Enhanced hydrogen generation by introducing Ar gas during in-liquid discharge plasma decomposition of methanol

Introducing gas during the in-liquid discharge plasma reaction process as a means for augmenting hydrogen production holds advantages such as reinforcing the plasma discharge effect, elevating energy efficiency, generating highly reactive species, and so forth, exerting an affirmative influence on enhancing hydrogen output. In this work, the reforming of methanol solution for hydrogen production via in-liquid discharge plasma under the assistance of argon was researched. The results indicated that the introduction of argon shortens the growth period of bubbles, enhances the generation rate of bubbles, enables the discharge to be more efficient, prolongs the total effective discharge time, strengthens the interaction efficiency between the plasma and the liquid, and raises the energy yield and flow rate of hydrogen. When the inlet argon flow rate amounts to 100 mL/min, the generation efficiency of bubbles ascends by 13 %, directly elevating the effective discharge time by 15 %. The energy yield and flow rate of hydrogen also attain their peaks at argon flow rate = 100 mL/min, among which the energy yield of hydrogen improves by 23 %.