New Technology of Plasma Reforming of Liquid Hydrocarbon Fuels in Dynamic Plasma-Liquid Systems

This paper presents the results of complex experimental and theoretical studies of the process of nonthermal plasma-assisted reforming of ethanol-based fuels in the dynamic plasma liquid systems using the DC and pulsed electric discharges in a gas channel with liquid wall (DGCLW) and the DC discharge in a reverse vortex gas flow of Tornado type with a "liquid" electrode (TORNADO-LE). In addition to the direct plasma reforming, also pyrolysis of ethanol after initial plasma treatment was studied. The experiments demonstrate possibilities and efficiency of low-temperature plasma-chemical conversion of ethanol into hydrogen-rich synthesis gas in different regimes. The numerical modeling clarifies the nature and explains the kinetic mechanisms of nonequilibrium plasma-chemical transformations in the plasma-liquid systems in different discharge modes.