Hydrogen production using non-equilibrium plasma reformers

The potential for efficient production of hydrogen rich gas from hydrocarbon fuels using non-equilibrium plasmas has been investigated experimentally. Hydrogen and synthesis gas (a mixture of H-2 and CO) can be produced via reforming, partial oxidation and thermal decomposition from various hydrocarbons. The present work introduces the results for producing hydrogen and syngas from methane. The reformer, based upon pulsed corona discharge provides radicals to drive the reforming as well as partial oxidation and thermal decomposition. The advantage of this method over more common thermal plasma approaches is that plasma energy is directed into the non-equilibrium radical production of the gas rather than heating the bulk gas flow.