Alexander V Surov

• PhD
• Head of Laboratory at Institute for Electrophysics and Electric Power RAS

The article considers the plasma pyrolysis of hydrocarbons by the high-voltage AC plasma torch. Calculations are given for various hydrocarbons and their mixtures, as well as experimental data on plasma pyrolysis of natural gas. The methane conversion in the experiment was from 76 to 86%, and the energy consumption was 20.6–23.3 kWh/kg of hydrogen.

The article discusses the production of calcium nitrate by the plasma method. A method is proposed that can be used in small-tonnage production of nitrogen mineral fertilizers. It is an alternative to the traditional Haber method, which has a number of significant drawbacks. The nitrogen oxides used were obtained using a high-voltage AC plasma torc...

A present work is focused on a numerical study of an air flow in the alternative current plasma torch. The developed model takes into account a molar composition of the air (N2, O2, N, O, NO) and chemical reactions between the neutral species. The simulations are carried out by the Comsol MultiphysicsR software for the simplified plasma torch geome...

The article is the continuation of the work devoted to the numerical study of processes in the single-phase ac plasma torch operating at low current (up to 10A RMS). The main attention is paid to the analysis of the flow pattern and the behavior of gasdynamic parameters. The effects of flow acceleration and rarefaction of near axial arc core are sh...

A numerical study of airflow in a single-phase ac plasma torch is presented. The values of electrical current being considered are up to 10-A rms, and the ac frequency is 50 Hz. The electric and gas-dynamic parameters of the plasma torch are efficiently simulated using the model based on the Navier-Stokes equations for compressible medium and the r...

Modelling of a single-phase two-channel AC plasma torch with a calculated power of 1.1 kW at a current value of 6 A is presented in the paper. A model of the plasma torch operation on argon at a flow rate of 0.69 g/s is considered. A 35-millisecond operation of the plasma torch has been simulated. The obtained temperature distributions and arc volt...

The article discusses a new method for producing synthesis gas using an ac electric arc. The relationship between the electrical parameters and the energy characteristics of the process was established: with an increase in carbon dioxide concentration in the electrode zone, the hydrogen concentration increases. This leads to an increase in the plas...

The article deals with the synthesis of fullerene-containing soot using high-voltage AC plasma torch. The plasma torch consists of three electric arc channels with three graphite rod electrodes. Orthoxylene vapors are fed into the arc zone of the plasma torch, and argon is used as a protective gas. In the plasma torch orthoxylene decomposes under t...

The article deals with a high-voltage three-phase AC plasma torch working as a part of a plasma-chemical facility. The plasma torch consists of three electric arc channels and three rod copper electrodes. The initial breakdown occurs with high voltage (10 kV) provided by a high voltage power supply. The electric arc plasma oxygen-free pyrolysis of...

The article considers a high-voltage AC plasma torch for air reforming of natural gas. It has two inputs of plasma-forming gases: the electrode zone (for shielding gas) and the arc zone (for the main plasma-forming gas). The voltage drop on the arc increases with increasing methane flow rate due to the formation of hydrogen and intensification of h...

Two computed models of an ac arc are considered in the paper. The burning of the arc in air is simulated between two electrodes, one of which is blown with gas. The simulation is performed using COMSOL Multiphysics software product. An incompressible flow is considered with default settings, when the density is constant and temperature-independent...

The article deals with plasma synthesis of aluminium oxide particles using a high-voltage alternating current plasma torch. Air plasma is generated between two annular copper electrodes. Behind the plasma torch there is a reaction volume, into which an aqueous solution of aluminium nitrate is fed. Under the influence of high temperature, nitrate de...

The article considers the high-voltage AC plasma torch working on a mixture of gaseous hydrocarbon (methane, propane-butane) and inert gases (argon). During the burning of the electric arc, methane is transformed into soot containing fullerenes. The composition of the soot was analyzed by optical UV-spectroscopy, IR-spectroscopy and X-ray phase ana...

The effect of energy deposition on the composition of the outlet mixture was studied in a plasmachemical reactor with barrier discharge. The composition of the conversion products was analyzed using a gas chromatograph and a quadrupole mass spectrometer. The process mainly occurred by the thermal mechanism of chain initiation and propagation. At an...

The decomposition of tetrachloromethane and tetrafluoromethane by air plasma in the presence of methane has been studied using an ac plasma torch of up to 500 kW power with rail electrodes. Methane reacts with air in the partial oxidation mode to form hydrogen, which reacts with a halogen to produce the hydrogen halide.

For the thermophysical calculation of the reactor, a mathematical model was developed in Comsol Multiphysics, describing physical processes in the plasma-chemical reactor at a stationary mode. To simplify the calculation at this stage, it was carried out for an air plasma torch. The model includes two processes: fluid dynamic and heat transfer ones...

Depending on the plasma-forming mixture, various types of electrode materials are used. If air, carbon dioxide and steam are used, it is optimal to use copper electrodes, since copper has a high thermal conductivity. Copper rod electrodes of an air AC plasma torch are considered. In the binding zone of the electric arc, the electrode material melts...

This paper presents the three-phase ac plasma torch with a vortex stabilization of the arc, and two inputs of plasma environments: the electrode zone and the arc zone. Shielding gas (carbon dioxide) is supplied in the electrode zone and steam, methane and vapor of chlorobenzene are fed in the arc zone. By means of it the life time of electrodes is...

The paper deals with a series of high-voltage AC plasma torches with power up to 500 kW with rod and hollow electrodes. The life time of continuous operation of electrodes reaches 1000 hours. The application of these plasma torches for air and steam-air reforming of methane is studied. The obtained results are compared with autothermal air reformin...

The products of the erosion of a hollow copper electrode of an ac plasmatron operating in air have been examined. It has been shown using elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, X-ray phase analysis, and differential thermal analysis that the main components of the erosion products are copper trihydroxide nitrate (II), copper oxide (II), copper oxide...

For the almost complete processing of organochlorine compounds are required a high temperature, hydrogen to produce hydrogen chloride and a high degree of mixing. Reforming chlorobenzene by steam and carbon dioxide in the presence of methane using a three-phase AC plasma torch was carried out. Soot composition was analyzed by energy dispersive X-ra...

The article deals with a three-phase high-voltage AC plasma torch with separate supply of gases and vapours during its operation on a mixture of steam, carbon dioxide, methane and organic vapours. Increase in flow rates of organic vapours and methane leads to increase in the arc voltage drop from 875 to 1150 V and electric power from 80 to 102 kW.

The most important unit of the plasma torch mainly subjected to the thermal load of the electric arc is electrode. Tungsten, hafnium, yttrium, aluminum, copper, iron and their alloys are used as electrode materials depending on the plasma-forming gas. Copper-based alloys can be rationally used for gases containing oxygen. The experiments were perfo...

Powerful AC plasma torches are in demand for a number of advanced plasma chemical applications, they can provide high enthalpy of the working gas. IEE RAS specialists have developed a number of models of stationary thermal plasma torches for continuous operation on air with the power from 5 to 500 kW, and on mixture of H2O, CO2 and CH4 up to 150 kW...

Many perhalogenated hydrocarbons (including carbon tetrafluoride and carbon tetrachloride) are limited in production, because they have negative impact on the environment. A number of plasma technologies for perhalogenated hydrocarbons processing is proposed in addition to chemical methods. Usage of thermal plasma of methane and steam may be effect...

The usage of plasma as a gasifying agent is efficient in waste to energy (WTE) gasification technologies. Over 20 years the IEE RAS conducted researches in the field of Electrophysics, studied the properties of electrical discharges in gases and liquids in a wide range of pressures. AC plasma torches with long life time (thousands of hours) working...

A promising method of methane conversion by thermal plasma is presented. It allows syngas production with a set H2/CO ratio of ∼2.1 and with a ∼95.2% H2 + CO content. In comparison with other plasma methods, it differs in its high methane conversion level (91–98.3%), low energy consumption (31.8–35.9 MJ/kg) of converted methane and high selectivity...

This paper presents results of investigations implemented during construction of the three-phase ac plasma torch working on a mixture of steam with carbon dioxide and methane (H2O/CO2/CH4) with power upto 120 kW. Such thermal plasma generators are needed in industrial technologies for methane reforming with the aim of producing the syngas comprisin...

Experimental setup and results of methane conversion in a steam-carbon dioxide plasma are briefly described. Mass-flow rate of CH4 was varied from 2.5 to 3.7 g/s while mass-flow rates of H2O of similar to 3 g/s and CO2 of similar to 3 g/s were maintained constant. The energy consumption was 29-42 MJ per 1 kg of CH4. The H-2/CO ratio in the produced...

Two methods of determining the arc currents in three-phase single-chamber alternating-current generators are presented. In the first method, the current traversing one of the electrode spacings in a three-phase network is disregarded. The second method is based on the consideration of the general mechanisms of the gas flows around arcs. In this met...

A review of existing plasma torches designed for steam plasma is presented in this paper. Together, they cover the following ranges of key technical parameters: efficiency from 51 to 95%, enthalpy of the plasma from 12 to 84 MJ/kg, and the fraction of the steam in the plasma forming gas from 17 to 100%. The advantages of alternating current to prod...

Research results are presented for an AC electric arc that burns a mixture of steam and air in a three-phase high-voltage plasma torch and can be implemented to produce plasma for plastic waste gasification. The dependences of electric parameters on the ratio of the steam to air mass flows (H2O/air ~1–6) at an approximately constant total mass flow...

The article is devoted to the calculation of gas dynamic parameters of gas flow in various areas of low-temperature plasma generator, therefore, target area's grid was built for the simulation of plasma gas flow in channels of studied high-voltage AC plasma torches and calculations of three-dimensional gas flow was made using GAMBIT and FLUENT soft...

The chapter is dedicated to a promising method of biomass treatment – plasma gasification. Increased temperatures and energy supply allows significantly in-crease the range of wastes and other carbonaceous materials which could be effi-ciently processed. Features of plasma usage in updraft and downdraft biomass gasification are described. Several p...

The paper deals with perspectives of large-scale implementation of the plasma gasification process of solid organic-containing substances as a source of renewable energy. First of all, such substances as wood waste, agriculture waste, solid household waste are considered. Thanks to the process of the plasma high-temperature gasification the energy...

The comparison of conductivity obtained in experiments with calculated values is made in this paper. Powerful stationary plasma torches with prolonged period of continuous work are popular for modern plasmachemical applications. The maximum electrode lifetime with the minimum erosion can be reached while working on rather low currents. Meanwhile it...

Stationary electric arc alternating current plasma torches are used today for realization of plasma chemical technologies requiring relatively high energy input. Waste treatment is one these directions. The paper reports on experiment results directed towards the increase in the lifetime characteristics of electrode units of the powerful high-volta...

The paper presents the results of experimental investigation of parameters of the three-phase high voltage alternating current plasma generator with power up to 100 kW operating on steam with gas protection of the electrodes. Researches were carried out over a range of arc current from 25 to 50 A and range of steam consumption of 3–5 g/s. Current-v...

Plasma furnace is intended for combustion and decontamination of solid toxic wastes with throughput up to 100 kg/h. It is a vertical cylindrical column (height is approximate to 3 m, internal diameter is approximate to 0.5 m) made of stainless steel. Its internal surface is made of fire brick. Three AC plasma generators with power of 30, 150, 150 k...

High-power electric-arc ac plasma generators find extensive application which is primarily associated with the problem of processing of organic waste and production of synthesis gas. The structure of a high-power single-chamber multiphase ac plasma generator with rail-type electrodes includes an injector of primary charge carriers which is a single...

The paper is concerned with the results of spectral and optical measurements of the plasma torch temperature of the experimental model of the single-phase high-voltage plasma generator of alternating current operating on air-steam mixture. The dependence of temperature in the torch of plasma generator versus the gas flow rate and relationship of ai...

Now the significant attention is given to development of devices for generation of thermal air plasma of atmospheric pressure with electron concentration more than 1012 cm-3 and gas temperature less than 2000 K. There are a lot of areas of this type of plasma applications, and every year their amount increases. Technologies on processing of organic...

This paper is dedicated to characteristic features of operation of the high-voltage plasma generator of alternating current with rod electrodes working on a steam-air mixture. Current-voltage and volt-consumption characteristics, characteristic oscillograms of work, and results of research of influence of relationship of steam and air on electric a...

At a modern level of industrial development the problem of waste processing has assumed a new significance. New laws and more strict standards are imposed every year in the majority of countries. Large industrial companies and municipal structures in this situation are forced to invest significant founds in waste destruction. Each year the creation...

The paper describes the results of spectral and optical measurements of power arc plasma generators of alternating current using air as a working gas. The dependence of temperature in the plasma generator flame on gas flow rate is investigated. The qualitative picture of behavior of an arc and plasma generator flame at different stages of the disch...

Alternating current plasma generators are of wide technological application.Now the problem of organic waste processing and synthesis-gas production using plasma technologies is world vital.The examined plasma generators are used in modern plasmachemical technological installations not only as independent devices,but also as current carrier injecto...

The stationary plasma generators of alternating current with rod electrodes and power from 5 kW up to 50 kW have been developed in IEE RAS.The generators are used in plasmachemical installations intended for various practical applications including waste destruction and processing with synthesis-gas production.These are single-phase and three-phase...

Summary form only given. The electrode units of high-voltage AC plasma generators with oxidizing plasma forming media (air) were investigated with aim to achieve the maximal time of their continuous work. It is very important parameter of plasma generators for using in different technological applications. The examined plasma generators of power ra...

Multiphase electric-arc ac plasma generators with a power of 10 to 500 kW are described, which are designed for use in plasma technologies. Results are given of the investigation of the characteristics of plasma generators for different operating modes, and the basic principles of operation of such plasma generators are described.

The subject of this paper is the design of two types of stationary multiphase ac plasma generators, developed for plasma chemical methods of waste destruction and processing (including syngas production). This paper presents plasma generators of average power (up to 50 kW) and high power (up to 500 kW) working on oxidizing media and describes the b...

Erosion of electrodes made of two-component material on the basis of copper with different content of iron and nickel is experimentally investigated. Erosion of the electrode material produced by alloy obtaining and powder processes has been determined. The experiments have been carried out in arc plasmatrons with capacity of no higher than 20 kW a...

12th International Congress on Plasma Physics, 25-29 October 2004, Nice (France)

This report describes the technology used for plasma-chemical disinfection of hazardous medical waste (HMW), which employs high-temperature mineralization. This method uses low-temperature plasma produced in a plasma generator as an additional source of heat energy. The method not only neutralizes medical waste, but it also reduces by 50-400 times...

Design, principle of operation, technical data, physical parameters and volt-ampere characteristics of multi-phase systems applied in the installations on destruction of hazardous waste, including medical ones, are shown by the example of three-phase AC plasma generator. It is described: operation peculiarities of the electrode system of multiphase...

There is waste (hazardous and toxic waste), which should not be mixed with industrial waste and garbage. It's formed in small proportion and should be processed or disposed according to special technologies. It includes radioactive waste, war waste (WTA, missile fuel, etc.) toxic and supertoxic industrial waste, hazardous and toxic medical waste. A...