Study On Conversion Of Methane To Hydrogen Based On Strong Electric-field Discharge At Atmospheric Pressure

The kind of energy shortage is a big problem in the 21 st century, searching new types of energy to substitute for oil is very important,and this is a trend for energe development in the world.Reserves of natural gas is much enormous,so energy conversion of natural gas is focused by researchers. Methane is main constituent of natural gas. As methane reacting condition is severe in the course of conventional chemical, high efficiency can not be get with common method. With the development of Strong Electric-field Discharge, a new path for methane conversion focused on researchers. Compared to other discharge method, Strong Electric-field Discharge has an advantage of geting more electron energy which is important for plasma chemical reactions. This paper studies on conversion of methane to hydrogen using Strong Electric-field Discharge at atmospheric pressure.We find that Strong Electric-field Discharge input energy is proportional to the conversion of methane and hydrogen yield; a maximum value of methane conversion rate can be get when applied frequency is 10 kHz; methane conversion and hydrogen yield can be improved by adding 3%～5% volume ratio of O2 in the system when compared to N2; plasma generator cooling mode significantly impact on hydrogen selectivity; the size of gas flow is inversely proportional to methane conversion rate and hydrogen yield; when the condition is that the gas flow is 300 ml/min,02 content is 5%, applied frequency is 10 kHz, the methane conversion reaches up to 57.8%,the hydrogen yield reaches up to 36%.Hydrogen is the main producting of methane conversion which volume is occupied between 10% and 30%, as a using fule for automotive internal combustion engine,the thermal efficiency can be improved and exhaust pllution can be reduced.