Hydrogen production from ammonia by the plasma membrane reactor

Abstract

A new plasma membrane reactor (PMR) was developed to efficiently produce hydrogen from NH3 with the use of atmospheric pressure plasma and a hydrogen separation membrane. The generation of high-purity hydrogen from NH3 was also examined. First, hydrogen gas flowing into the PMR revealed the effect of the PMR on hydrogen separation. Hydrogen separation depends on the partial pressure of hydrogen gas supplied (Pin, H2) and permeated (Pout, H2) when Pin, H20.5 − Pout, H20.5 > 0. Second, NH3 gas flowing into the PMR revealed its hydrogen production characteristics: the maximum hydrogen conversion rate of a typical plasma reactor (PR) is 13%, whereas the PMR converted 24.4%. Hydrogen obtained by hydrogen separation was approximately 100% pure. A hydrogen generation rate of 20 mL/min was stably obtained.