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Thermal plasma system for innovative materials processing

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Abstract

Thermal plasma is expected to be used for many innovative industrial applications, including decomposition of hazardous materials, recovery of valuable materials from waste, and synthesis of high-quality and high-performance nanoparticles. The advantages of thermal plasma, such as high enthalpy that increases reaction rates, high chemical reactivity, and ability to create oxidizing or reducing atmospheres depending on the required chemical reaction, are beneficial for innovative processing. A great deal of experimental and modeling works on thermal plasma properties have been devoted to industrial applications. However, despite these efforts, thermal plasma properties remain to be elucidated. First, a general introduction to thermal plasmas and their properties has been given in Sect. 2, focusing particularly this section focuses on the multiphase AC arc as one of the most attractive thermal plasmas due to its advantages such as large plasma volume and low gas velocity, which are beneficial for material processing. It also has the advantages of more energy efficienct and cost-effective than other thermal plasmas. Section 3 deals with nanoparticle synthesis. In the field of thermal plasma materials synthesis, the formation of nanoparticles is one of the most interesting processes. Section 4 focuses on waste reduction with water plasma. In the field of environmental applications, the water plasma enhances oxidation with active species such as O and OH radicals. This results in more efficient waste decomposition and inhibits the formation of unwanted by-products. Finally, in Sect. 5, hydrogen production by thermal plasmas was reviewed. Thermal plasmas are receiving increasing attention as a potential technology for hydrogen production. Thermal plasma technology can be used to produce hydrogen from a variety of feedstocks. This review discusses thermal plasma processing based on plasma characterization.

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Data availability

Data are available on request from authors.

Abbreviations

A :

Transition probability [s−1]

A c :

Empirical constant of Richardson–Dushman equation [A K2 m−2]

B :

Magnetic field [T]

C a :

First radiation constant [W m2]

C b :

Second radiation constant [m K]

C p :

Specific heat at constant pressure [J kg−1 K−1]

c :

Light speed [m s−1]

D :

Diffusion coefficient [m2 s−1]

E :

Electric field [V m−1]

E eh :

Energy exchange between electron and heavy particle [W m−3]

E p :

Excitation energy [eV]

e :

Electric charge [C]

f :

Frequency [s−1]

g p :

Statistical weight [–]

h :

Enthalpy [J kg−1]

h p :

Planck constant [J s]

I :

Emission intensity [W m−3 sr−1]

J :

Current density [A m−2]

J :

Homogeneous nucleation rate [m−3 s−1]

K :

Equilibrium constant [m−3]

k:

Boltzmann constant [J K−1]

m j :

Mass of jth species [kg]

n :

Number density [m−3]

n s :

Equilibrium saturation monomer concentrations [m−3]

p :

Pressure [Pa]

q r :

Radiative intensity [W m−3]

ΔQ l :

Reaction heat due to reaction l [W m−3]

r :

Radial position [m]

S :

Saturation ratio between partial and saturation vapor pressure [–]

s 1 :

Monomer surface area [m2]

T :

Temperature [K]

t :

Time [s]

U :

Partition function [–]

U e :

Molecule average velocity [m s−1]

u :

Velocity [m s−1]

u e :

Drift velocity [m s−1]

Y :

Mass fraction

β :

Collision frequency [s−1]

δ s :

Skin depth [m]

δ D :

Degree of chemical non-equilibrium due to dissociation [–]

δ I :

Degree of chemical non-equilibrium due to ionization [–]

ε :

Emissivity [–]

Τ :

Mass flux of electrons due to diffusion [kg m−2 s−1]

ϕ c :

Work function [eV]

λ :

Thermal conductivity [W m−1 K−1]

λ tr :

Translational thermal conductivity [W m−1 K−1]

λ L :

Mean free path [m]

λ I :

Wavelength [m]

μ 0 :

Magnetic permeability [T2 J−1 m3]

ν:

Collision frequency [s−1]

ρ :

Density: [kg m−3]

θ :

Dimensionless surface tension [–]

σ :

Electrical conductivity [A V−1 m−1]

σ s :

Surface tension [N m−1]

τ :

Stress tensor [Pa]

τ e :

Time between a collision [s]

Ω ij :

Collision integrals between species i and j [m2]

ξ :

Vacuum magnetic permeability [T2 J−1 m3]

C:

Cathode

i, j :

Chemical species

e:

Electron

h:

Heavy particle

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan

    Takayuki Watanabe

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  1. Takayuki Watanabe
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Correspondence to Takayuki Watanabe.

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Watanabe, T. Thermal plasma system for innovative materials processing. Rev. Mod. Plasma Phys. 9, 21 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41614-025-00196-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41614-025-00196-5

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