title: Nitrogen Fixation by Gliding Arc Plasma: Better Insight by Chemical Kinetics Modelling.
abstract: The conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into valuable compounds, that is, so-called nitrogen fixation, is gaining increased interest, owing to the essential role in the nitrogen cycle of the biosphere. Plasma technology, and more specifically gliding arc plasma, has great potential in this area, but little is known about the underlying mechanisms. Therefore, we developed a detailed chemical kinetics model for a pulsed-power gliding-arc reactor operating at atmospheric pressure for nitrogen oxide synthesis. Experiments are performed to validate the model and reasonable agreement is reached between the calculated and measured NO and NO2yields and the corresponding energy efficiency for NOxformation for different N2/O2ratios, indicating that the model can provide a realistic picture of the plasma chemistry. Therefore, we can use the model to investigate the reaction pathways for the formation and loss of NOx. The results indicate that vibrational excitation of N2in the gliding arc contributes significantly to activating the N2molecules, and leads to an energy efficient way of NOxproduction, compared to the thermal process. Based on the underlying chemistry, the model allows us to propose solutions on how to further improve the NOxformation by gliding arc technology. Although the energy efficiency of the gliding-arc-based nitrogen fixation process at the present stage is not comparable to the world-scale Haber-Bosch process, we believe our study helps us to come up with more realistic scenarios of entering a cutting-edge innovation in new business cases for the decentralised production of fertilisers for agriculture, in which low-temperature plasma technology might play an important role.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, research group PLASMANT, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Weizong
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-6022-1441
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Laboratory of Chemical Reactor Engineering/, Micro Flow Chemistry and Process Technology, Eindhoven University of Technology, P. O. Box 513, 5600 MB, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Bhaskar
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Patil
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, research group PLASMANT, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Stjin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Heijkers
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Laboratory of Chemical Reactor Engineering/, Micro Flow Chemistry and Process Technology, Eindhoven University of Technology, P. O. Box 513, 5600 MB, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Volker
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hessel
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, research group PLASMANT, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Annemie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bogaerts
mesh_terms: D007700:Kinetics; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009586:Nitrogen Fixation
keywords: energy efficiency; gliding arc; nitrogen fixation; nitrogen oxide; plasma chemistry