SYNGAS PRODUCTION IN METHANE DECOMPOSITION IN THE PLASMA OF ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE HIGH-VOLTAGE DISCHARGE

The paper describes the conditions of methane conversion in high-voltage discharge plasma of atmospheric pressure and a setup for experimental studies of the process. Volt-ampere characteristics of the discharge and dependences of the process key parameters on the energy inputs and the equivalence ratio were obtained. Modes of process implementation with maximum hydrogen yield (260.6 L/h) and minimum energy consumption (16.9 kJ/L) were selected. The maximum hydrogen concentration in the gaseous products was 34.4% at a methane-air mixture conversion degree of 98.9%. The experimental research was conducted at energy inputs in a range from 0.54 to 2.09 kW and the equivalence ratio 3.0 < phi < 4.5 for the three flow rates of the working mixture -521, 605, and 670 L/h.