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Entropy Production and Chemical Reactions in Nonequilibrium Plasma
  • Elijah Thimsen
Elijah Thimsen
Washington University in St. Louis

Corresponding Author:elijah.thimsen@wustl.edu

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Abstract

In this work, methods based upon nonequilibrium thermodynamics are elucidated to predict stationary states of chemical reactions in nonequilibrium plasma, and limits for energy conversion efficiency. Two example reactions are used: CO2 splitting and NH3 synthesis, with emphasis on CO2 splitting. Expectations from the theoretical framework are compared to experimental results for both reactions, and reasonable agreement is obtained. The conclusion is that the probability of observing either reactants or products increases with the amount of energy dissipated by that side of the reaction as heat through collisions with hot electrons. The side of the reaction that dissipates more energy as heat has a higher probability of occurrence. Furthermore, endergonic chemical reactions in nonequilibrium plasma, such as CO2 splitting at low temperature, require an intrinsic energy dissipation to satisfy the 2nd law of thermodynamics – a sufficient and necessary waste. This intrinsic dissipation limits the maximum theoretical energy conversion efficiency
25 Aug 2020Submitted to AIChE Journal
10 Sep 2020Submission Checks Completed
10 Sep 2020Assigned to Editor
19 Sep 2020Reviewer(s) Assigned
12 Jan 2021Editorial Decision: Revise Major
08 Feb 20211st Revision Received
16 Feb 2021Submission Checks Completed
16 Feb 2021Assigned to Editor
17 Feb 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
11 Apr 2021Editorial Decision: Accept
Sep 2021Published in AIChE Journal volume 67 issue 9. 10.1002/aic.17291