Plasma-catalytic dry reforming of methane in an atmospheric pressure AC gliding arc discharge

• Dry reforming of methane with carbon dioxide has been performed in a hybrid atmospheric pressure, catalytic–gliding arc system.
• Increases of up to 30% in hydrogen yield can be obtained by adding the catalyst.
• Lowering the NiO loading of the NiO/Al2O3 catalyst from 33% to 18% increases the hydrogen yield.
• Decreasing the particle size of the catalyst also increases to hydrogen yield.

The combination of a gliding arc discharge with a catalyst has been investigated as a means of optimising the dry reforming process for methane with carbon dioxide in respect of increased methane and carbon dioxide conversion and hydrogen yield. A bed of NiO/Al2O3 catalyst (18% or 33% NiO loading) was placed downstream of an atmospheric pressure gliding arc discharge in an equimolar CH4/CO2 mixture. The catalyst bed was in contact with the luminous afterglow of the discharge. This arrangement enhances methane and carbon dioxide conversions and increases the hydrogen yield by up to 30%. It was noted that hydrogen yields were greater for a lower NiO loading (18% compared to 33%) and that a smaller particle size is also beneficial. The energy efficiency is increased by over 20% by the addition of a catalyst.

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