Hydrogen fuel production from CO2/CH4 mixture using a novel type of an atmospheric pressure microwave (2.45 GHz) plasma source

We report the use of microwave plasma for the production of hydrogen-enriched gas by converting a mixture of CO₂ and CH₄. A novel type of compact and simple in design, waveguide-based, atmospheric pressure plasma source is used. It doesn't contain a discharge tube, but involve a swirling gas flow and operates without a catalyst. The influence of the input parameters on the conversion process parameters is investigated. It is found that the power of microwaves benefits the concentration of H₂, but the gas flow rate is found to be detrimental to the H₂ concentration. It is observed that the CO₂/CH₄ flow rate ratio is another factor influencing the process parameters. The best results obtained of H₂ concentration and conversion rate of CH₄ are 33% and 46%, respectively, while in the terms of H₂ production rate and the energy yield of H₂ production are 118 g/h and 30 g/kWh, respectively.