NT (non-thermal) Plasmatron Gasifier
First Prototype of the NT Plasmatron
The NT Plasmatron gasifies hydrocarbons and produces synthesis gas (CO and H2) using W2 Energy’s patented low temperature plasma technology.
The reduced operating temperature means that the NT Plasmatron can effectively gasify waste while consuming much less electricity. This is a major breakthrough that can allow the gasification plant to operate at a net profit.
The reactor accomplishes this by creating the plasma field using electricity, and is therefore able to operate at between 700 and 800 degrees Celsius, rather than the 6000 to 8000 degrees of thermal plasma torch systems.
The gasification process consists of two major stages: exothermic stage of combustion and slow endothermic stage of interaction of CO2 and H2O with gaseous hydrocarbons.
The plasma is created by the following way: High voltage from the power supply is applied between two electrodes. This voltage should be high enough (about 3 kV/mm for atmospheric pressure air at room temperature) to initiate breakdown in the smallest gap between the electrodes.Initial reagents for the process are gaseous oxidant (for example air or oxygen) and dispersed solid hydrocarbons (for example, coal powder.
- Gaseous products of the first stage (hydrocarbons, CO, CO2 and H2O) come to the central part of the reactor where the second stage of the process takes place with the help of plasma catalysis.
- Products of the secondary stage (synthesis gas, mixture of H2 and CO, and N2 in the case of using air as an oxidant) partially mix with incoming gas accelerating the total process (partial product recirculation). Major flow of the gaseous products is directed to the exhaust opening in the reactor lid, and then comes to the filter, where flying ash is separated. Then clean synthesis gas comes to the heat exchanger(s) where gives its thermal energy to the incoming gas.
- Cooled synthesis gas is a major product of the process and can be used as a gaseous fuel or as a feedstock for organic synthesis (for example, of liquid fuels using the Fischer-Tropsch process).