How to up your biodiesel production: torch it

They were originally developed to stress-test space shuttle tiles and long distance missiles.

But today, plasma torches—capable of generating temperatures found on the surface of the sun—are finding a new application in the production of large quantities of synthetic diesels.

A plasma torch, sometimes referred to as a plasma arc, is an electrically-fired device that generates intense heat, up to 15,000º Celsius, using an electrical arc.

At their invention in the 70s, they were used in space research to simulate re-entry temperatures, but were only able to generate high temperatures for a few minutes at a time.

As the technology evolved, it found brief applicability in steel manufacturing, but became economically undesirable when the price of coke fell. [ed.: new or "classic"?]

It then found a new life in the disposal of dangerous wastes like asbestos, and the toxic fly ash created by the incineration of municipal solid waste. Today, plasma torches are used to vitrify the material, or turn these otherwise objectionable substances into harmless glass—which can then be incorporated into construction projects like roads.

If a company in France that's now working with the French nuclear energy agency gets its way, plasma torches may now find new applicability in the generation of biofuels.

"Theory shows that if you gasify at high temperatures then you obtain a very minimal ratio of CO2 to Hydrogen and carbon monoxide. Other processes today can get to these temperatures, but they require lots of oxygen and produce lots of undesirable carbon dioxide greenhouse gas," said Marc Lefour, chief operating officer of Europlasma.

"You can reach these temperatures with the plasma torch, without oxygen and without CO2."

Which means, according to Europlasma, new potential levels of efficiency and output in the biofuel production process. And therefore a potential breakthrough in cost.

"Today's gasification process turns approximately 30% of organic materials' potential energy into energy. Using the higher temperatures and efficiencies of the plasma torch, you get 10 points more," said Lafour.

"That's a lot more energy from the exact same materials."

The company believes its process could result in large quantities of naturally sulfur-free biodiesel, which wouldn't have to be diluted in a fossil fuel and could be directly available at pumps using existing infrastructure for distribution with no modifications.

In time, this second-generation gasification process could mean that the biodiesel could be converted into a source of hydrogen production for future vehicles, says Europlasma.

The torches Europlasma is developing to gasify biomass are in the several-hundred kilowatt range. With power requirements this high, is there a net energy benefit to using plasma torches? Does the process consume more energy than it generates?

"Non," assured Lafour, saying the extra energy generated in the gasification process more than offsets the power required by the torch. "It would be stupid to use a plasma torch if it used more energy than it creates."

"Plasma torches are a very efficient way to produce high temperature, and transform almost all of your energy into heat," said Lafour.

Europlasma has been given a grant by the CEA, the French nuclear research body, which also does research into non-greenhouse gas emitting energy technology.

At this point the two have no schedule for commercialization of the technology for biofuel production and are still in the research phase.

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