Hydrogen production from methane by DC spark discharge: Effect of current and voltage

• Unique feature of this reactor is rotating ground electrode.
• Effects of feed composition, feed flow rate, voltage and current were investigated.
• Rotation of ground electrode will result in increasing of discharge length.
• The designed reactor guarantees stable plasma without catalyst.

Effects of current and voltage of consumed power on plasma reactor with rotating electrode at different feed flow rates is investigated for the non thermal decomposition of methane using a system of direct current (DC) discharge. Experimental results showed that designed reactor increases not only the concentration of the produced hydrogen in continues condition but also guarantees stable plasma. It is demonstrated that decreasing both electrical voltage and electrical current results in decreasing of methane conversion but on the other hand C2 hydrocarbons selectivity will increase. After the break down voltage, increasing the input power results in increasing electrical current more intensively than increasing electrical voltage.