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Plasma Processes for Renewable Energy Technologies
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Plasma Processes for Renewable Energy Technologies

A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "D1: Advanced Energy Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2019) | Viewed by 32362

Printed Edition Available!
A printed edition of this Special Issue is available here.

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Masaaki Okubo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka Prefecture University, Sakai 599-8531, Japan
Interests: nonthermal plasma; plasma denitrification; electrostatic precipitator; gas–liquid interfacial plasma; carbon dioxide reduction; biomass combustion; emission control for diesel engine; plasma surface treatment

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The use of renewable energy is an effective solution for the prevention of global warming. On the other hand, environmental plasmas are one of powerful means to solve global environmental problems on nitrogen oxides, (NOx), sulfur oxides (SOx), particulate matter (PM), volatile organic compounds (VOC), and carbon dioxides (CO2) in the atmosphere. By combining both technologies, we can develop an extremely effective environmental improvement technology. Based on this background, a Special Issue of the journal Energies on plasma processes for renewable energy technologies is planned. On the issue, we focus on environment plasma technologies that can effectively utilize renewable electric energy sources, such as photovoltaic power generation, biofuel power generation, wind turbine power generation, etc. However, any latest research results on plasma environmental improvement processes are welcome for submission. We are looking, among others, for papers on the following technical subjects in which either plasma can use renewable energy sources or can be used for renewable energy technologies:

  • Plasma decomposition technology of harmful gases, such as the plasma denitrification method;
  • Plasma removal technology of harmful particles, such as electrostatic precipitation;
  • Plasma decomposition technology of harmful substances in liquid, such as gas–liquid interfacial plasma;
  • Plasma-enhanced flow induction and heat transfer enhancement technologies, such as ionic wind device and plasma actuator;
  • Plasma-enhanced combustion and fuel reforming;
  • Other environment plasma technologies.

Prof. Dr. Masaaki Okubo
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • nonthermal plasma
  • plasma denitrification
  • electrostatic precipitator
  • gas–liquid interfacial plasma
  • ionic wind
  • plasma actuator
  • plasma enhanced combustion
  • fuel reforming

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research

4 pages, 147 KiB  
Editorial
Special Issue on Plasma Processes for Renewable Energy Technologies
by Masaaki Okubo
Energies 2019, 12(23), 4416; https://doi.org/10.3390/en12234416 - 20 Nov 2019
Viewed by 1680
Abstract
The use of renewable energy is an effective solution to mitigate global warming [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plasma Processes for Renewable Energy Technologies)

Research

Jump to: Editorial

13 pages, 4775 KiB  
Article
High Reduction Efficiencies of Adsorbed NOx in Pilot-Scale Aftertreatment Using Nonthermal Plasma in Marine Diesel-Engine Exhaust Gas
by Takuya Kuwahara, Keiichiro Yoshida, Tomoyuki Kuroki, Kenichi Hanamoto, Kazutoshi Sato and Masaaki Okubo
Energies 2019, 12(19), 3800; https://doi.org/10.3390/en12193800 - 8 Oct 2019
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2923
Abstract
An efficient NOx reduction aftertreatment technology for a marine diesel engine that combines nonthermal plasma (NTP) and NOx adsorption/desorption is investigated. The aftertreatment technology can also treat particulate matter using a diesel particulate filter and regenerate it via NTP-induced ozone. In [...] Read more.
An efficient NOx reduction aftertreatment technology for a marine diesel engine that combines nonthermal plasma (NTP) and NOx adsorption/desorption is investigated. The aftertreatment technology can also treat particulate matter using a diesel particulate filter and regenerate it via NTP-induced ozone. In this study, the NOx reduction energy efficiency is investigated. The investigated marine diesel engine generates 1 MW of output power at 100% engine load. NOx reduction is performed by repeating adsorption/desorption processes with NOx adsorbents and NOx reduction using NTP. Considering practical use, experiments are performed for a larger number of cycles compared with our previous study; the amount of adsorbent used is 80 kg. The relationship between the mass of desorbed NOx and the energy efficiency of NOx reduction via NTP is established. This aftertreatment has a high reduction efficiency of 71% via NTP and a high energy efficiency of 115 g(NO2)/kWh for a discharge power of 12.0 kW. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plasma Processes for Renewable Energy Technologies)
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9 pages, 2398 KiB  
Article
Collection Characteristic of Nanoparticles Emitted from a Diesel Engine with Residual Fuel Oil and Light Fuel Oil in an Electrostatic Precipitator
by Akinori Zukeran, Hidetoshi Sawano and Koji Yasumoto
Energies 2019, 12(17), 3321; https://doi.org/10.3390/en12173321 - 28 Aug 2019
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2473
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the collection characteristics of nanoparticles emitted from a diesel engine in an electrostatic precipitator (ESP). The experimental system consisted of a diesel engine (400 cc) and an ESP; residual fuel oil and light fuel oil [...] Read more.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the collection characteristics of nanoparticles emitted from a diesel engine in an electrostatic precipitator (ESP). The experimental system consisted of a diesel engine (400 cc) and an ESP; residual fuel oil and light fuel oil were used for the engine. Although, the peak value of distribution decreased as the applied voltage increased due to the electrostatic precipitation effect, the particle concentration, at a size of approximately 20 nm, increased compared with that at 0 kV, in the exhaust gas, from the diesel engine with residual fuel oil. However, the efficiency increased by optimizing the applied voltage, and the total collection efficiency in the exhaust gas, using the residual fuel oil, was 91%. On the other hand, the particle concentration, for particle diameters smaller than 20 nm, did not increase in the exhaust gas from the engine with light fuel oil. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plasma Processes for Renewable Energy Technologies)
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14 pages, 4991 KiB  
Article
Fundamental Evaluation of Thermal Switch Based on Ionic Wind
by Keiichiro Yoshida
Energies 2019, 12(15), 2963; https://doi.org/10.3390/en12152963 - 1 Aug 2019
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2648
Abstract
A significant amount of thermal energy (mainly under 200 °C) is wasted in the world. To utilize the waste heat, efficient heat management and thermal switching is required. The basic characteristics of a thermal switch that controls the flow of heat by switching [...] Read more.
A significant amount of thermal energy (mainly under 200 °C) is wasted in the world. To utilize the waste heat, efficient heat management and thermal switching is required. The basic characteristics of a thermal switch that controls the flow of heat by switching on/off the ionic wind is discussed in this study. The study was conducted through experiments and numerical simulations. A heater made of aluminum block maintained at 100 °C was used as a heat source, and the rate of heat flow to a copper plate placed over it was measured. Ionic wind was induced by corona discharge with a needle placed on the heater. The ratio of heat transfer coefficients was obtained in the range of 3–4, with an energy efficiency of around 10. The heat flux at this condition was approximately 400 W/m2. The numerical simulations indicate that the heat transfer is enhanced by ionic winds, and the results were found to corroborate well with the experimental ones. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plasma Processes for Renewable Energy Technologies)
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11 pages, 4455 KiB  
Article
Development of an Electrostatic Precipitator with Porous Carbon Electrodes to Collect Carbon Particles
by Yoshihiro Kawada and Hirotaka Shimizu
Energies 2019, 12(14), 2805; https://doi.org/10.3390/en12142805 - 21 Jul 2019
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3712
Abstract
Exhaust gases from internal combustion engines contain fine carbon particles. If a biofuel is used as the engine fuel for low-carbon emission, the exhaust gas still contains numerous carbon particles. For example, the ceramic filters currently used in automobiles with diesel engines trap [...] Read more.
Exhaust gases from internal combustion engines contain fine carbon particles. If a biofuel is used as the engine fuel for low-carbon emission, the exhaust gas still contains numerous carbon particles. For example, the ceramic filters currently used in automobiles with diesel engines trap these carbon particles, which are then burned during the filter regeneration process, thus releasing additional CO2. Electrostatic precipitators are generally suitable to achieve low particle concentrations and large treatment quantities. However, low-resistivity particles, such as carbon particles, cause re-entrainment phenomena in electrostatic precipitators. In this study, we develop an electrostatic precipitator to collect fine carbon particles. Woodceramics were used for the grounded electrode in the precipitator to collect carbon particles on the carbon electrode. Woodceramics are eco-friendly materials, made from sawdust. The electrical resistivity and surface roughness of the woodceramics are varied by the firing temperature in the production process. Woodceramics electrodes feature higher resistivity and roughness as compared to stainless-steel electrodes. We evaluated the influence of woodceramics electrodes on the electric field formed by electrostatic precipitators and calculated the corresponding charge distribution. Furthermore, the particle-collection efficiency of the developed system was evaluated using an experimental apparatus. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plasma Processes for Renewable Energy Technologies)
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14 pages, 5645 KiB  
Article
Plasma–Chemical Hybrid NOx Removal in Flue Gas from Semiconductor Manufacturing Industries Using a Blade-Dielectric Barrier-Type Plasma Reactor
by Haruhiko Yamasaki, Yuki Koizumi, Tomoyuki Kuroki and Masaaki Okubo
Energies 2019, 12(14), 2717; https://doi.org/10.3390/en12142717 - 16 Jul 2019
Cited by 44 | Viewed by 4040
Abstract
NOx is emitted in the flue gas from semiconductor manufacturing plants as a byproduct of combustion for abatement of perfluorinated compounds. In order to treat NOx emission, a combined process consisting of a dry plasma process using nonthermal plasma and a [...] Read more.
NOx is emitted in the flue gas from semiconductor manufacturing plants as a byproduct of combustion for abatement of perfluorinated compounds. In order to treat NOx emission, a combined process consisting of a dry plasma process using nonthermal plasma and a wet chemical process using a wet scrubber is performed. For the dry plasma process, a dielectric barrier discharge plasma is applied using a blade-barrier electrode. Two oxidation methods, direct and indirect, are compared in terms of NO oxidation efficiency. For the wet chemical process, sodium sulfide (Na2S) is used as a reducing agent for the NO2. Experiments are conducted by varying the gas flow rate and input power to the plasma reactor, using NO diluted in air to a level of 300 ppm to simulate exhaust gas from semiconductor manufacturing. At flow rates of ≤5 L/min, the indirect oxidation method verified greater removal efficiency than the direct oxidation method, achieving a maximum NO conversion rate of 98% and a NOx removal rate of 83% at 29.4 kV and a flow rate of 3 L/min. These results demonstrate that the proposed combined process consisting of a dry plasma process and wet chemical process is promising for treating NOx emissions from the semiconductor manufacturing industry. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plasma Processes for Renewable Energy Technologies)
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13 pages, 2132 KiB  
Article
Gasification of Waste Cooking Oil to Syngas by Thermal Arc Plasma
by Andrius Tamošiūnas, Dovilė Gimžauskaitė, Mindaugas Aikas, Rolandas Uscila, Marius Praspaliauskas and Justas Eimontas
Energies 2019, 12(13), 2612; https://doi.org/10.3390/en12132612 - 7 Jul 2019
Cited by 22 | Viewed by 5136
Abstract
The depletion and usage of fossil fuels causes environmental issues and alternative fuels and technologies are urgently required. Therefore, thermal arc water vapor plasma for a fast and robust waste/biomass treatment is an alternative to the syngas method. Waste cooking oil (WCO) can [...] Read more.
The depletion and usage of fossil fuels causes environmental issues and alternative fuels and technologies are urgently required. Therefore, thermal arc water vapor plasma for a fast and robust waste/biomass treatment is an alternative to the syngas method. Waste cooking oil (WCO) can be used as an alternative potential feedstock for syngas production. The goal of this experimental study was to conduct experiments gasifying waste cooking oil to syngas. The WCO was characterized in order to examine its properties and composition in the conversion process. The WCO gasification system was quantified in terms of the produced gas concentration, the H2/CO ratio, the lower heating value (LHV), the carbon conversion efficiency (CCE), the energy conversion efficiency (ECE), the specific energy requirements (SER), and the tar content in the syngas. The best gasification process efficiency was obtained at the gasifying agent-to-feedstock (S/WCO) ratio of 2.33. At this ratio, the highest concentration of hydrogen and carbon monoxide, the H2/CO ratio, the LHV, the CCE, the ECE, the SER, and the tar content were 47.9%, 22.42%, 2.14, 12.7 MJ/Nm3, 41.3% 85.42%, 196.2 kJ/mol (or 1.8 kWh/kg), and 0.18 g/Nm3, respectively. As a general conclusion, it can be stated that the thermal arc-plasma method used in this study can be effectively used for waste cooking oil gasification to high quality syngas with a rather low content of tars. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plasma Processes for Renewable Energy Technologies)
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12 pages, 3585 KiB  
Article
Control Strategy for Power Conversion Systems in Plasma Generators with High Power Quality and Efficiency Considering Entire Load Conditions
by Hyo Min Ahn, Eunsu Jang, Seung-Hee Ryu, Chang Seob Lim and Byoung Kuk Lee
Energies 2019, 12(9), 1723; https://doi.org/10.3390/en12091723 - 7 May 2019
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3154
Abstract
In this paper, a control method for the power conversion system (PCS) of plasma generators connected with a plasma chamber has been presented. The PCS generates the plasma by applying a high magnitude and high frequency voltage to the injected gasses, in the [...] Read more.
In this paper, a control method for the power conversion system (PCS) of plasma generators connected with a plasma chamber has been presented. The PCS generates the plasma by applying a high magnitude and high frequency voltage to the injected gasses, in the chamber. With regards to the PCS, the injected gases in the chamber could be equivalent to the resistive impedance, and the equivalent impedance had a wide variable range, according to the gas pressure, amount of injected gases and the ignition state of gases in the chamber. In other words, the PCS for plasma generators should operate over a wide load range. Therefore, a control method of the PCS for plasma generators, has been proposed, to ensure stable and efficient operation in a wide load range. In addition, the validity of the proposed control method was verified by simulation and experimental results, based on an actual plasma chamber. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plasma Processes for Renewable Energy Technologies)
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16 pages, 7337 KiB  
Article
Experimental and Numerical Investigations of Plasma Ignition Characteristics in Gas Turbine Combustors
by Shizheng Liu, Ningbo Zhao, Jianguo Zhang, Jialong Yang, Zhiming Li and Hongtao Zheng
Energies 2019, 12(8), 1511; https://doi.org/10.3390/en12081511 - 22 Apr 2019
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 4653
Abstract
Reliable ignition is critical for improving the operating performance of modern combustor and gas turbines. As an alternative to the traditional spark discharge ignition, plasma assisted ignition has attracted more interest and been shown to be more effective in increasing ignition probability, accelerating [...] Read more.
Reliable ignition is critical for improving the operating performance of modern combustor and gas turbines. As an alternative to the traditional spark discharge ignition, plasma assisted ignition has attracted more interest and been shown to be more effective in increasing ignition probability, accelerating kernel growth, and decreasing ignition delay time. In this paper, the operating characteristic of a typical self-designed plasma ignition system is investigated. Based on the optical experiment, the plasma jet flow feature during discharge is analyzed. Then, a detailed numerical study is carried out to investigate the effects of different plasma parameters on ignition enhancement of a one can-annular combustor used in gas turbines. The results show that plasma indeed has a good ability to expand the ignition limit and decrease the minimum ignition energy. For the studied plasma ignitor, the initial discharge kernel is not a sphere but a jet flow cone with a length of about 30 mm. Besides, the numerical comparisons indicate that the additions of plasma active species and the increases of initial energy, plasma jet flow length and discharge frequency can benefit the acceleration of kernel growth and flame propagation via thermal, kinetic and transport pathways. The present study may provide a suitable understanding of plasma assisted ignition in gas turbines and a meaningful reference to develop high performance ignition systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plasma Processes for Renewable Energy Technologies)
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