Fuel reforming using dielectric barrier discharge and reformed fuel effects on BUNSEN flame

Methane and propane have been reformed using a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) and the effect of the reformed fuel species on the combustion was investigated at a BUNSEN burner. The main output species of the DBD fuel reformer are composed of mixtures of hydrogen and other small hydrocarbons. DBD fuel reformer shows the characteristic of filamentary microdischarge. The conversion rate was less than 10% due to the low power loading of the DBD reactor. The reformed fuel species affect the BUNSEN burner flame significantly at high equivalence ratio and have an minor effect at stoichiometric and lean operating conditions. Experimental and numerical analyses are needed to investigate the effect of the reformed fuel on the combustion phenomena.