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Hydrogen from steam methane reforming by catalytic nonthermal plasma using a dielectric barrier discharge reactor
Author(s) -
Kim Soon Sam,
Jorat Masih,
Voecks Gerald,
Kuthi Andras,
Surampudi Subbarao,
Kent Ronald L.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
aiche journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.958
H-Index - 167
eISSN - 1547-5905
pISSN - 0001-1541
DOI - 10.1002/aic.16880
Subject(s) - dielectric barrier discharge , hydrogen production , steam reforming , methane , hydrogen , nozzle , chemistry , chemical engineering , nonthermal plasma , methane reformer , plasma , syngas , nuclear engineering , materials science , electrode , organic chemistry , mechanical engineering , engineering , physics , quantum mechanics
A scaled‐up dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) reactor has been developed and demonstrated for the production of hydrogen from steam methane reforming (SMR) by catalytic nonthermal plasma (CNTP) technology. Compared to SMR, CNTP offers conversion at ambient pressure (101.325 kPa), low temperature with better efficiency, making it suitable for distributed hydrogen production with small footprint. There have been several lab‐scale DBD reactors reported in the literature. Dimension of the scaled‐up DBD reactor is about six times the lab‐scale version and can produce 0.9 kg H 2 /day. The scale‐up is, however, nonlinear; several technical innovations were required including spray nozzle for homogeneous introduction of steam, perforated tube central electrodes for generation of homogeneous plasma. Conversion efficiency of the scaled‐up DBD reactor is 70–80% at 550°C and 500 W. A continuous run of 8 hr was demonstrated with typical product gas composition of 69% H 2 , 6% CO 2 , 15% CO, 10% CH 4 .