Experimental study on partial oxidation of methane to produce hydrogen using low-temperature plasma in AC Glidarc discharge

A reformer using low-temperature plasma was designed and developed for hydrogen production. The reformer has three electrodes and uses AC gliding are discharge. A reference condition, which is the highest hydrogen production, has a O-2/C ratio of 0.45, input flow rate of 4.91 min(-1) and power supply of 1 kW. And the methane conversion rate, the high hydrogen selectivity and the reformer efficiency were 69.2, 77.8 and 35.2%, respectively. To investigate reforming characteristics, parametric studies were achieved for the gas components ratio, a gas flow rate, a reactor temperature, an input electric power and catalyst addition effect. The results are as follows: The gas components ratio was an important factor, which had maximum value. When the gas flow rate, the reactor temperature and the electric power were increased, the methane conversion rate and the hydrogen concentration also increased. Copyright (c) 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.