Plasma Pyrolysis of Methane Using a DC Plasma Torch

The results of a study of plasma pyrolysis of methane using a DC plasma torch with hollow electrodes are presented. Data on the effect of the ratio of methane consumption in the plasma torch and the reactor connected to it on the composition of pyrolysis products have been obtained. The arc power of the plasma torch is 40–50 kW, the methane consumption is ~0.7–1.6 g/s. The ratio of methane flows supplied to the reactor and the plasma torch varied within the range of 0–1.63. Results demonstrate that increasing this flow ratio decreases the hydrogen concentration while increasing the proportion of unconverted methane. The acetylene yield exhibits a maximum within the ratio range of 0.6–1.3, reaching a volumetric concentration of 10.52%. The methane conversion rate in the plasma torch reaches 98–99%, and the volumetric hydrogen concentration ranges from 92 to 97%.