Effects of Plasma Parameters on Ammonia Cracking Efficiency Using Non-Thermal Arc Plasma

Ammonia serves as a critical medium for hydrogen storage and energy transportation, making the development of efficient ammonia cracking technologies essential for advancing hydrogen energy applications. Plasma-assisted ammonia cracking has emerged as a promising approach for clean energy conversion, leveraging non-thermal plasma to effectively decompose ammonia into hydrogen and nitrogen. Compared to conventional thermal catalytic cracking, this method offers several advantages, including rapid startup and response, operational flexibility, and the ability to operate under low-temperature and atmospheric pressure conditions. This study presents a novel high-pressure plasma reactor designed to overcome the high-energy barriers associated with conventional methods. Through systematic optimization of discharge parameters, reactor configuration, and catalyst integration, significant improvements in both ammonia conversion efficiency and energy utilization have been achieved. Experimental results demonstrate that increased discharge power and reduced ammonia flow rate enhance cracking performance. In the absence of a catalyst, conversion efficiency initially increases with pressure but subsequently decreases at higher pressures. However, the incorporation of a catalyst markedly improves overall performance across all tested conditions. These advancements support the practical implementation of ammonia-based systems for distributed hydrogen supply and clean propulsion technologies.