Dielectric barrier discharge plasma torch treatment of pyrolysis fuel oil in presence of methane and ethane

For the first time, atmospheric-pressure low-temperature plasma treatment of pyrolysis fuel oil (PFO) was investigated in dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma torch reactor. Main parameters including working gas flow rate and Ar/CH₄ ratio along with the effects of separate Ar/C₂H₆ on the cracking of PFO were studied. By increasing the flow of argon and methane, the production rate of hydrocarbons containing ethane, ethylene, acetylene, propane, propylene, C₄, and C₅ increased from 1.72 to 10.48 ml/min for 4000 ml/min argon plus 400 ml/min methane as the working gas. In this case, the production rate of hydrogen increases from 10.58 to 56.86. The production rate of hydrocarbons increased from 3.53 to 13.5 ml/min by decreasing Ar/CH₄ ratio from 40 to 5.6. By changing the type of working gas from methane to ethane, the production of hydrocarbons considerably increased from 6.47 to 17.75 ml/min.