Feasible production of hydrogen from methanol reforming through single stage DC microplasma reactor

Abstract

Plasma-assisted methanol reforming is an effective technology to produce hydrogen for various clean energy applications. In this study, hydrogen was produced from methanol reforming in a unique single stage microplasma reactor. Microplasma was produced between the capillary stainless steel tube electrodes by using high voltage direct current (DC) power supply. Blend of methanol and water was supplied to the microplasma reactor in a controlled flow rate using nitrogen as carrier gas. The effects of applied input power to the discharge and methanol feed rate on the performance of the plasma methanol decomposition were investigated. The experimental results showed that increasing the applied input power expressively increased the methanol conversion and hydrogen energy yield. In contrast, the increased feed rate significantly decreased the methanol conversion efficiency though it enriched the hydrogen energy yield. Under selective conditions, hydrogen energy yield of 24.14 g kW[Formula: see text] h[Formula: see text] was achieved with the conversion efficiency of 71% and 50% selectivity for H2, which is comparatively better than many of plasma-assisted methanol reforming processes. This investigation reveals that methanol reforming through a single stage microplasma reactor has the ability to produce hydrogen efficiently without coke formation at room-temperature and atmospheric pressure.