The following master research projects are currently open in the Bouwmeester group.

Flow optimization of the TECH reactor

• Project available from: 1-9-2024
• Number of ECs: 36
• Remarks: The work is performed in close collaboration with DIFFER in Eindhoven. Visits to the set-up in Eindhoven may be required.

In the TECH project, a microwave plasma reactor is under development which dissociates CO2 in CO and O2. CO can be converted to fuel, so this allows to store green electricity in fuel and to provide sustainable energy during grid power dips and for transportation. The reactor consists of a vessel sustaining a 6 kW microwave plasma and supporting a flow that passes the CO2 through the plasma. The design should reach high energy efficiency and conversion rate.

In this MSc project, the flow pattern generation of the TECH reactor is optimized. The flow in the reactor must confine the plasma for a range of flows and heating power levels, and maintain the torus shape of the plasma. Earlier research investigated low flows (10 SLM) and showed instabilities both in simulations and measurements. This project aims at researching flows ten times higher and designing the injection and exhaust nozzle such that it allows creation of a stable swirling ring vortex flow for low to high flows. To validate the design, the imaging capabilities of the flow test set-up must be increased to high flows.

The available flow test set-up has laser sheet illumination and high speed cameras allowing velocity field measurements with refraction correction and feature tracking. It can be operated at 10 to 1000 mbar and flows from 5 to 100 SLM. The student will gain experience in flow simulations with COMSOL, flow visualization, analysis and synthesis of results, design methods, and collaboration in a multidisciplinary development team.

The master project closes with a nozzle design and analysis of the nozzle performance for a wide range of flows and pressures.