GlidArc-Assisted Production of Synthesis Gas Through Partial Oxidation of Natural Gas

Natural gas is reformed with air in a presence of high-voltage discharges (called GlidArc plasma) that assist the Partial Oxidation. Electric consumption for this non-catalytic reformer is less than 2% of the output H₂+CO energy content. Recycling such a small portion of energy is, in our opinion, an acceptable compromise as active (and also very simple) GlidArc discharges play a role of an igniter and homogeneous phase catalyst; they also stabilize a post-plasma zone of our reformer. Here presented bench-scale 1-Liter reactor works at atmospheric pressure and needs less than 100 W of electric assistance to produce up to 1.4 m³(n)/h of pure H₂+CO corresponding to about 4.5 kW of electric power of an ideal Fuel Cell fed by such SynGas. Up to 96% of natural gas is converted at up to 63% energetic efficiency and the total absence of soot. Our previous experiments with highly Sulfur-polluted feeds let us claim that our technology can be directly used at any H₂S level in natural gas.