Single-Electrode Corona Plasmalysis for Atmospheric-Pressure Gas Cracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for cracking hydrogen-containing gases, such as methane and hydrogen sulfide, into molecular hydrogen and by-products are inefficient, require high energy consumption, and often operate under reduced pressure, leading to high costs and potential contamination of electrodes.
Innovation Solution
A plasmalysis apparatus using a single plasma electrode with a high-frequency alternating voltage generates a non-thermal corona discharge within a gas-tight reaction chamber, insulated from the wall, allowing efficient cracking of hydrogen-containing gases into molecular hydrogen and by-products at atmospheric pressure, reducing energy consumption and electrode contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If microwave plasma processes are used for cracking hydrogen-containing gas, then molecular hydrogen can be produced, but energy consumption is high and efficiency is limited to about 60 percent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces microwave plasma technology with corona discharge technology. This substitution changes the fundamental mechanism from microwave heating to electric field-driven ionization, achieving non-thermal plasma that selectively activates chemical bonds without excessive thermal energy input, thereby improving efficiency to 85% and reducing energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operating parameters from microwave frequency (2.45 GHz) to high-frequency alternating voltage (10-100 kHz). This parameter change enables corona discharge to occur at atmospheric pressure with lower energy input, achieving higher hydrogen production efficiency while consuming less energy per unit of hydrogen produced.
2Productivity
If plasma electrodes are used in corona discharge reactors, then cracking of hydrogen-containing gas can occur, but electrodes become contaminated and worn over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the plasma-generating function from solid electrodes by using a needle electrode that generates corona discharge without direct contact with the reaction mixture. The corona discharge occurs in the gas phase around the needle, preventing electrode contamination while maintaining cracking efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a needle electrode as an intermediary that generates corona discharge through its electric field without the electrode material directly participating in or contaminating the reaction. The corona discharge acts as a mediator that transfers energy to the gas molecules for cracking without requiring electrode-material-gas interaction.
3Reliability
If reduced pressure is used in plasma reactors, then corona discharge can be maintained, but operating costs increase and system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the pressure parameter from reduced pressure to atmospheric pressure by adjusting the corona discharge parameters (high-frequency alternating voltage at 10-100 kHz). This allows the reactor to operate without complex vacuum systems, reducing device complexity and operating costs while maintaining stable corona discharge and reliable hydrogen 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
The apparatus achieves an efficiency of 85% in producing molecular hydrogen with lower energy input compared to microwave processes, operates at atmospheric pressure, and minimizes electrode wear and contamination, enabling cost-effective production of molecular hydrogen and by-products.
Implementation Method 1
exactly one plasma electrode for generating corona discharges in the reaction chamber by means of a high-frequency alternating voltage
Implementation Method 2
a non-thermal plasma is generated during the corona discharge
Implementation Method 3
The plasma electrode is connected to a high-frequency generator for generating the high-frequency alternating voltage
Implementation Method 4
The gas-tight reaction chamber is enclosed by a wall which is designed to electrically insulate the plasma electrode from an outside of the wall
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to the corona discharge-induced cracking of hydrogen-containing gas into molecular hydrogen and at least one by-product, or the production of molecular hydrogen and at least one by-product, or the production of downstream products from the molecular hydrogen and/or the at least one by-product. To this end, hydrogen-containing gas is fed via a gas supply line into a gas-tight reaction chamber with exactly one plasma electrode. The gas-tight reaction chamber is enclosed by a wall that is designed to electrically insulate the plasma electrode from an outside of the wall. The plasma electrode is connected to a high-frequency generator that provides high-frequency alternating voltage and generates corona discharges in the reaction chamber by means of the high-frequency alternating voltage. This results in the cracking of hydrogen-containing gas into molecular hydrogen and at least one by-product. The molecular hydrogen is discharged from the reaction chamber via a gas discharge line. The hydrogen-containing gas can contain, for example, methane, biogas, natural gas, hydrogen sulfide, or cyclohexane, heptane, toluene, gasoline, JP-8, or diesel that have been converted into the gaseous aggregate state.