Plasma Torch for Industrial Applications
The PLATIA project (“Plasma Torch for Industrial Applications”) is a research project funded by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) under the Energieforschung 2024 / FTI-Fokusinitiativen programme. It started on 1 January 2026 and will run until 31 December 2028. The aim of the project is to further develop a plasma-based, CO₂-free and resource-efficient heating technology for industrial high-temperature processes and to advance it from TRL 3 to TRL 5. The project focuses on increasing energy efficiency, reducing final energy costs, and achieving industrial validation of the technology through simulations and a 1 MW burner test rig. The project is coordinated by AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH; the other project partners are Thermal Processing Solutions GmbH and FH JOANNEUM GmbH.
Projekt goals
A key objective of the project is the design of a burner based on the principle of inductively coupled plasma (ICP) with a power output of 1 MW, as well as its experimental testing at laboratory scale. In addition, the development and validation of a suitable numerical model will provide the basis for integration into a real furnace. This will also form the foundation for further techno-economic assessments.
Detailed project objectives:
- Design of an ICP burner with homogeneous heat distribution
- Validated CFD simulation models for nitrogen plasma
- Development of a reduced-order model (ROM) for CFD simulation models of large-scale furnaces
- Techno-economic assessment of industrial applications
- Development of innovative power electronics (SiC power stack)
INNOVATIon AND TARGETED OUTCOMES
The PLATIA consortium is developing a retrofit solution for gas-fired industrial furnaces that can be operated with green electricity and represents a promising response to the challenges of the energy transition in Europe. Within the project, it is to be demonstrated for the first time worldwide at laboratory scale that an ICP burner can achieve higher power levels in the range of 1 MW as well as relevant process parameters, in particular homogeneous heat distribution. In addition, the scalability and applicability of SiC power stacks, which form the core of the power electronics, are to be demonstrated. Through an optimized design and the use of water cooling, the new development is intended to reduce losses by 50%. The planned simulation-based R&D activities on the integration of the new technology into existing production processes, as well as on the derivation of requirements for a future energy system, serve as preparation for potential subsequent projects in experimental development.
Role of AIT
AIT is responsible for project coordination and contributes comprehensive expertise in numerical flow simulation (CFD), high-temperature measurement techniques, process understanding, and techno-economic analysis.
Funding
This project is funded by the FFG using funds from the Federal Ministry for Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure (BIMI) and the Climate and Energy Fund as part of the Energy Research 2024 FTI Focus Initiatives.
