Methane conversion by non-thermal plasma for hydrogen production: numerical investigation
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Abstract
Environmental concerns have prompted the development of new technologies aimed at producing low-carbon energy carriers, such as hydrogen. Non-thermal plasma has emerged as a promising option, enabling the conversion of methane into hydrogen at room temperature and atmospheric pressure using dielectric barrier discharge reactors. This study employs a zero-dimensional (0D) model to investigate the temporal evolution of densities and selectivities of the various species within the reactor. The model investigates the impact of noble gases (helium and argon) at varying proportions on methane conversion. An in-depth analysis of the reactions in the kinetic model has been conducted to investigate the mechanisms behind the conversion of methane to hydrogen using the non-thermal plasma process. The reactor has demonstrated remarkable performance, achieving a total methane conversion of up to 100% and a maximum hydrogen yield of 48% for a mixture containing 10% methane and 90% Argon.
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