Multi-gas AC plasma torches for gasification of organic substances

[Display omitted] •5–500kW AC plasma torches for plasma chemical technologies are developed.•Air plasma gasification of coal, wood and RDF gives 43–55% of H2+CO in product gas.•Steam in the mix with other gases is using as plasma forming media in plasma torch.•Conversion is ∼99%, selectivity is ∼98%, during steam-CO2 plasma reforming of CH4. The usage of plasma as a gasifying agent is efficient in waste to energy (WTE) gasification technologies. Over 20years 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 on air, mixtures of steam, air, CO2 and CH4 have been developed. The power of these devices varies widely from 5 to 500kW and the thermal efficiency is 90–95%. Experimental results of wood, coal and refuse derived fuel (RDF) air plasma gasification are presented. The content of H2+CO is 43–55%vol., lower heating value (LHV) of product gas up to 6.61MJ/m3 when the specific energy consumption is 1.4–2.5MJ/kg of raw material. Methane reforming with usage of multi-gas plasma torch allows production of synthesis gas with H2 and CO selectivity up to 98%, methane conversion ∼99% and yield of soot is no more than 125mg/Nm3.