US 2025/0001385 A1Published application

Plasma Device With Inductively Coupled Electromagnets

AssigneeRimere, LLC

InventorGarrett Hill

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Abstract

Systems, methods, and devices using plasma to reform a hydrocarbon feedstock are described. A hydrocarbon feedstock is introduced to a first reaction zone having a first plasma, where the first plasma increases the excitation of the hydrocarbon, which could be up to 100% of the dissociation level. The excited hydrocarbons are then introduced to a glide arc plasma, which raises the excitation levels of the hydrocarbons past the dissociation level. Microwave energy is introduced to the glide arc plasma to propagate the hybrid plasma and maintain dissociation of the hydrocarbons, allowing for filtration of particulate and capture of hydrogen and carbon. Inductive coupling to the hybrid plasma may be further used to monitor reaction conditions in the hybrid plasma and maintain desired excitation of the hydrocarbons.

Claims25

Dependent claims

A plasma reformer for reforming a hydrocarbon feedstock, comprising:

a tube having an inlet configured to receive the feedstock, and an outlet configured to discharge reformation products formed by reforming the feedstock through first to third reaction zones within the tube;
the first reaction zone configured to generate a first plasma using electrodes separated by an insulating barrier;
the second reaction zone at least partially downstream of the first reaction zone, the second reaction zone configured to generate a second plasma using first and second electrodes separated by a variable inter-electrode gap in a lengthwise direction of the tube and configured to deliver an electric discharge to produce a second plasma different from the first plasma;
and
the third reaction zone at least partially downstream of the first reaction zone, the third reaction zone configured to direct a first energy in a direction crossing the lengthwise direction through the feedstock to produce a third plasma different from the first and second plasmas.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.