Dry Reforming of Methane Using a Swirl-Induced Plasma Discharge Reactor

R. Bharathi Raja, Anusha C. Halageri, R. Sankar, Ramanujam Sarathi and Ravikrishnan Vinu ()
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R. Bharathi Raja: Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600036, India
Anusha C. Halageri: Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600036, India
R. Sankar: Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600036, India
Ramanujam Sarathi: Department of Electrical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600036, India
Ravikrishnan Vinu: Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600036, India

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 4, 1-15

Abstract: This study reports the dry reforming of methane (DRM) using non-thermal plasma in a swirl-induced point-plane electrode discharge reactor to produce syngas. This reactor geometry facilitates better mixing of the reactant gases in the plasma region, thus increasing the residence time and conversion of the reactants. The effect of varying flow rates and compositions of CO 2 /CH 4 (v%/v%) on conversion was studied. A high-voltage AC power input of 50 W and 70 W at a frequency of 19 kHz was provided. The voltage–current characteristics with respect to time were studied. The results show that with an increase in the flow rate of the gas mixture from 0.5 to 2 LPM the conversion of both CO 2 and CH 4 decreases, while an increase in the concentration of CO 2 or CH 4 (from 25 to 75%) increases the conversion of the respective reactant. The products, viz. syngas (CO and H 2 ), C 2 hydrocarbons, and solid carbon, were characterized and quantified. The maximum total conversion of 44% was obtained for a CO 2 :CH 4 ratio of 25:75 (v%/v%) at a flow rate of 0.5 LPM. The solid carbon collected from the reactor walls was analyzed, and it was found to be 89.9% pure with traces of oxygen functionality. The increase in flow rate decreased the specific energy input, which eventually resulted in lowering the energy cost.

Keywords: dry reforming of methane; non-thermal plasma; point-plane electrode discharge reactor; hydrogen; syngas (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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