The invention discloses a method about the integration of the metallurgical purification of metallic gadolinium and the preparation of gadolinium oxide nanoparticles (GONPs) by arc plasma. The method includes the metallurgical purification and the nanoparticle preparation. Firstly, the gadolinium ingot and a tungsten rod respectively act as an anode and a cathode. After the arc furnace is evacuated and then is filled with a working atmosphere, impurities in the gadolinium ingot are removed in the form of volatilization to obtain purified gadolinium by the first arc discharge. Whereafter, the purified gadolinium and the tungsten rod are used as the anode and cathode. After the arc furnace also is evacuated and then also is filled with a working atmosphere, GONPs are obtained from the inner wall of the arc furnace though the second arc discharge. The metallurgical purification of metallic gadolinium and the preparation of GONPs were integrated by arc plasma.

Apparatus for converting Spent Pot Lining (SPL) into inert slag, aluminum fluoride and energy includes a plasma arc furnace such that the destruction of SPL occurs therein. The furnace generates an electric arc within the waste, which arc travels from an anode to a cathode and destroys the waste due to the arc's extreme temperature, thereby converting a mineral fraction of SPL into vitrified inert slag lying within a crucible of the furnace. The furnace gasifies the carbon content of the SPL and produces a well-balanced syngas. The gasification takes place due to the controlled intake of air and steam into the furnace. The gasification reaction liberates significant amount of energy. Steam captures this excess energy, to provide part of the oxygen requirement for gasification and to contribute to raise the syngas H2 content. Steam also contributes to converting some SPL fluorides (NaF and Al2F3) into hydrogen fluoride. The plasma SPL processing system is compact (occupying less area than some competitive methods of SPL treatment), can be installed in close proximity to the aluminium plant (minimizing transportation of SPL and AlF3), and requires only electricity as its energy source and thus no fossil fuels.

The present disclosure provides a method for converting the target gas contained in the exhaust gas in plasma phase and an apparatus for implementing the method, the method comprising the steps of: generating a plasma in a conversion region in which the conversion of the target gas occurs; supplying, to the conversion region, a conversion promoting agent containing a conversion promoting element of which the first ionization energy is not greater than 10 eV for promoting the conversion of the target gas; supplying, to the conversion region, a conversion agent that produces conversion products by combining with the dissociation products of the target gas and prevents the dissociation products from recombining into the target gas; and supplying the exhaust gas containing the target gas to the conversion region.

A combustion system comprising: a combustion chamber extending in an axial direction between an inlet and an outlet, the combustion chamber configured to receive an airflow through the inlet and to discharge the airflow through the outlet; a fuel injection port configured to inject fuel into the airflow to form an air-fuel mixture; an ignition system for igniting the air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber, the ignition system comprising an array of electrical plasma initiation points disposed downstream of the fuel injection port, and distributed radially and circumferentially around the combustion chamber, wherein each electrical plasma initiation point comprises a pair of electrodes configured to apply a voltage across an electrode gap between the pair of electrodes to produce plasma within the air-fuel mixture passing between the electrodes, thereby igniting the air-fuel mixture.

The invention relates to a pyrolysis method for recovering at least one component from a feedstock material using a thermal treatment. The feedstock material is delivered to a pyrolytic chamber (1), exposed to a controlled atmosphere, and heated to a treatment temperature of the at least one component in the pyrolytic chamber (1) by applying microwave energy. The pyrolysis breakdown products are separated by fractional condensation and a targeted component is decomposed in microwave plasma. The microwave plasma is generated such that plasma temperature is varied over a temperature range including a decomposition and/or cracking temperature of the at least one component.

A localized heating device includes a plasma deforming portion and a heating portion. The plasma deforming portion includes an inlet end having a circular hole, an outlet end having an elongated hole with a first length and a first width, and a channel smoothly connected with the circular hole and the elongated hole. The heating portion, disposed at the outlet end, includes two control covers spaced by a slot. The elongated hole and the slot being oppositely disposed with respect to the plasma deforming portion. A plasma flow provided by a plasma producing source being to enter the channel via the circular hole, then to flow through the elongated hole, and finally to reach the slot.

A plasma torch assembly for use in a chemical reactor comprises an input system and at least one plasma torch. The plasma torch has a torch chamber with an open end for gas outflow, a first electrode disposed in the torch chamber, and a second electrode disposed in the torch chamber between the cathode and the open end. The input system has a plurality of gas feedstock inputs. Each of the plurality of gas feedstock inputs is associated with one or more specified input gases and is associated with one or more gas input positions in the torch chamber.

A combustion system comprising: a combustion chamber extending in an axial direction between an inlet and an outlet, the combustion chamber configured to receive an airflow through the inlet and to discharge the airflow through the outlet; a fuel injection port configured to inject fuel into the airflow to form an air-fuel mixture; an ignition system for igniting the air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber, the ignition system comprising an array of electrical plasma initiation points disposed downstream of the fuel injection port, and distributed radially and circumferentially around the combustion chamber, wherein each electrical plasma initiation point comprises a pair of electrodes configured to apply a voltage across an electrode gap between the pair of electrodes to produce plasma within the air-fuel mixture passing between the electrodes, thereby igniting the air-fuel mixture.

A plasma torch for use in a chemical reactor is described. The plasma torch has a torch chamber with an open end for outflow of reaction products and a closed end opposite to the open end. A first and a second electrode are disposed in the torch chamber, with the second electrode between the first electrode and the open end. An input system is provided for input of one or more gaseous feedstocks into the plasma torch. The plasma torch is adapted to operate at substantially above atmospheric pressure. The plasma torch is also configured so that flow of gaseous feedstocks and reaction products through the torch is adapted to prevent or reduce solid deposition on the second electrode. A suitable method of operating a plasma torch in a chemical reactor is also described.

The invention relates to a hybrid process and a hybrid device for the production or thermal treatment of inorganic raw substances or materials in combination with further organic additives with the use of at least one gas burner in combination with at least one plasma burner in a furnace facility.