Decomposition of natural gas or methane using cold arc discharge
AssigneeAtlantic Hydrogen Inc.
InventorsTobie Jean BOUTOT, Zhuomin Liu, Kenneth Ricky Buckle, Francis Xavier Collins, Charles Andrew Estey, Donald MacFarlane Fraser, Stanley Jaye Claus, Thomas Keith Whidden
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Abstract
The invention provides methods and apparatus for a cold arc discharge used to decompose natural gas or methane into its gaseous constituents and carbon in the form of solid particles. The gaseous constituents obtained are mainly hydrogen and acetylene and they are produced in admixture with unreacted natural gas or methane.
Claims24
A method for decomposing natural gas or methane which comprises passing a flow of natural gas or methane through a reaction zone while generating in said reaction zone a pulsating cold arc discharge adapted to decompose the natural gas or methane into its gaseous constituents and carbon in the form of solid particles.
A method for decomposing natural gas or methane which comprises:
- (a) passing a flow of natural gas or methane through a reaction zone having a ground electrode on one side and a wall of dielectric material on the other, and having at least one HV electrode projecting through the wall of dielectric material, with a capacitor being provided in series with the HV electrode;
- (b) imparting a pulsating high voltage discharge through said capacitor and into said HV electrode so as to produce a cold arc discharge in the reaction zone between said HV electrode and the ground electrode, which cold arc discharge decomposes the natural gas or methane into its gaseous constituents and carbon in the form of solid particles;
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- (c) separating the carbon particles from the gaseous constituents essentially consisting of hydrogen and acetylene mixed with unreacted natural gas or methane.
A method of decomposing natural gas or methane which comprises:
- (a) passing a flow of natural gas or methane through a reaction zone formed between an electrode connected in series with a capacitor which is connected to the ground through a dielectric element on one side and a high voltage (HV) electrode on the other side;
- and
- (b) connecting a pulsating high voltage source to the HV electrode so as to generate a cold arc discharge in the reaction zone between the HV electrode and the capacitor-connected electrode, said cold arc discharge decomposing the natural gas or methane into its gaseous constituents and carbon in the form of solid particles.
Apparatus for decomposing natural gas or methane which comprises a reactor with a reaction zone, means for passing a flow of natural gas or methane through said reactor zone, and means for generating at least one pulsating cold arc discharge in said reaction zone such as to convert natural gas or methane into its gaseous constituents and carbon in the form of solid particles.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.