Statistical Analysis of Ethane and Propane Production from Greenhouse Gases in a DBD Plasma Reactor Using a Response Surface Methodology.

Afzali, Mohammad Hossein; Azimi, Alireza; Mirzaei, Masoumeh; Kootenaei, Amir Hossein Shahbazi

In this study, a non-catalytic process of oxidative coupling of methane (CH4) and its conversion to ethane and propane in the presence of carbon dioxide (CO2) was statistically studied. Fifteen experiments were conducted under different conditions, including determination of the CH4/CO2 ratio (1.5‒3), the total feed flow rate (22.5‒80 mL/min), argon flow rate (50‒100 mL/min), and voltage (6‒11 kV) under atmospheric conditions. The statistical analysis of the experiments showed that the model applied for evaluating the percentage of CH4 conversion, Selective Internal Energy (SIE), and the reactor power was valid, and there was a good match between the experimental and predicted results. Based on the results, as the CH4/CO2 ratio increased, the selectivity of ethane and propane as well as the energy efficiency (EE) of a system increased, while CH4 conversion decreased. In addition, increase in the Ar flow rate caused an increase in the CH4 conversion and selectivity of ethane and propane. Moreover, CH4 conversion, power, ethane selectivity and SIE increased as the voltage increased, though EE and propane selectivity decreased. Finally, the total feed flow rate caused increase in the CH4 conversion and ethane selectivity, whereas propane selectivity and EE decreased.

ETHANES; RESPONSE surfaces (Statistics); PROPANE; GREENHOUSE gases; PLASMA gases; FUSION reactors; STATISTICS

Petroleum Chemistry, 2024, Vol 64, Issue 3, p421

0965-5441

Academic Journal

10.1134/S0965544124030101