Study on CH4 dry reforming process by high power inductively coupled plasma torch at atmospheric pressure

CO₂ dissociation and CH₄ dry reforming, by high power inductively coupled plasma (ICP) torch at atmospheric pressure, have been studied. At a frequency of 400 kHz and power of 30 kW, the ICP torch source dissociates CO₂ gas directly, causing CH₄ dry reforming. The resulting products are composed of syngas, C₂H₆, C₂H₄, and C₂H₂. The results show conversion efficiencies (CE) for both CO₂ and CH₄ of 95%. At an input power of 22 kW, a CO₂ flow rate of 30 SLM, and a CH₄ flow rate of 36 SLM, the energy conversion efficiency (ECE) is 57%. As input CH₄ flow rate increases, the selectivity of CO and H₂ decreases and that of C₂ hydrocarbons increases. In this condition, ECE increases. As a result, the high CE of CO₂ and CH₄, the large amount of products, and the high selectivity of C₂ hydrocarbons can be seen as important factors for achieving higher energy conversion efficiency in the CH₄ dry reforming process. The associated chemical reactions are simulated using CHEMKIN-PRO tool, and the results illustrate the tendency of CE to vary with variations in selected parameters, and syngas and C₂ hydrocarbons production trends achieved in the simulation agree with experimental results.