Use of a DC discharge in a plasma reactor with a rotating ground electrode for production of synthesis gas by partial oxidation of methane

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A recently designed rotating ground electrode plasma reactor has been used to produce synthesis gas by partial oxidation of methane at room temperature and atmospheric pressure without a catalyst. Experiments were performed to investigate the effects of feed flow rate, feed composition, and the presence of nitrogen in the feed. It was shown that increasing the O2-to-CH4 molar ratio reduces conversion of the reagents at low feed flow rates but promotes conversion at high feed flow rates. Increasing the O2-to-CH4 molar ratio also results in further methane partial oxidation reactions at high feed flow rates. Use of air instead of pure oxygen increases the conversion of methane and oxygen but reduces selectivity for the main products (H2 and CO). This reactor can be used to produce a wide variety of H2-to-CO molar ratios for different applications under stable conditions.