Electrically assisted conversion of carbon dioxide into synthesis gas

CO2 is converted with the methane into a mixture of H-2 and CO in a transferred are or in a gliding discharge (GlidArc) reactor. Both electric devices generate very unstable but well controllable plasmas which show a high catalytic activity under relatively low (< 700 degrees C) gas temperature. In such conditions we obtain a non equilibrium and fast mixing conditions for the synthesis gas (SynGas) production. Experiments were performed under 1 - 2 atm and at the gas flow rate of about 1 m(3)(n)/h. A steam added into the biogas, high-CO2 natural gas or other CO2/CH4 feed stock allows us to perform a mixed CO2/H2O conversion of light hydrocarbons (mainly methane) in order to obtain an ideal H-2/CO similar to 2 molar ratio for further SynGas conversion into ultra clean hydrocarbon fuels through the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. The energetic cost of such a SynGas produced in a laboratory prototype scale is already as low as 3 kWh/m(3)(n). Further improvements are expected in a demonstration SynGen reactor feeding a FT plant at the level of 4 barrels of liquid hydrocarbons a day, both units being under construction by Carbon Resources Ltd., Houston, TX.