# US 2023/0264167 A1 · Plasmalysis Apparatus For The Corona Discharge-Induced Cracking Of Hydrogen-Containing Gas

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 2023/0264167 A1
- Document ID: US20230264167A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 18/011,374
- Filed: 2021-06-23
- Published: 2023-08-24
- Earliest claimed: 2020-06-26
- Assignees: Graforce GmbH
- Applicants: Graforce GmbH
- Inventors: Jens Hanke; Sascha Knist
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20230264167A1

## CPC

- B01J 19/088: {giving rise to electric discharges (for heating purposes H05B7/00; for the production of ozone C01B13/11, H01T19/00)}
- B01J 2219/0807: involving electrodes
- B01J 2219/0849: Corona pulse discharge
- B01J 2219/0869: Feeding or evacuating the reactor
- B01J 2219/0875: Gas
- B01J 2219/0896: Cold plasma
- Y02E 60/36: Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis
- B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

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.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A plasmalysis apparatus for corona discharge-induced cracking of hydrogen-containing gas into molecular hydrogen and at least one by-product or for producing molecular hydrogen and at least one by-product, comprising:
a gas-tight reaction chamber;
a gas supply line for the hydrogen-containing gas into the reaction chamber;
exactly one plasma electrode for generating corona discharges in the reaction chamber by means of a high-frequency alternating voltage; and
a gas discharge line for the molecular hydrogen from the reaction chamber;
wherein 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, and wherein the plasma electrode is connected to a high-frequency generator for generating the high-frequency alternating voltage.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The plasmalysis apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gas supply line is arranged in such a way that the hydrogen-containing gas flows along a surface of the plasma electrode in the direction of the corona discharge.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The plasmalysis apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plasma electrode has a flat end for generating the corona discharges in the reaction chamber.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The plasmalysis apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plasma electrode has an opening (34) that is connected to the gas supply line, and wherein the plasma electrode is arranged in such a way that the hydrogen-containing gas is fed into the reaction chamber through the opening of the plasma electrode.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The plasmalysis apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plasmalysis apparatus features an insulator that electrically insulates the plasma electrode from an outside of the wall.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The plasmalysis apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reaction chamber has a tapered section and an enlarged section between the gas supply line and the gas discharge line.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The plasmalysis apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising at least two plasmalysis apparatuses, wherein the plasmalysis apparatuses are connected in parallel or in series.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The plasmalysis apparatus according to claim 7, comprising:
a storage unit containing a substance that can be used to generate hydrogen-containing gas; and/or
a storage unit (702) with hydrogen-containing gas; and/or
an energy system for providing energy for the corona discharge-induced cracking of hydrogen-containing gas into molecular hydrogen and the at least one by-product; and/or
a hydrogen storage unit for storing the molecular hydrogen;
a drive that can be powered with molecular hydrogen; and/or
an energy system that can be operated with molecular hydrogen.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The plasmalysis apparatus according to one claim 1, wherein the hydrogen-containing gas is supplied through operation of a stationary structure or a mobile structure.

### Claim 10 (depends on 4)

The plasmalysis apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the apparatus is capable of emitting surge gas pulses from the opening of the plasma electrode to remove solid by-product forming in the reaction chamber from the reaction chamber.

### Claim 11 (depends on 4)

The plasmalysis apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the opening of the plasma electrode is designed as a nozzle for feeding the hydrogen-containing gas into the reaction chamber.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The plasmalysis apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a cross-section of the reaction chamber is enlarged in a direction from the gas supply line to the gas discharge line.

### Claim 13

A method for the corona discharge-induced cracking of hydrogen-containing gas into molecular hydrogen and at least one by-product, or for producing molecular hydrogen and at least one by-product, or
for producing downstream products from the molecular hydrogen and/or the at least one by-product,
comprising:
feeding a hydrogen-containing gas into a gas-tight reaction chamber; and
generating a corona discharge in the reaction chamber by means of exactly one plasma electrode operated with a high-frequency alternating voltage, wherein 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,
wherein molecular hydrogen and the at least one by-product are generated by the corona discharge.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method pursuant to claim 13, further comprising the step of using the molecular hydrogen for at least one of the following applications:
as fuel
for the production of a hydrogen combustion product
as a propellant
for operating a hydrogen-powered vehicle
for mixing with liquefied petroleum gas
for mixing with liquefied natural gas
for mixing with liquefied biomethane
for mixing with natural gas
for mixing with methane
for producing synthesis gas
for producing synthetic fuel
for producing ammonia
for refining crude oil
for hydrogenation of chemical compounds
for operating a hydrogen turbine
for operating a fuel cell
for operating combined heat and power
for operating a combined heat and power plant
for generating energy by means of a fuel cell
for generating energy and/or heat by means of combined heat and power
in a gas separation system
in a gas compression system
for producing synthetic raw materials
for storing energy
for generating heat
for generating energy.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The method pursuant to claim 13, further comprising the step of using the at least one by-product for at least one of the following applications:
as a reducing agent in the production of steel
as fuel
as an adsorbent
as substrate of catalysts for heterogeneous catalysis
as base material in the production of carbon structures
as additive in the production of asphalt
as additive in the production of cement
as additive in the production of concrete
as an ingredient in a thermally conductive agent
as activated carbon for wastewater treatment
as a feed additive
as a binder additive
as an additive to the soil for improved storage of nutrients
as carbon for extracting phosphorous and other basic chemical substances in sewage sludge
as an additive in building materials
as an additive in plastics
for insulation
for filtration
for packaging
for lightweight construction.