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https://kaust.zoom.us/j/93855442761

Abstract

Plasma-assisted conversion is a sustainable alternative for converting greenhouse gases such as (CO₂) and methane (CH₄) into value-added chemicals and fuels. Employing an integrated experimental and computational framework, the research aims to unravel the complex interplay between electron-induced and thermal-driven reaction pathways in the plasma environments. In this approach, comprehensive reaction mechanisms were developed for CO₂ and CH₄ and employed in zero-dimensional simulations to investigate the influence of gas temperature and energy inputs in plasma environments. These reaction mechanisms were validated using a temperature-controlled dielectric barrier discharge (TCDBD) reactor coupled with diagnostic techniques such as gas chromatography (GC) and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy.

Three major studies emerged: temperature-dependent plasma kinetics of CO₂, temperature-dependent plasma kinetics of CH₄, and the transient dynamics of CH and CH₃ radicals in the presence of balance gases. The temperature-dependent studies offer key insights into the trends in conversion efficiencies as a function of gas temperature while uncovering subtle reaction pathways and key species. Additionally, the transient behavior analysis of CH and CH₃ radicals emphasize the significant influence of balance gases.

The integrated approach presented in this work advances the fundamental understanding of plasma chemistry for CO₂ and CH₄ conversion, delivering key insights to optimize plasma-based gas conversion technologies and to inspire future research directions.

Biography

Aswath Mohanan obtained his Bachelor’s in Technology (B.Tech) in Mechanical Engineering from University of Kerala (India) and his Master of Science in Engineering (MSE) degree in Aerospace Engineering from University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (USA). He joined the Plasma Assisted Combustion Laboratory at CERP in late 2020 as a PhD student in Mechanical Engineering in the PSE division. His current research focuses on plasma chemical kinetic modeling and reaction mechanism development supported by experiments using a dielectric barrier discharge reactor.