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Project NTP

Project NTP. Van Ortega Cayetano Shama Karu Sean McKeown Themistoklis Zacharatos Advisor: Dr. Woo Lee Plasma Specialist: Dr. Kurt Becker. Powered by:. Why Fuel Cells?. Environmental Effects Reduction of automobile greenhouse gas emissions by 50% Cut down on smog and acid rain

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Project NTP

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  1. Project NTP Van Ortega Cayetano Shama Karu Sean McKeown Themistoklis Zacharatos Advisor: Dr. Woo Lee Plasma Specialist: Dr. Kurt Becker Powered by:

  2. Why Fuel Cells? • Environmental Effects • Reduction of automobile greenhouse gas emissions by 50% • Cut down on smog and acid rain • Reduce noise pollution • Social Ramifications • Reduction of energy imports • Lower energy costs • Applications • Batteries • Transportation • Power Plants

  3. Introduction to Plasma: • Plasmas are an equilibrium of ions and electrons within a confined space. • Different characteristics of plasmas are produced with various means of energy applications.

  4. Categories of Plasmas: Various plasmas: • Homogeneous Plasma • Arc Discharge (lightning) • Thermal Plasma • Non-Thermal Plasma (NTP) (fluorescent tubes) Few variations among plasmas: • Electron density • Thermal energy • Energy consumption

  5. Cause of Variations: • Pressure • Voltage • Material of electrodes • Type of gas • Means of plasma production (plasma source)

  6. Goals: • Obtain a clear understanding of plasma • Breakdown Methane at a lower temperature than the current conventional methods using NTP • Improve on previous year

  7. Production of Plasma: • A commonly used method of generating and sustaining NTP is through an electric field. • Two parallel electrodes are applied with voltage to form a capacitive discharge

  8. Breakdown of Methane: Methane steam reforming: CH4 + 2H2O CO2 + 4H2 CH4 + H2O CO+ 3H2 Temperature: 600–1300K with Ni/Ca/Carbon – based catalyst Methane plasma reforming: x CH4 + e- C2H2 + 3H2 + e- C2H4 + 2H2 + e- C2H6 + H2 + e- C2H2 + H2 + e- Temperature ~ 300KC2H4 + H2 + e-

  9. Plasma Reformation of Methane: • Reaction occurs largely by free radical pathways. • Endothermic reaction shows diminishing returns: high efficiency at low energies, but very little benefit at higher energy. • Several competing pathways for reaction (some with similar energies) means more analysis will be required. • Initiation: CH4 + e-CH3 · + H· + e- • Propagation:CH3· + CH4C2H6 + H· • H· + CH4CH3 · + H2 • Termination: H· + H· H2 • CH3·+ H·CH4 • CH3· + CH3·C2H6 Temperature ~ 300K Reference: Yu. Gerasimov, T.A. Graecheva, Yu. Lebedev:Chim. Vys. Energii, vol. 17, pp 270 (1983)

  10. The Plasma Reactor: Dielectric Barrier Discharge at/above Atmospheric Pressure Glass Pipette Gas Flow Anode Cathode Spectroscopy, Gas Chromatography Pure He or Ar He/N2 or Ar/N2 He/Ar + N2 + CH3OH Plasma Region AC HV + Network 1 kV, 50 W 250 kHz Reference: Prof. Becker

  11. Design Considerations: Explanation of previous design: • Constriction of gas flow through the plasma source. • The constriction can also take the form of a wide slit -- or a straight row of holes. Gas Flow Current designs are being modeled from this perspective.

  12. “Hourglass” Design Gas Flow • Constricts gas flow • Narrow space conducive for plasma discharge • Requires sealant for joints • Assembly needs stability (brace) • Requires interface with mass flow meter

  13. Multi-tube Design Quartz tubing Capillary tubes • Rigid • Narrow space necessary for plasma discharge • Requires interface with mass flow meter

  14. Current design focus: (Planar Design)

  15. Gas Chromatograph: • Problem • We are detecting 100-1000 ppm of hydrogen • Previous Column detected methane not H2 • Solution • New Column can detect in 100s of ppm of H2 • Gas sampler will prevent loss of material

  16. Schematic Diagram of Gas Flow: Plasma Source-Grad Mass Flow Controller NH3 Mass Flow Controller GC Ar CH4 Plasma Source-SD Mass Flow Controller

  17. Future Plasma Research: • Construct a new source • Experiment with ratio of methane to argon flow • Experiment with pressure and flow rate of gas mixture • Work with RF generator to optimize H2 output • Tune frequency • May not need carrier gas • Elemental analysis by Gas Chromatography (GC) • GC automation

  18. Gantt Chart:

  19. Expenses:

  20. Summary of Experimental Results with Cold Plasma: • Physics Department: • Experiments with He/Ar+N2+CH3OH • Gas temperature between 350 – 380 K range • Increase in CO, OH, and CH emissions, indicating a (partial) plasma-induced break-up of CH3OH • Very weak H emission • Needs improvement for controlling methanol content • May require more energetic electrons Reference: Prof. Becker • Summer CVD Lab experiment: • Total flow-rate of Ar/MeOH mixture was 151.8cc/min • Methanol concentration before entering plasma to be 1.29% • Conclusion: • GC detector not sensitive enough to detect such a small concentration • Agrees with experiments done by the Physics Department

  21. Flow-rate of pure Argon was 140cc/min Flow-rate of Ar/MeOH was 11.8cc/min Total flow-rate was 151.8cc/min Power in was approximately 150W Methanol concentration before entering plasma to be 1.29% Conclusion: GC detector not sensitive enough to pick up such a small concentration Agrees with experiments done by the Physics depart. Summary of Experiment Attempting to Crack Methanol from Pipette Design:

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