CH₄-CO₂ reforming by combination of plasma and catalysts

To reduce the energy consumption of CO₂ reforming of CH₄, the synergies of thermal plasma and catalysts in the reforming process was studied in three elaborate modes: plasma only, combination of plasma and catalysts (CPC), and CPC with part of feed gases introduced into plasma discharge region. The optimal specific energy of 193 kJ/mol and energy conversion efficiency of 66.4% were achieved under the conditions of CH₄/CO₂ of 4/6, input power at 14.4 kW, feed gases of 5 m³/h in mode 3, when the conversions of CH₄ and CO₂ were 77.00% and 62.40%, and the selectivities of H₂ and CO were 88.60% and 96.70%, respectively. These results were closed to that of CH₄-H₂O(g) reforming process. The excellent performance of the present process benefits from three different reaction courses: discharge reaction, thermochemical reaction and catalytic reaction.