Removal of biomass tar model compound using reverse vortex flow gliding arc discharge

Abstract

© 2019, © 2019 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. Removal of tar derived from biomass gasification using plasma discharge was of great interest. In this work, treatment of biomass tar using a high flow rate, reverse vortex flow gliding arc discharge (RVF-GA) was investigated. Naphthalene was used as a light tar model compound. Investigation was carried out at different inlet tar concentrations, total gas feed rates, and applied energy inputs. The naphthalene concentrations considered were low (≈ 610 mg/m3), moderate (≈ 4,330 mg/m3) and high concentration (≈ 10,330 mg/m3). It was demonstrated that the RVF-GA reactor performed well in removal of tar at high flow rates. The removal efficiency in the range of 75–95%, the specific energy input in the range of 0.11–0.33 kWh/m3 and the energy utilization in the range of 1.4–112 g/kWh could be achieved. The plasma assisted decomposition of naphthalene was found to increase with the applied electrical energyinput.