Rotating gliding arc assisted methane decomposition in nitrogen for hydrogen production

• Published in: International journal of hydrogen energy 2014-08, Vol.39 (24), p.12620-12635
• Main Authors: Zhang, Hao, Du, Changming, Wu, Angjian, Bo, Zheng, Yan, Jianhua, Li, Xiaodong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alternative fuels. Production and utilization; Applied sciences; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; Fuels; Hydrogen; Methane decomposition; Optical emission spectroscopy; Rotating gliding arc; Warm plasma
• ISSN: 0360-3199; 1879-3487
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2014.06.047

Hydrogen production from methane decomposition via an atmospheric pressure rotating gliding arc (RGA) discharge reactor co-driven by a magnetic field and tangential flow is investigated. The motion and V–I characteristics of the RGA are studied with a high-speed camera and oscilloscope. Optical emission spectroscopy (OES) is used to characterize RGA plasmas in N2 and CH4 + N2, and the RGA plasma is shown to occur as a warm plasma. For the CH4 + N2 plasma, CN, C2, and CH spectral lines are observed. The vibrational and rotational temperatures are 0.56–0.86 eV and 1325–1986 K, respectively. The effects of load resistance, the CH4/N2 ratio, and the feed flow rate on the performance of methane decomposition are investigated. The maximum CH4 conversion rate and H2 selectivity are 91.8% and 80.7% when the CH4/N2 ratio is 0.1 and 0.05, respectively, at a flow rate of 6 L/min. The possible reaction mechanisms of the methane decomposition process are discussed. This study is expected to establish a basis for the further industrial applications of H2 production. [Display omitted] •A developed rotating gliding arc (RGA) reactor was used for methane reforming.•The RGA plasma was shown to occur as a warm plasma.•CN, C2, and CH radicals form in the RGA CH4 + N2 plasma according to the spectra.•The maximum CH4 conversion rate could be up to 91.8% in the RGA N2 plasma.