The CO2 Reforming of Natural Gas in a Pulsed Corona Discharge Reactor.

The conversion of CO₂ and (CH₄+ CO₂ ) mixtures to CO, at room temperature and atmospheric pressure conditions, in pulsed corona discharges, was investigated. Conversion of pure CO₂ was 16.8% at 10 cm³ -min⁻¹ flow rate, which corresponds to 75 μmol-min⁻¹ rate of conversion. The CO₂ conversion was improved to 38% (85 μmol-min⁻¹ by feeding the reactor with CH₄+ CO₂ gas mixture (1:1 ratio), simultaneously with CH₄ conversion of 46% (∼102.7 μmol-min⁻¹ ) at 10 cm³ -min⁻¹ flow rate of feed gases and 9 W power conditions. Rate of CO production is increased from ∼110 to ∼180 μmol-min⁻¹ with the variation of feed gas (CH₄+ CO₂ mixture, 1:1 ratio) flow rate from 10 to 40 cm³ -min⁻¹ at 9W, which corresponds to energy efficiency of 2.5 to 4.1%. Highest energy yield of 25 g/kWh for CH₄ conversion, 29 g/kWh for CO₂ conversion, and 33 g/kWh for CO production were achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]