Development and Testing of a Self-Triggered Spark Reactor for Plasma Driven Dry Reforming of Methane

A versatile reactor was developed for plasma induced dry reforming of methane at atmospheric pressure and room temperature. Among different types of electrical discharges tested, low-power self-triggered pulsed spark discharges give the best results in terms of CH 4 and CO 2 conversion, H 2 and CO yield and selectivity, and energy efficiency. Moreover, undesired carbon deposits are not formed, certainly due to the low temperature but also to the short but strong current pulses between the electrodes, the surfaces of which are kept ‘‘clean’’ by the discharge itself. Optical emission spectroscopy was also used to investigate the plasma emitting species and to determine the average electron density.