Dr Kamal Hajisharifi, Mrs Fatemeh Shirkavand, Dr Hasan Mahdian, Mr Mahdi Bakhshzad Mahmoodi,
Volume 8, Issue 2 (Autumn and Winter 2023 2024)
Abstract
Production of gaseous products through non-thermal plasma technology is an innovative method for refining heavy oil or petroleum residues. In this study, plasma sparks were generated in gas bubbles to break the hydrocarbon bonds in oil and produce valuable gaseous products. This research aims to develop a more efficient and sustainable method for refining heavy oil or distillation column residues using non-thermal plasma. This study describes the construction of a reactor designed at the Plasma Research Institute of Kharazmi University, the stages and circuitry for generating plasma sparks, the method of gas collection, and the analysis techniques for gaseous products. Heavy oil was poured into the reactor, and argon gas was used to purge the circuit of oxygen. Additionally, plasma sparks were generated in argon gas bubbles injected into the oil. The paper examines the utilization and optimization of gas usage in the process. The primary gaseous products obtained, forming the highest percentage of the gas mixture, were hexane (13.8%) , pentane (15.7%) , and 2-methylbutane (12.75%). After plasma application and gaseous product storage, the remaining heavy oil exhibited no significant changes in its state and remained suitable for its original uses.
