High-temperature heat processes, such as steel forging and cement production, are vital for modern society. However, they currently still rely on burning fossil fuels for generating high temperatures (500-2000°C). Plasma technologies could offer a solution.
Plasma can reach temperatures of several thousand degrees. It results from an electric arc that heats a gas such as nitrogen or argon to change its state to plasma. The resulting electric flame has a high energy density and is called a plasma torch. Although plasma torches are technologically mature, they still require vast amounts of energy.
Read about the potential and challenges of plasma technologies in Handelsblatt (in German, paywall).
Find an abstract in Clean Energy Wire.
Dive deeper into the topic with our report on high-temperature heat.
