Microwave induced plasma for solid fuels and waste processing: A review on affecting factors and performance criteria

Area of Science:

• Plasma Science and Engineering
• Chemical Engineering
• Environmental Science

Background:

• High-temperature thermal plasma gasification is energy-intensive.
• Non-thermal plasma, specifically microwave plasma, presents a lower-energy alternative.
• Microwave-induced plasma gasification offers advantages like simplicity, compactness, and atmospheric pressure operation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize current knowledge on microwave plasma gasification of solid fuels and waste.
• To review the effects of various operating parameters on gasification performance.
• To identify key factors influencing the efficiency of this process.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on microwave plasma gasification.
• Analysis of operating parameters including fuel characteristics, injection position, microwave power, steam addition, oxygen/fuel ratio, and plasma working gas flow rate.
• Evaluation of performance criteria such as syngas composition, efficiency, carbon conversion, and hydrogen production.

Main Results:

• Fuel retention time significantly impacts gasification performance.
• Other parameters like microwave power and steam addition also influence syngas output.
• The review details the effects of multiple parameters on efficiency and conversion.

Conclusions:

• Fuel retention time is the most critical parameter for optimizing microwave plasma gasification.
• Further research should focus on controlling and enhancing fuel retention time.
• Improving retention time is essential for advancing microwave plasma gasification technology for solid waste and fuels.