Plasma Reactors

The research on the development of the plasma reactors for nitrogen fixation in the past five years is presented in this chapter. A large number of plasma reactors are either on the market already or under development, and this chapter introduces several of the most important reactors for NOxsynthesis. Among these are thermal plasma, cold plasma, and “warm” plasma reactors. Other reactors include microwave and radiofrequency plasma torches, gliding and propeller arc reactors, spark and high-frequency pulsed reactors, glow discharge, and dielectric barrier discharge reactors. Warm plasma reactors have demonstrated greater effectiveness than nonthermal plasma reactors with the lowest energy consumption of 1.8 MJ mol−1. Rotating gliding arc reactors are considered the most promising reactor type due to their high energy efficiency. The application of triboelectric generators is reviewed as a possible way to further increase energy efficiency in plasma reactors. Recent highlights in electrode and reactor designs are discussed, along with a future outlook on their potential improvements.