Evaluation of optimum conditions for hydrogen generation in argon-water vapor dielectric barrier discharge

Abstract

Efficient transformation of water vapor into hydrogen in dielectric barrier discharge in argon medium is reported. Hydrogen in the product gas mixture was identified and estimated by on-line gas chromatography – thermal conductivity detection, with appropriate support of standard hydrogen samples. Experimental parameters varied included reacting gas composition (with respect to water vapor concentrations), its resident time within the plasma zone, nature of surfaces (Pyrex and stainless steel), discharge gas-gap between two surfaces, and in-discharge power consumption. The optimum conditions at applied voltage 7.3 kV @ 50 Hz were: 10,400 ppm water vapor concentration, 12 s gas residence time, in a single pyrex dielectric barrier reactor with 2 mm gas-gap and 13.5 mL gas volume capacity, yielding the maximum hydrogen concentration of 1500 ppm.