Plasma-catalyst Coupling Assisted Dry Reforming Of Methane In A Rotating Gliding Arc

The growing shortage of fossil energy makes energy supply becoming a more and more severe issue, which has great influence on the development of economic. By using two greenhouse gases CH4and CO2to produce synthesis gas (H2and CO), the dry methane reforming (DMR) technology has a dual benefit of reducing the use of fossil fuels and alleviating environmental pressures. Therefore, it has received extensive attention in recent years.A magnetically driven rotating gliding arc discharge (RGD) plasma technology used to promote the DMR process is introduced in this paper. The physical characteristics of the rotating gliding arc discharge reactor have been investigated by means of an oscilloscope and a high-speed camera. The results showed that, with the magnetic field, the rotation speed of the arc was increased. When total flow rate was6L/min and CH4concentration was30%, the reaction of dry reforming of methane was violent. The length of arc changed periodically. Multi-contact phenomenon and contact drift were observed.Syngas generation from dry reforming of methane was investigated, too. The results show that, as CH4concentration grows, CH4conversion increases and CO2conversion increases first and then decreases. As gas flow rate increases, CH4and CO2conversions both drop as a whole.An experimental research for DMR process was carried out by coupling RGD and catalyst. Three different Ni loading catalysts,6%Ni/y-Al2O3,8%Ni/γ-Al2O3and10%Ni/γ-Al2O3, were used separately. The results show that, the Ni/γ-AlO3catalyst can accelerate the decomposition of CH4, however, has little effect on CO2decomposition.