Foaming System for Heavy Hydrocarbon Plasma Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies face challenges in efficiently converting heavy hydrocarbons to lighter hydrocarbons using non-thermal plasma, as they often require high energy inputs and struggle with effective gas-liquid interactions.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a foaming process to create a heavy crude oil foam, which is then subjected to a non-thermal plasma reactor, enhancing gas-liquid interactions and improving the conversion efficiency of heavy hydrocarbons to lighter hydrocarbons.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional non-thermal plasma processing is used for heavy hydrocarbon conversion, then the conversion process can be performed, but high energy input is required and gas-liquid interactions are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state of the hydrocarbon from liquid to foam by controlling pressure and temperature parameters. The hydrocarbon is pressurized to dissolve processing gas, then rapidly depressurized to create foam with extensive gas-liquid interface, fundamentally altering the physical parameters to improve plasma processing efficiency and reduce energy input
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes phase transition of the processing gas from dissolved state to foamed state through rapid pressure change. This phase transition creates a foam structure with vast surface area, enhancing gas-liquid interactions and improving conversion efficiency while reducing the energy required for plasma processing
2Productivity
If conventional non-thermal plasma processing is used for heavy hydrocarbon conversion, then the process can proceed, but gas-liquid interactions are ineffective
Solution Approach 1:
By changing pressure parameters from high to low rapidly, the system transforms the hydrocarbon into foam form, creating extensive gas-liquid interface area. This parameter change ensures effective gas-liquid interactions throughout the plasma processing, improving conversion rate and reliability simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The foam structure acts as an intermediary between gas and liquid phases, providing a vast interface area for effective interactions. The foam bubbles serve as intermediate structures that facilitate mass transfer and chemical reactions between the processing gas and heavy hydrocarbon, enhancing conversion effectiveness
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The foaming system significantly increases the plasma-liquid interface, leading to a higher conversion rate of heavy hydrocarbons to lighter hydrocarbons, with improved foam stability and gas fraction distribution, thus enhancing processing efficiency and reducing costs.
Implementation Method 1
a jet ejector for mixing the processing gas and the hydrocarbon to be processed to yield a pre-foaming mixture
Implementation Method 2
compress the pre-foaming mixture to a second pressure that is higher than the first pressure by routing it through a nozzle
Implementation Method 3
generate a foam by allowing the pre-foaming mixture at the second pressure to expand in a chamber at a third pressure that is lower than the first or second pressures
Implementation Method 4
at least one pair of spark gap electrodes capable of subjecting the foam to a plasma discharge to yield a processed mixture
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for converting heavy hydrocarbons to light hydrocarbons includes an inlet capable of supplying a pre-foaming mixture comprising a hydrocarbon to be processed and a processing gas, wherein the processing gas is dissolved in the hydrocarbon to be processed; a foam generator configured to receive the pre-foaming mixture at a first pressure, compress the pre-foaming mixture to a second pressure that is higher than the first pressure by routing it through a nozzle; and generate a foam by allowing the pre-foaming mixture at the second pressure to expand in a chamber at a third pressure that is lower than the first or second pressures; a plasma reactor, wherein the plasma reactor is capable of receiving the foam and comprises at least one pair of spark gap electrodes capable of subjecting the foam to a plasma discharge to yield a processed mixture; and an outlet capable of receiving the processed mixture.