Patent ID: 6284157
Filing Date: 2001-09-04
Classification: C01B,Y02P

Abstract:
A process for producing a synthesis gas which contains an H.sub.2 --CO gas mixture, the process comprising:a) providing an inlet gas which contains a CH.sub.4 --CO.sub.2 gas mixture;b) providing a discharge reactor including a dielectric, an electrode facing a first surface of the dielectric, and a metallic tube facing a second surface of the dielectric, a reaction space being defined between the dielectric and the metallic tube;c) passing the CH.sub.4 --CO.sub.2 gas mixture through the reaction space of the discharge reactor in which a low-current gas discharge is operated from an AC electrical voltage source via the dielectric; andd) obtaining a predeterminable synthesis gas volume ratio R=H.sub.2 /CO smaller than one in the synthesis gas by varying the proportional volume of CO.sub.2 in the inlet gas according to a predetermined function, wherein said proportional volume does not deviate by more than .+-.20% from an associated function value which can be derived from the predetermined function.