Effect of process parameters on plasma partial oxidation approach for removal of leaking LPG

In order to address the challenge of preventing explosions in the accidental disposal of leaking liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), a plasma partial oxidation (PPO) approach for converting the gas into liquid products is proposed for the first time, which eliminates the explosion risk in leaking LPG from the pathway of combustible gas removal. The effect of the initial C₄H₁₀ (Simulated LPG) concentration, discharge power, and residence time on the reaction performance were investigated, and the main reaction pathway was proposed. The residence time had the greatest effect on C₄H₁₀ conversion (27.6 – 78.0%) and yield of total liquid products (26.0 – 63.9%). The rise in discharge power substantially increased the C₄H₁₀ conversion (29.9 – 51.2%) and maintained a liquid product selectivity of more than 88.0%. When the initial C₄H₁₀ concentration is lower than 5%, the C₄H₁₀ concentration can reduce directly to 1.8% at a moderate discharge power (39 W) and residence time (0.81 s), which can eliminate the risk of explosion. This article provides a new approach for the disposal of LPG spills and offers new insights into the effects of main process parameters and their mechanisms for optimizing the PPO reaction performance of converting C₄H₁₀ into liquid products.