Ethanol conversion in a DC atmospheric pressure glow discharge

Conversion of ethanol-water mixture into syngas in a DC atmospheric pressure air glow discharge with a plasma cathode has been investigated experimentally and theoretically. The electric power of discharge was varied from 100 W up to 250 W. Novel diagnostics based on the absorption infrared spectroscopy was developed and used to determine the syngas composition and the conversion parameters. The main components of syngas were: hydrogen, carbon monoxide, methane, ethylene and acetylene. The achieved degree of conversion to hydrogen was about 90%, with hydrogen content in conversion products being equal to 40%. A method for numerical simulation of the conversion process has been developed under an assumption that the role of discharge in the conversion process is purely thermal in nature. The experimental and numerical data were found to be in a good agreement.