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ORGANIZER;CN=ESTAD 2023:mailto:info@metec-estad.com
LOCATION:Room 14a
SUMMARY:Hydrogen production by natural gas pyrolysis with thermal plasma:  An alternative approach of CO2-free hydrogen supply for the steel industry 
DESCRIPTION:Alternatives to fossil fuels are worth developing to shift to carbon-free iron making. Accordingly, replacing coal, coke and natural gas with H2 is the current trend. H2 is mainly produced through steam reforming and partial oxidation, which are not carbon neutral. A promising method to produce H2 is the decomposition or pyrolysis of natural gas using plasma technology. If the required energy for pyrolysis is provided from a renewable source, the CO2 footprint can be further minimized. Using thermal plasma pyrolysis in combination with hydrogen-based iron making in a fluidized bed can lead to an enormous decrease in CO2 emission. Thermal plasma converts electrical power to thermochemical energy and offers temperatures up to 10000 k. This temperature range requires no catalytic effect for the decomposition reaction to occur. The other advantages of plasma are the relatively small and simple technology, high-efficiency rate, low energy demands, and high grades of Carbon Black (CB) products besides the enriched H2 gas. CB, as a worthful byproduct, can be forwarded for applications in, e.g., the mobility, plastic, or agriculture industries.
The methane pyrolysis is tested on a laboratory scale using a DC-transferred plasma arc system with a maximum power of 8 kW, providing a voltage range of 20-100 V and a maximum current of 150 A. The arc is initiated between a hollow graphite cathode and the graphite pin anode. The plasma gas (2l/min Ar) and methane (1-1.5 l/min CH4) are introduced to the reaction zone through the cathode. The off-gas could flow out for further analysis, and the arc could be seen through the openings at the top. The results show a CH4 conversion rate of 50 to 95 % depending on the testing parameters. The produced carbon black is fluffy and fine with high purity. Its structure can be amorphous or turbo.
 
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DTSTART:20230615T090000
DTEND:20230615T092000
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