Abstract: The reverse flow technology coupled with non-thermal plasma reaction system was used to investigate its effect on the process of non-thermal plasma reaction. Considering the influencing factors including discharge parameters(e.g. electrical field intensity, frequency) and operating parameters(e.g. cyclic period, grounding pole number, gas velocity), the effects of reverse flow on temperature rise(ΔT) and discharge energy density(SED) of the system were investigated, and the application situation of the technology in removal of VOCs was analyzed. The results showed that the highest ΔT and SED were 187.3 ℃ and 284.4 J/L under the condition of cyclic period 8 min, field intensity 13.1 kV/cm, frequency 150 Hz, grounding pole number 7 and gas velocity 14 cm/s. The ΔT of discharge area was the highest, while that of the outlet was the lowest in the system. The ΔT varied periodically with the cyclic period in the heat storage segment, whose change cycle was consistent with the period of reaction system. The degradation rate of toluene could be improved significantly by applying a flow reversal plasma reaction system, which was beneficial to improvement of the energy efficiency.