System for resource management

Abstract

A system and method is disclosed for decomposing feedstock material in a non-thermal plasma process, the system comprising a reaction chamber for receiving the feedstock material and an inductor locat

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates a system for decomposing various materials, mixed or individually, along with methods of using such a system. Conveniently, the materials collectively referred to as feedstock (including organic and inorganic waste, biomass, sludge, hydrocarbons, greenhouse gases, paper, plastic, minerals, radioactive materials, bacteria, viruses, microorganisms) can be decomposed in this system. Depending on the controlled process conditions, the process of decomposition may generate one or more of the following: 1. usable heat, from which energy may be recovered; 2. chemicals; 3. fundamental elements to be recombined into chemicals. BACKGROUND In the pursuit of sustainable practices, the focus on optimizing material usage to generate energy and chemicals has intensified. This involves various types of feedstock, each with unique challenges. Some exemplary types of feedstocks and associated challenges are set out below. 1. Non-recyclable waste: Thermal decomposition of non-recyclable waste is preferred over landfill disposal. The process produces heat, which can be harnessed for energy. However, the high energy input required for decomposition and the potential for atmospheric emissions pose significant challenges. 2. Fossil-based materials: The conversion of fossil-based materials into chemicals, fuels, and energy is a promising avenue. Ideally, this conversion is achieved with zero greenhouse gas emissions, but practical implementations often involve emissions due to technical limitations. 3. Biomass: Thermal processing of biomass can yield energy, biofuels, and biochemicals. However, the efficiency of these processes is often hampered by high energy inputs and low carbon conversion efficiency. 4. Sludge: Sludge, a by-product of wastewater treatment, is another feedstock that can be decomposed to recover energy and valuable nutrients. The sludge may comprise waste from sewage treatment. The treatment and disposal of sludge present challenges due to its high water content and the presence of harmful pathogens and heavy metals. 5. Hazardous Materials: There is a pressing need to safely dispose of harmful materials, such as radioactive and medical waste. The challenges here lie in ensuring the safety and efficiency of the decomposition process. Proposals have been made to decompose feedstock by exposing the feedstock to a plasma. For example, US 5,143,000 discloses a furnace having a plasma torch which emits a column of refuse to render the refuse into a molten pool. US 10,054,044 discloses using a plasma torch to create plasma for breaking down organic waste to a generate gas, from which heat can be extracted. Other processes are also known to break down waste. For example, US 7,452,392 discloses using anaerobic gasification and pyrolysis to generate synthetic gas (syngas) from organic material feedstock. The syngas can then be used as a fuel. Each of these processes involves decomposition, which occurs within a reaction chamber. However, this inherently presents several challenges, including high energy input, atmospheric and carbon emissions, and low efficiency. The present invention addresses these challenges by offering a versatile system for decomposing various materials with virtually zero CO2 or other atmospheric emissions. This innovation has the potential to lead to more efficient and sustainable practices. SUMMARY A feedstock decomposition method utilising excited gas and non-thermal plasma (NTP) technology is described. A method and system for the controlled reaction of gases, ions, and dust particles within a vortex is described. The system is configured to induce and self-sustain a or revolving flow, hereinafter referred to as a vortex, that under predetermined conditions can decompose feedstock. The decomposition may be adjusted to favour the synthesis of new molecules or the dissociation of existing molecules. The present system is advantageous in that the energy within the vortex can be modulated and specific gas mixtures and ion populations can be introduced. Dust particles may be used strategically as catalytic surfaces or nucleation sites. Low-temperature NTPs are characterised by elevated electron temperatures (several eVs) and near room-temperature ions and neutral gas molecules. Embodiments of the method encompass the oxidative conversion of feedstock materials into ash, flue gas, and thermal energy, using cold plasma to enhance efficiency and reduce toxicity. The materials produced by the method of decomposition have reduced levels of toxic inorganic constituents, having been effectively neutralized using cold plasma. This technology facilitates safer disposal of toxic material and significantly mitigates the inherent toxicity of flue gases produced by feedstock destruction. This ensures the environmentally safe and controlled release of these gases into the atmosphere. The method and system described herein not only improve the efficiency of feedstock decomposition but also address the critical environmental challenges associated with conventional feedstock incineration methods. Aspects of the present invention are set out in the accompanying claims. In some embodiments, systems of the type set out above may address the need for a versatile processing environment capable of both breaking down complex molecules into simpler components and synthesizing new molecular structures from various reactants. The utilization of a vortex as a reactive environment may allow for the control of chemical reactions through the manipulation of physical conditions and reactive species. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings: Figure 1 shows the block flow diagram of the system. Figures 2 and 3 show examples of inductors in different configurations. Figure 4 shows an inductor inside a feedstock decomposition system. Figure 5 shows a flow diagram of the process steps. Figure 6 shows an example of the feedstock processing system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION The following description is presented byway of example to enable a person skilled in the art to make and use the invention. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein and various modifications to the disclosed embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Some operational principles of the system will first be described. Molecular Synthesis: a system of the type described herein may involve ion-molecule reactions facilitated by the dynamics of a vortex established in a reaction chamber. This can enable the energy-efficient synthesis of complex molecules from simpler reactants. Particles within the vortex may act as catalysts, enhancing reaction rates and / or yields. In configurations where a NTP (also known as a cold plasma state) is achieved within the vortex and vortex area, the system described herein may leverage the reactive nature of plasma to both break down and synthesize molecules. The kinetic energy imparted by the vortex can significantly enhance the collision frequency and intensity between molecules, ions, and particles within the reactor. These high-energy collisions can exceed the bond dissociation energy of various molecules present in the feedstock, leading to their fragmentation and the formation of reactive species. This controlled dissociation process allows for the selective conversion of complex molecules into simpler, more valuable products, such as syngas (a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide) from certain feedstocks. The apparatus described herein may incorporate system control mechanisms for adjusting the plasma state, vortex flow, ionization levels, catalytic activity, and temperature throughout the complete system as well as pressure within the reaction chamber and the heat exchangers, enabling optimization of reaction conditions for a wide range of chemical processes and variable feedstock. Unreacted carbon molecular chains leaving the inductor may be further processed for conversion to carbon, graphene and turbostratic graphene. Downstream conversion stage may occur below the inductor and at the heat exchanger, utilizing a flash graphite synthesis process based on discharge mechanisms. Figure 1 shows a block diagram of an exemplary system 100. The depicted system 100 initiates with the introduction of feedstock, which enters through a dedicated feed line into a feedstock hopper 101. This hopper 101 serves as a temporary storage unit, maintaining a consistent supply of material ready for processing. Directly connected to the hopper is a process control system 102. The process control system 102 is configured to optimize the various operational parameters of the entire system. Below the process control unit 102 is a feedstock control mechanism 103. The feedstock control mechanism 103 may be a further hopper. The feedstock control mechanism may comprise a pelletiser and / or a shredder for controlling the size of the feedstock. This component regulates the feed rate and consistency of the feedstock delivery into the reaction chamber 104. The core of the system 100 is the reaction chamber 104, where the feedstock undergoes plasma-based decomposition. An inductor 5 is situated within the chamber 104. The inductor is configured to induce high-energy electromagnetic fields for initiating and sustaining plasma. The induced plasma is managed by an integrated plasma control system 106, which is designed to adjust the plasma characteristics as needed for effective material breakdown. From the reaction chamber, post-destruction, the process flow proceeds through two heat exchangers, HX1 and HX2. These heat exchangers recover heat from the high-temperature gases generated during the destruction process. The recovered heat can be redirected for use within the system or for external energy requirements, enhancing the overall energy efficiency of the system. The gases then pass through a stack 108 which serves as the discharge point for exhaust gases. The stack 108 is strategically placed to permit the safe release of processed gases after energy recovery in the heat exchangers HX1 and HX2. An emission control unit 109 is situated after the stack 108. This emission control unit ensures that emissions released into the atmosphere meet environmental standards, the unit may employ filters, scrubbers, and / or chemical treatments to reduce pollutants effectively. Figure 2 shows two views of an example of the form that the inductor may take. In this example the inductor 40 comprises a horizontal upper sheet 41 supported by three upright radially disposed lower sheets 42. The lower sheets are welded to the upper sheets. The inductor can assist as a catalyst to initiate a desired reaction or reaction conditions in the chamber. Thus, the inductor can be set in a state such that on introduction of feedstock into the chamber a desired reaction will take place. The inductor may also help to sustain such a reaction or reaction conditions. For example, the inductor may retain certain species and / or may have significant thermal mass to stabilize thermal and electrical processes. In that way, if there is an overall change in species or thermal energy in the reaction chamber the inductor may maintain reaction conditions in the vicinity of the inductor so that those reaction conditions can be restored in the chamber as a whole when chemical or thermal conditions are again suitable. In one example, the inductor is a metallic structure. It may be formed principally or wholly of any of the following materials or a combination thereof. It may have a surface coating that is principally or wholly of any of the following materials. The material from which the inductor is formed can be classified into ferrous metals, non-ferrous metals, and other materials. The ferrous metals include steel (including high-strength and mild steels), iron, iron-containing steel alloys (e.g. stainless steel). The non-ferrous metals include refractory metals and precious metals. The nonferrous metal may be titanium, aluminium, copper, tungsten, tantalum, platinum, iridium, palladium. The other materials include metal nitrides, metal carbides such as molybdenum carbide, graphene, carbon nanotubes, for example single-walled carbon nanotubes. The inductor may alternatively or further comprise a transition metal. Many of the listed materials, such as iron, nickel, copper, and titanium, are transition metals which are known for their variable oxidation states and catalytic properties. The inductor core may be coated with a transition metal (e.g. nickel, copper) or other materials (e.g. ceramic, silicon carbide) to enhance its properties or protect it from the high temperatures within the reactor. In an example of the inductor composition, the inductor is primarily steel. The inductor could be made entirely of steel, leveraging the magnetic properties and structural integrity. The inductor may have a steel core with a ceramic coating, such as silicon carbide, to improve its thermal and chemical resistance. The inductor could be constructed from a combination of materials, such as a steel core with a copper winding or a graphene-based coating, to tailor its properties for specific performance requirements. The inductor may conveniently be formed so that it has one or more of the following properties: a thermal mass, structural integrity in the presence of excited hydrogen at temperatures between 100 up to 1200°C, a relatively large surface area, and at least part of its surface exposing species suitable for adsorbing activated hydrogen. These properties will be considered in turn. The inductor's substantial thermal mass enables it to retain heat effectively, which is beneficial in two key aspects of managing reactions within the reaction chamber: Firstly, before initiating a reaction, the inductor can be preheated to a desired temperature. Once this temperature is reached, reactants can be introduced into the chamber. Due to its high thermal mass, the inductor can maintain the necessary temperature to start a reaction, even if the incoming reactants are considerably cooler. Secondly, the inductor's thermal mass helps stabilize its temperature against shortterm global temperature fluctuations that might occur during an ongoing reaction. These fluctuations could be caused by changes in the composition, energy content, or density of the feedstock, which the control system has not yet adjusted for. By buffering these temperature shifts, the inductor ensures consistent reaction conditions within the chamber. Figure 3 shows other examples of a form that the inductor may take. In one example, the inductor 40 comprises upright fin sheets 43 joined together with elements 44 which extend between the fin sheets. The fin sheets may intersect the centre of the inductor 45 or more conveniently may be angled so as to promote a rotational gas flow around the inductor. In another example shown in figure 3, the inductor 46 is substantially shaped as a disk having a central hole within the disk to promote gas circulation. Each sheet is of 10mm-thick mild steel. The sheets are welded together. For illustration, the width of the inductor may be 800mm and its height may be 500mm. The inductors of figures 2 and 3 present surfaces that are effective for adsorbing activated hydrogen. Active hydrogen refers to a hydrogen atom that is highly reactive and readily participates in chemical reactions. This enhanced reactivity typically arises in the following scenarios: Atomic Hydrogen: When hydrogen exists as individual atoms (H) rather than the usual diatomic molecules (H2), it is extremely reactive due to its unpaired electron seeking to form a bond. Polarized Hydrogen: In certain molecules, a hydrogen atom is bonded to a highly electronegative atom (e.g., oxygen, nitrogen). This creates a polar bond, leaving the hydrogen with a partial positive charge, making it more prone to interact with other molecules. During operation, an inductor in the reaction chamber may provide one or more of the following: (i) a gasifier surface, (ii) act as an electrical capacitor and / or thermal energy mass, (iii) act as a vortex inducer, (iv) convert gas to atomic species. Figure 4 shows the inductor 40 inside a reaction chamber 401 of a decomposition system. A perforated floor 403 is provided in the chamber. The perforate floor 403 is spaced above the base of the chamber by an extraction void 404. The perforate floor 403 comprises holes through its thickness so gases and solid particles can pass between the main reaction volume of the chamber (which is above the perforate floor) and the extraction void 404. For example, the perforate floor may be a drilled plate or a slatted sheet. Preferably the perforate floor is below at least 50% of the volume of the reaction chamber, the perforate floor may be below at least 70% of the volume of the reaction chamber. Figure 5 shows the control logic from startup through operation. The process begins with the preparation of biomass, which involves the drying and size reduction of biomass to improve the condition for processing. This prepared biomass is subsequently loaded into a reactor, where it undergoes preheating to reach the necessary temperature that facilitates the subsequent chemical processes. Following the preheating, a high-speed gas flow is initiated within the reactor. This gas flow supports the formation and maintenance of plasma needed for the conversion processes. The conditions within the chamber, specifically the pressure and temperature, are continuously monitored to ensure they remain within specified operational thresholds. If any deviations are detected, adjustments to the gas flow are made promptly to rectify the conditions. Humidity within the reactor is another factor that is managed. The process may require that the humidity level is maintained below 10%. To achieve this, the system is equipped with mechanisms to adjust the moisture content, either by drying or humidifying, depending on the initial humidity measurements. Once the environment within the reactor is stabilized, the system monitors for static discharges. The detection of such discharges is important as they trigger the generation of non-thermal plasma. The characteristics of these discharges, including pressure, amplitude, and voltage, are carefully analyzed to ensure the correct initiation of plasma processes. Upon successful detection of a discharge and the consequent plasma initiation, municipal solid waste (MSW) is introduced into the reactor. The MSW undergoes plasma treatment. During this plasma treatment various parameters such as plasma pressure, impedance, velocity, and emissions (including X-rays and UV light) are monitored. These parameters can be used to assess the effectiveness of the plasma formation and ensure plasma sustainment throughout the treatment process. The process then advances to the heat extraction phase, where the heat generated from the plasma treatment is extracted and may be utilized for further energy production. Concurrently, emissions from the process are controlled rigorously. The system ensures that all emissions, including gas compositions and particulate matter, remain within environmentally acceptable limits. In the final stages of the process, continuous monitoring and control are emphasized. The system adjusts various operational parameters such as pressure, flow rate, and energy use to optimize the performance and safety of the treatment process. This continuous oversight ensures that the system operates efficiently, maintains safety standards, and minimizes environmental impact. Figure 6 shows a system for the decomposition of feedstock, in this example, the system is a feedstock resource management system for processing waste. The feedstock may comprise a diverse range of constituents e.g. municipal waste. The system comprises a feeding mechanism for feeding feedstock to a reaction chamber. The system comprises a gas manipulation inductor. The inductor may serve as energy storage, vortex creator / facilitator, catalyst, absorption surface, discharge and plasma sites for initiating and sustaining a reaction in the chamber. A screw conveyer is especially suitable for moving the feedstock to the reaction chamber 56 when the feedstock is in the form of small particles. An example of such feedstock is shredded paper or cardboard. For best operation of this feeder or other feed apparatus, it may be desirable to pre-process the waste, for example by mechanical methods such as shredding and pelletising. This can reduce the overall size of the gross feedstock components. Instead of a screw conveyer as a feeder other feed apparatus such as a belt conveyor, hydraulic feed, or blowers can be used. The feed system may incorporate an air lock device to resist the flow of gases from the reaction chamber out through the feedstock feed screw. The feedstock is preferably fed continuously into the reaction chamber at a steady rate. Above the intermediate hopper 13 there may be instruments 16 to analyse the composition and humidity of the feedstock. Feedback controls may be used to vary one or more parameters in response to instrumentation feedback. For example, if the feedstock is determined to have a relatively high humidity, the rate of feedstock supply may be reduced or additives may be introduced to control the humidity level. Instrumentation can also be used to track the feedstock level in the hopper to control the input rate. Referring to figure 6, raw feedstock is received at inlet hopper 15. From there it is transported by a conveyor 14 to an intermediate hopper 13. The intermediate hopper 13 buffers the supply of feedstock to the reaction chamber 56 through a gas-tight screw feeding mechanism. As will be described further below, the rate of flow of feedstock can be adjusted to promote a desired operating state in the decomposition chamber. The intermediate hopper 13 also facilitate precise control and a steady supply of feedstock input into the reaction chamber. The reaction chamber 56 comprises a gas excitation system, an inductor 40 for controlling the gas movement and spin composition in the chamber, a process control system, and an inlet gas handling system 31. Optionally, the apparatus may have one or more hydrodynamic converters 54 in which charged particles moving from the reaction chamber can be utilized. During operation, energy from that field can be extracted for powering other equipment. The inductor 40 is located in the reaction chamber 56. It may be supported by a perforated floor. Below the perforated floor there may be an extraction void 55. In operation, as feedstock is introduced into the reaction chamber through the feeding mechanism 13, the feedstock releases gas when it is heated, and the gas excitation system is controlled to increase or maintain excitation levels of gases in the chamber through both a recirculation line and the interaction with the catalytic surface of the inductor 40. There may be two gas manipulation inductors positioned towards the top and bottom of the reaction chamber, respectively. The or each inductor may act as an energy bank, act to direct gas, induce and catalyse excited gas species at an elevated temperature and thereby serve as both a ionization device, discharge site and site for generating non-thermal plasma reactions. Without being bound by theory, it is understood that this interaction will lead to ionization, where ions from the gas phase are attracted to surfaces, causing discharge events. Under controlled conditions, this process can also be used to generate non-thermal plasma, where the gas is ionized without a significant increase in temperature, allowing for cold plasma to break up molecular bonds in the feedstock into atomic species and release hydrogen. In the presence of such non-thermal plasma, and as a result of interaction between the exited gas species and the feedstock, the feedstock is broken down into its fundamental elements in the vicinity of the gas manipulation inductor. Potential discharge sites are above the inductor, on the surface of waste in the vicinity of the inductor, in the zone between waste and the inductor, below the inductor and in the region of any heat exchanger influenced by the inductor. If the feedstock delivered into the system is too dry a water system 34 may be used to adjust the humidity of the feedstock for optimum performance. Below the gas manipulation inductor 40, a vortex created by the angled blades of the inductor will mix ionized gases, gases and particles causing discharge events below the inductor 40. Optionally the inductor 40 and secondary inductor can have different voltage potentials thus creating an electrical field and increasing discharge processes in the chamber. The discharge events below the inductor may serve several functions based on the gas composition, temperature, pressure, and particle size. Bigger particles may be broken down to smaller particles by discharge events. Gases in the discharge events below the inductor will have at least some of their molecular bonds broken, and gases may be broken down to elemental species and components. Depending on reactions and process parameters, the non-thermal plasma may also create hot thermal plasma reactions in localized regions. After the gases exit the main chamber through the exhaust port 7 the gases may be analysed before travel into a counter-flowing reaction chamber 37. The counter flowing reaction chamber 37 may be a heat exchanger. The counter-flowing reaction chamber 37 comprises an inlet, the inlet may be connected to a vortex chamber. The hot exhaust exits the combustion chamber 51 though the heat exchanger 37. Cooler gas may be introduced into the reaction chamber 51 through the heat exchanger 37 in a counterflow to be pre-heated before entry into the reaction chamber 56. The cooler gas may be fresh air. The fresh air coming into the system may be pretreated before going into the reaction chamber 56. This creates a preheated air supply going into the reaction chamber. Black carbon produced by the combustion in the combustion chamber 51 falls and is collected at the bottom of the chamber where it can be extracted. A second heat exchanger 38 may cool the exhaust gas further before it exits the system. The exhaust gas may also be used, for example in a turbine 19 or to produce electricity through known technology, utilizing the remaining thermal and kinetic energy. A cyclone separator and a wet scrubber system may be employed to eliminate heavy metals and / or acid gases from the cooled gas, further cleaning the gas prior to emission. A chimney can allow the remaining cleaned gas to exit the system. The reaction chamber 56 is a vessel suitable for containing the reaction to decompose the feedstock material. Conveniently, the reaction chamber may be a twin-walled vessel with thermal insulation or vacuum between the twin walls. The inner wall of the vessel can be made of a metal or heat-resistant material, preferably steel, e.g. stainless steel or mild steel. The dimensions of the reaction chamber can be selected depending on the scale of the process to be conducted. In some examples, the internal volume of the reaction chamber may be of cuboid shape, with width, depth and height each independently in the range from 800mm to 3000mm. Larger or smaller vessels are possible depending on the required capacity. The internal volume of the reaction chamber could be of cylindrical, cuboid, octahedral, spherical, conical, complex hybrid shapes or other shapes. Viewports may be provided for viewing the process and process control inside the chamber. An emergency relief valve may also be provided, to avoid a build-up of pressure in the chamber. The relief valve allows the chamber to be vented in the event of over-pressurisation. The main reactions in the chamber typically proceed in the global temperature range from 100 to 1200°C, however local temperatures at discharge events might range from 1000 to 40,000°C depending on operating parameters. The one or more inductors 40 can promote reactions at its surface. The greater the active area of the inductor, the greater its capacity to promote such reactions. It is therefore preferred that the inductor has a relatively large surface area. Preferably, the surface area of the inductor may be greater than 1 m2, more preferably greater than 2m2. The inductor may be formed from sheet material. One of the functions of the inductor is to split hydrogen from H2 to atomic hydrogen (H) and Rydberg matter for generating and sustaining an exited state and non-thermal plasma state in the reaction chamber. The activated hydrogen is adsorbed on the exterior of the inductor. A substantial portion of the surface of the inductor is preferably of one or more materials that is effective for adsorbing activated hydrogen. That material may, for example, be one of those listed above in connection with the inductor’s composition, e.g. a transition metal. The proportion of the surface of the inductor occupied by such materials is preferably greater than 50%. In one example that material is stainless steel. Nickel atoms in the stainless steel may especially contribute to the adsorption of activated hydrogen. The inductor may have an external surface whose composition is such as to provide one or more of the following functions, preferably all of the following functions: to dissociate gas, catalyse reactions to form excited gas (that is, to generate excited species, preferably including hydrogen and oxygen), operating as a gas manipulation device (to alter the gas composition at least locally to the inductor to promote desired reactions), operating as a thermal capacitor (that is to have significant thermal mass so as to buffer the excited states against short-term temperature changes in the reaction chamber), operating as a ferromagnetic source (that is to maintain a ferromagnetic state to attract magnetically susceptible species), and performing gas flow management (that is to promote a circulatory flow of gas in the reaction chamber). Before the system is set into its running state, the inductor may be preconditioned. This involves elevating the temperature of the inductor and adsorbing active species: in particular hydrogen, to the exterior of the inductor. The result of this preconditioning is that when the inductor is exposed to the feedstock, the active species can promote a plasma in the region of the inductor which can cause decomposition of the feedstock. If the feedstock and other feed(s) to the reaction chamber are of a suitable composition the reaction can then be sustained without further priming of the inductor. This is because (a) exothermic decomposition of the feedstock can maintain the temperature of the inductor in the desired range and (b) the feedstock may contain suitable species that, once liberated from the waste, can in turn be adsorbed on to the inductor as active species. Once the inductor is activated, feedstock can be introduced into the reaction chamber. The feedstock contacts the inductor which, in its highly energised state, causes a plasma to be generated in its vicinity. That plasma or other exothermic sources causes the decomposition of the waste. The decomposition of the feedstock will typically generate heat, radiation in various forms, hydrogen, other gases and particulates such as soot or carbon black. The inductor may be a monolithic object. It may be a static device. It might receive no electrical input during operation. It may be capable of inducing an auto-generating plasma as a result of surface interactions with excited and / or non-excited species, preferably without the addition of electrical energy, e.g. electrical energy exogenous to the reactor chamber. The plasma may be a non-thermal plasma. The plasma may comprise excited matter and / or species, for example an excited gas, an excited gas / liquid mixture, excited atoms of one or more elements, excited hydrogen, excited helium, excited nitrogen, excited oxygen, excited carbon or excited nitrogen. The plasma may be auto-generating in the sense that once the plasma has been induced, that plasma may induce additional matter to enter a plasma state, and that additional matter may then induce further matter to enter a plasma state, and so on. This self sustaining process may be enabled or facilitated by the inductor, and preferably by surface interactions between the inductor and matter not in a plasma state. The inductor may hold or attract excited species to its surface, and those excited species may excite further matter to an excited state. To this end, the inductor may conveniently expose metal at its surface, conveniently a transition metal such as iron or nickel. Once in a gaseous state, the feedstock, along with possible ash and water vapor is evacuated from the chamber by moving through the inductor. The gas is produced in the reaction chamber, thus there is a resultant positive pressure from the produced gas. It is preferable to keep the chamber at a slight negative pressure to prevent expulsion and to encourage appropriate gas behaviour through the inductor (i.e. downward flow through the inductor from inlet to outlet). A portion or majority of the gas is recirculated to prevent exothermic runaway and to ensure complete reaction of the gas constituents. At least one blower is operated to balance the gas flows. The system parameter may be controlled to control the gas flows independent of the gas composition, temperature, and velocity. In heat exchanger 37 of figures 6, exhaust gases are introduced at an angle, first expanding in a helical manner and then contracting in helical manner as the gases pass through the cavity between two spheres. This creates an opposing tornado-like or vortex interaction within both an outer and an inner sphere. These expanding and then contracting tornadoes provide heat exchange between incoming gas and outgoing exhaust gas, and strip electrons thus providing a positive charge on the outside surface of the inner sphere. The charge interaction and thermal radiation increases the temperature of the fresh air going into the reaction chamber thus providing increased reaction rates for a broader operating range with variable feedstock. The reaction chamber and the constituent processes that are contained within and external to can be controlled by a closed loop feedback control system. This control system may control variable inputs to control one or more outputs. Data such as gas composition, pressure, temperatures, that are produced by the process are available as control parameters. The control system may comprise a controller. The controller could be located locally near the reaction chamber, or be placed remotely. In one example, data sensed from the apparatus can be sent to a remote controller over a publicly available network such as the internet. The controller may analyse the received data and send control signals for controlling the apparatus over the same link. This allows one control apparatus to be shared between multiple decomposition apparatuses. To allow the decomposition apparatus to shut down in the event of a communications failure with the controller, each decomposition apparatus may be provided with a secondary controller which can autonomously implement a controlled shutdown sequence, for example by stopping the flow of feedstock into the reaction chamber and drawing reaction gases rapidly from the reaction chamber. In the examples described above, the feedstock may be hydrocarbon based and / or carbonaceous feedstock such as plastics, cardboard, paper and other organic material. It may include non-carbonaceous waste. It may be or include fuel, such as woodchips. The feedstock may include inorganic material, such as glass or metal. Preferably, the proportion of the feedstock that is inorganic material is less than 30% by mass, more preferably less than 20% by mass. Nevertheless, due to the strong decomposition as a result of the non-thermal plasma processes in the reaction chamber, such inorganic materials can be decomposed by the system described herein. The process control system and process gas system can cause surplus gas to be cooled and / or controlled by injecting hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and oxygen, thus controlling and optimizing process parameters internally in the chamber depending on incoming feedstock composition, allowing thermal energy to be recovered therefrom, and control destruction processes in the reaction chamber. The system may optionally comprise a product control system. The product control system may promote conditions in which reaction products from the reaction chamber can be recombined to form desired products such as synthetic gas. It may also capture particulate carbon output from the reaction chamber, thereby preventing emission of particulates to the atmosphere. In the system described above, feedstock is decomposed using excited gas and nonthermal plasma. This decomposition is considerably cleaner than traditional incineration processes because the products of the reaction contain less hazardous material and can be broken down to a greater extent than by combustion. Compared to known plasma decomposition methods, the system described above does not require the use of an exogenous plasma source, such as a plasma torch. In contrast, the plasma is generated and sustained by the maintenance of suitable conditions locally around the inductor. The methods described herein can provide for the ions to convert feedstock materials into ash, flue gas, and thermal energy, using cold plasma to enhance efficiency and reduce toxicity. The resulting ash, which would typically be high in toxic inorganic constituents existing as compact solids or particulate matter, can be effectively neutralized using non-thermal plasma to provide for a greater degree of breakdown than could be achieved by conventional combustion processes. This technology can allow safer disposal of ash and mitigate the inherent toxicity of the flue gases from feedstock decomposition. The process may also include a purification system for the flue gases, employing cold plasma to eliminate both gaseous and particulate contaminants. This can further improve environmental safety and permit controlled release of these gases into the atmosphere. The applicant hereby discloses in isolation each individual feature described herein and any combination of two or more such features, to the extent that such features or combinations are capable of being carried out based on the present specification as a whole in the light of the common general knowledge of a person skilled in the art, irrespective of whether such features or combinations of features solve any problems disclosed herein, and without limitation to the scope of the claims. The applicant indicates that aspects of the present invention may consist of any such individual feature or combination of features. In view of the foregoing description it will be evident to a person skilled in the art that various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention. The phrase "configured to" or “arranged to” followed by a term defining a condition or function is used herein to indicate that the subject of the phrase is in a state in which it has that condition, or is able to perform that function, without that object being modified or further configured.

Claims

1. A system for decomposing feedstock material in a non-thermal plasma process, the system comprising:a reaction chamber for receiving the feedstock material; andan inductor located in the reaction chamber for creating excited atoms so as to energize and sustain reactions in a non-thermal plasma to decompose the feedstock material inside the reaction chamber.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hydrogen source is water and the inductor comprises a metallic body having an external inductor surface such as to promote reaction of water to form one or more excited species.

3. A system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the composition of the inductor is such as to promote reaction of water to form excited species.

4. A system as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein the inductor comprises a lattice of metal plates whose external surface is the inductor surface.

5. A system as claimed in any of claims 2 to 5, wherein the inductor is capable of forming the excited species in the absence of input energy other than from the decomposition of the material.

6. A system as claimed in any of claims 2 to 5, wherein the composition of the inductor surface is such that the inductor surface can adsorb the excited species.

7. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein an exposed surface of the inductor comprises one or more components the or each of which is: a transition metal, a nitride of a transition metal, a carbide of a transition metal or carbon nanotubes.

8. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the inductor is configured so as to be capable of, when heated by the exothermic decomposition of the material, generating a plasma comprising the excited species.

9. A system as claimed in claim 2 or 3 or any of claims 4 to 8 as dependent on claims 2 or 3, wherein the excited species include hydrogen.

10. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising:one or more inlets for the material and a gas;one or more outlets for gas and / or plasma;a first impeller for encouraging gas to flow into the reaction chamber through one or more of the inlets;a second impeller for encouraging gas and / or plasma to flow out of the reaction chamber through one or more of the outlets;a dispenser for controlling the flow of material into the chamber;a sensor for sensing an operational condition in the chamber; andone or more processors configured to execute instructions to generate, in dependence on data received from the sensor, control outputs for the impellers and the dispenser so as to promote a condition in the reactor that sustains the generation of excited hydrogen by the inductor.

11. A system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the one or more processors are configured to:transmit over a communication link to a remote control entity remote from the processors, data indicative of the state of the system as received from the sensor;receive from the remote control entity one or more instructions for controlling the outputs for the impellers and / or the dispenser; andform the control outputs in dependence on the instructions.

12. A system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the sensor is a temperature sensor, a gas composition sensor, a gas flow sensor or a weight sensor configured to sense the weight of a part of the system that comprises the reaction chamber.

13. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising a cooling chamber, the cooling chamber communicating with the reaction chamber via a first outlet, and the cooling chamber comprising a heat exchanger for recovering heat from gas flowing from the reaction chamber to the cooling chamber.

14. A system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the reaction chamber comprises a ceiling at the top thereof and a floor at the base thereof, the first outlet extends through a wall of the reaction chamber, and the periphery of the first outlet is spaced from the floor of the reaction chamber by a threshold for resisting the passage of solid matter from the reaction chamber to the cooling chamber.

15. A system as claimed in claim 13 or 14, comprising thermal insulation between the reaction chamber and the cooling chamber, and wherein the reactor is mounted on electrically isolating mounts.

16. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising an electrical coil extending around the reaction chamber for generating an electrical flux in response to a circulatory flow of charged particles in the reaction chamber.

17. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the inductor comprises one or more vanes located in the reaction chamber for promoting a circulatory flow in the reaction chamber.

18. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising a store of carbon black and an actuator selectively operable to cause carbon black to flow from the store into the reaction chamber for generating or promoting promote a condition in the reactor that sustains the generation of excited species by the inductor.

19. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising a heater operable to heat the inductor for generating or promoting promote a condition in the reactor that sustains the generation of excited species by the inductor.

20. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising a reservoir configured to receive excess water from the reaction chamber.

21. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the material is carbonaceous material.

22. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the material is waste material.

23. A system for decomposing material, the system comprising:a reaction chamber for receiving the material; andan inductor arranged in the reaction chamber for causing the autogeneration of an excited medium in the reaction chamber, whereby the excited medium can decompose the feedstock material inside the reaction chamber.

24. A system as claimed in claim 23, wherein the excited medium is one of: a nonthermal plasma, an excited gas, an excited gas / liquid mixture, excited atoms and excited hydrogen.

25. A system as claimed in claim 23 or 24, wherein the excited medium is capable of exciting further matter to an excited state in the presence of the inductor.

26. A system as claimed in any of claims 23 to 25, wherein the excited medium is capable of exciting further matter to an excited state in the presence of the inductor and in the absence of exogenous input of electrical energy.

27. A method for exothermically decomposing carbonaceous material in the presence of a hydrogen source, the method comprising:receiving in a reaction chamber the carbonaceous material; andgenerating excited hydrogen in the reaction chamber by reacting the hydrogen source on the surface of an inductor located in the reaction chamber; andreacting the excited hydrogen with the carbonaceous material to cause the carbonaceous material to exothermically decompose.

28. A method for decomposing feedstock material in a non-thermal plasma process, the method comprising:providing in a reaction chamber an inductor for creating excited atoms so as to energize and sustain reactions in a non-thermal plasma to decompose feedstock material inside the reaction chamber;inducing a non-thermal plasma in the reaction chamber by means of the inductor; andintroducing the feedstock material to the reaction chamber whereby the feedstock material can be decomposed by the plasma.

29. A method as claimed in claim 28, wherein the step of inducing the plasma comprises heating the inductor to a temperature greater than 600°C and exposing the inductor to a hydrogen source.

30. A method as claimed in claim 29, wherein the hydrogen source is water.

31. A method as claimed in any of claims 28 to 30, comprising operating the reaction chamber such that formation of non-thermal plasma by the inductor is auto-generating.

32. A method as claimed in any of claims 28 to 31, comprising forming the non-thermal plasma in the absence of exogenous electrical energy.

33. A method as claimed in any of claims 28 to 32, wherein the material is carbonaceous material.

34. A method as claimed in claim 33, comprising exposing the carbonaceous material to the inductor so as to condense excited hydrogen onto the surface of the carbonaceous material.

35. A method as claimed in any of claims 28 to 34, wherein the step of inducing the non-thermal plasma is performed at a temperature not less than 100°C.

36. A method as claimed in claim 35, comprising, during the said step of inducing the excited plasma, maintaining the inductor at a temperature between 200 and 900°C as a result of heat released through the decomposition of the material.

37. A method as claimed in any of claims 28 to 36, comprising:providing a controller having one or more processors;providing a flow adjustment device for adjusting the rate of flow of gaseous material out of the reaction chamber and into a cooling chamber;providing a sensor for sensing an operational parameter in the cooling chamber;receiving at the controller an indication of a desired product; andgenerating by means of the controller, in dependence on the sensed operational parameter and the indication, a control output for controlling the flow adjustment device.

38. A method as claimed in claim 37, wherein the desired product is carbon.Application No: GB2410194.1Examiner:Nicholas MoleClaims searched: 23-26, 27Date of search: 10 March 2025Patents Act 1977Further Search Report under Section 17Documents considered to be relevant:Category Relevant to claims Identity of document and passage or figure of particular relevance v A 27 US 11935690 Bl (MESHCHANINOV et al.) see esp. figure 1 A - KR 20150098737 A (KOREA INST CERAMIC ENG &TECH) see abstracts and figure 2 A - US 2004 / 0055880 Al (GUNG et al.) see figure 2 A - CN 108668423 A (BEIJING NAURA MICROELECTRONICS EQUIPMENT CO LTD) see figure 3 and abstracts A - CN 103697656 A (INST PLASMA PHYSICS CAS) see abstractsCategories:X Document indicating lack of novelty or inventive step A Document indicating technological background and / or state of the art. Y Document indicating lack of inventive step if P Document published on or after the declared priority date but combined with one or more other documents of same category. before the filing date of this invention. & Member of the same patent family E Patent document published on or after, but with priority date earlier than, the filing date of this application.Field of Search:International Classification:Subclass Subgroup Valid From C01B 0032 / 05 01 / 01 / 2017Subclass Subgroup Valid From B09B 0003 / 70 01 / 01 / 2022 H05H 0001 / 46 01 / 01 / 2006Application No: GB2410194.1Examiner:Nicholas MoleClaims searched: 1-22, 28-38Date of search: 14 August 2024Patents Act 1977Corrected Search Report under Section 17Documents considered to be relevant:Category Relevant to claims Identity of document and passage or figure of particular relevance v A 1,2,3,4, 7, 9, 13, 14, 15, 17,21, 22, 28, 33, 37 US 11935690 Bl (MESHCHANINOV et al.) see esp. figure 1 X 1,28 CN 117926309 A (CHANGJIANG SANT ACC ENERGY TECH CO LTD) see figure 1 and abstractsCategories:X Document indicating lack of novelty or inventive step A Document indicating technological background and / or state of the art. Y Document indicating lack of inventive step if P Document published on or after the declared priority date but combined with one or more other documents of same category. before the filing date of this invention. & Member of the same patent family E Patent document published on or after, but with priority date earlier than, the filing date of this application.Field of Search:International Classification:Subclass Subgroup Valid From C01B 0032 / 05 01 / 01 / 2017 B09B 0003 / 70 01 / 01 / 2022 H05H 0001 / 46 01 / 01 / 2006

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