$\hbox{CO}_{\bf 2}$ Reforming of Aliphatic Hydrocarbons With Silent Discharge Plasma

CO
₂
reforming of methane ( CH
₄
) and propane (C
₃
H
₈
) was performed with a silent discharge reactor (SDR). The reactor performance was evaluated in terms of energy efficiencies for the conversion of the substrates and formation of H
₂
and CO. The reactivity of C
₃
H
₈
was 2- to 3-fold higher than that of CH
₄
, and both of CH
₄
and C
₃
H
₈
were reformed in the order of 10
¹⁶
molecules/J at 298 K. The energy efficiencies for the conversion of these substrates increased with their initial concentrations, but decreased with an increase in reactor energy density. On the other hand, the energy efficiencies for the conversion of CO
₂
, which were not affected by the hydrocarbon types, were lower than those for the hydrocarbon substrates. A positive temperature effect was observed in the conversion of the hydrocarbon substrates only at low reactor energy densities from 298 to 433 K.