Alumina reduction by laser sustained plasma for aluminum-based renewable energy cycling

A novel alumina (Al2O3) reduction technique for a renewable energy cycling system based on aluminum is proposed. Al2O3 powder was fed into laser-sustained plasma and thermally dissociated. The produced Al was expanded to supersonic speeds through a nozzle. From the Al and argon line distributions in the flow direction, it was found that Al remained in the dissociated state. A water-cooled copper tube was inserted in the flow to collect Al. X-ray analysis indicated that elemental Al was observed on the surface of the tube. The maximum value of the estimated reduction efficiency was 5%.