Hydrogen production via plasma reformers

The potential for efficient production of hydrogen-rich gas from hydrocarbon fuels using thermal plasmas has been investigated. Hydrogen and synthesis gas (a mixture of H/sub 2/ and CO) can be produced from various hydrocarbon fuels via partial oxidation. An experimental reformer (thermal arc plasmatron) has been constructed that uses a rotated electrical arc plasma as a source of high temperatures and radicals to drive the partial oxidation reaction. This method has the advantages of rapid startup, small reactor size and short response times to changes in fuel flow rate, since it lacks the thermal inertia present in many catalytic systems. Initial experimental results show that nearly complete conversion of methane to a hydrogen-rich mixture can be accomplished with an energy input of 20.3 MJ per kilogram of synthesis gas produced, at residence times of less than 50 ms. A reformer of this type is ideally suited to application as part of an integrated power system where load following is required, such as fuel cell systems for transportation.