Liquid Feedstock Plasma Conversion for Hydrogen Production
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing chemical transformation processes using plasmas are limited to gas phase reactions at low pressures, restricting their application in producing molecular hydrogen and other light hydrocarbons.
Innovation Solution
A reaction system that generates a plasma within a liquid phase in a reactor, using electrodes to create a high voltage discharge, allowing for the conversion of liquid feedstocks into chemicals like hydrogen and solid carbon at high pressures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If plasma processing is performed in gas phase at low pressures, then plasma reactions can be maintained, but the production of molecular hydrogen and light hydrocarbons is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of the feedstock from gas phase to liquid phase, and operates at elevated pressures rather than low pressures. This parameter change enables plasma processing to produce molecular hydrogen and light hydrocarbons with improved productivity and versatility, directly resolving the limitation of conventional gas phase plasma processes
2Productivity
If plasma is generated in liquid phase at high pressures, then production of molecular hydrogen and light hydrocarbons is enabled, but the technical challenge of maintaining plasma in liquid environment arises
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a dielectric liquid as an intermediary medium that allows plasma to be sustained at high pressures. The liquid medium serves as both the reaction environment and a mediator that enables plasma stability, solving the technical challenge of maintaining plasma in liquid phase while achieving high productivity for hydrogen and light hydrocarbon production
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
Enables the production of high-pressure gas phase products, including hydrogen and solid carbon, from liquid feedstocks, overcoming previous limitations by allowing plasma processing within liquids at elevated pressures.
Implementation Method 1
A plasma is a non-equilibrium state of matter in which reactive species can be produced in a steady-state process and used for chemical transformations
Implementation Method 2
an assembly with two or more electrodes within the reactor configured to generate a high voltage discharge within the one or more liquid reactants
Data Source
AI summary
A reaction system for carrying out a process for production of chemicals from liquid feedstocks includes a reactor containing one or more liquid reactants, an assembly with two or more electrodes within the reactor configured to generate a high voltage discharge within the one or more liquid reactants, an electrical power supply electrically coupled to the electrodes, inlets and outlets to the reactor for delivering reactants and removing products, and a pressure controller configured to control a pressure of the liquid reactants.