas flow rate, and amount of filling particles on the plasma brightness and particle velocity in the plasma reactor. The effect of applied voltage on plasma brightness and apparent gas flow rate was also evaluated using a one-dimensional tube plasma reactor. It was clarified that the plasma brightness and the particle behavior in the spouted bed varied greatly depending on the plasma and fluidization conditions. When the applied voltage was higher than 5 kV, the plasma brightness increased proportionally regardless of the presence or absence of particles. However, further increase of the plasma brightness was observed when the particles were fluidized in the spouted bed. The plasma brightness varied greatly depending on the fluidization state and amount of packed particles, and the plasma brightness in the bed increased significantly at the minimum spouting velocity (U_ms). On the other hand, the fluidization state in the bed was greatly changed by the plasma jet, the pressure loss in the bed was decreased, and the Ums was decreased due to the plasma jet. The experiment with the one-dimensional tube plasma reactor suggested that the increase of the apparent gas flow rate due to the plasmaization of Ar gas is one reason for the decrease of U_ms in the spouted bed.