Analysis of a 3-Phase AC Plasma system
Résumé
A 3-phase AC plasma reactor has been developed in the frame of researches on hydrocarbon cracking for the production of carbon black and hydrogen. A summary of the main characteristics of the reactor as well as the operating conditions and the possible applications of the process are given. The 3 - phase - 50 Hz AC current plasma generator induces a very particular arc motion which is analysed by high-speed cine-camera. This arc motion appears to be of major importance for the momentum and heat transfers inside the reactor. The influence of this phenomenon is included in a Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) model of the reactor by tilting the inlet velocity of the plasma gas in the outward direction. This simplified approach shows a good agreement with experimental temperatures and calorimetric measurements carried out on the reactor.