This presentation introduces a novel process design for ammonia decomposition, termed reversed plasma catalysis, in which the thermocatalytic reactor is located upstream the plasma reactor, in contrast to conventional designs of standalone thermocatalysis, standalone plasma, and plasma catalysis where the catalytic part is located downstream or within the plasma reactor itself.
By lab and simulation experiments, we demonstrate that reversed plasma catalysis requires two times and even three times less catalyst material than the conventional plasma catalysis and thermocatalysis, respectively, for reaching the same ammonia conversion of 98%. Additionally, this process design also emphasizes the great benefits of smart heat integration between the plasma and catalytic reactors.