Manufacture of gas from hydrogen-bearing starting materials

A single-unit plasma array apparatus for the pyrolytic processing of starting materials into a synthetic gas and by-products in a reactor vessel comprising:

• a plurality of plasma sources with each of the plurality of plasma sources being configured to produce a flaring plasma jet thereby forming a plurality of plasma sheets,
• wherein the plurality of plasma sources are oriented such that the plurality of plasma sheets are arranged in a linear succession forming a fixed three-dimensional reacting region,
• wherein the plurality of plasma sources are oriented such that the flaring above a solid by-product collecting region;
• a supporting structure removably coupled to the reactor vessel and affixed to the plurality of plasma sources forming a single, unifying plasma array,
• wherein the single, unifying plasma array is removably coupled to the reactor vessel as a single unit;
• the reactor vessel providing at least one starting material inlet and a coupling surface three-dimensional reacting region created by the single, unifying plasma array and the starting materials are dissociated by the heat supplied by the single, unifying plasma array;
• and
• an outlet for removal of the gaseous product.