NON THERMAL PLASMA REFORMING OF HYDROCARBON FUELS WITH GLIDING ARC DISCHARGE

摘要

This paper will discuss plasma assisted reforming of Pyrogas and JP8 Fuel. Both Fuels were successfully converted to Synthesis gas (H2 + CO) using steam reforming and dry CO2 reforming. Pyrogas is a fuel gas formed from the pyrolysis or gasification of Biomass or Coal - usually contain large amounts of heavy hydrocarbons (tar) and unreacted light hydrocarbons (CH4, C2H2, C2H4, C2H6), which decreases its value and makes significant cleaning necessary. The Gliding Arc Plasma reformer is suited for Pyrogas reforming due to its better selectivity, reactivity and efficiency compared to conventional catalytic reformers . Also, plasma reforming is a homogeneous process that converts tar into synthesis gas without plugging catalysts. High sulphur Fuels such as JP-8 were also reformed with the ‘Plasmatron' functioning as part of an incorporated unit with a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) which serves as an on board auxiliary power unit. The Glid Arc Plasmatron (GAP) reforms a portion of the SOFC exhaust gas stream at temperatures close to 850C with a heat recuperating system. This ensures steam reforming reactions occur under endothermic conditions which in turn increase hydrogen yields compared to what is obtained with partial oxidation reactions. The gliding arc discharge provides a mixture of electrons, excited atoms and molecules, ions, radicals and photons. Glid arc discharge is also a high temperature source which stimulates chemical reactions. Preliminary Reforming results obtained were compared to thermodynamic simulations while considering yield, efficiency and power consumption at varying H2O/C ratios, O/C ratios and temperatures.