Volume compensation in hydrogen production from hydrocarbons

A method for thermal cracking of a hydrocarbon to produce hydrogen gas, the method comprising:

• providing a molten medium in a reactor;
• mixing the hydrocarbon into the molten medium such that the mixed hydrocarbon and molten medium is carried through the reactor;
• at least while the mixed hydrocarbon and molten medium is being carried through the reactor, maintaining a temperature of the molten medium within at least a portion of the reactor at an operating temperature sufficient to thermally crack the hydrocarbon such that the hydrocarbon in the mixed molten medium and hydrocarbon is thermally cracked to yield carbon and hydrogen gas;
• separating the carbon and hydrogen gas from the molten medium that has passed through the reactor;
• and
• adding or removing the molten medium into the reactor to maintain a surface level of the molten medium in the reactor at a desired level.

A system for thermal cracking of a hydrocarbon to produce hydrogen gas, the system comprising:

• a reactor containing a molten medium;
• a heater operable to heat the molten medium to an operating temperature sufficient to thermally crack the hydrocarbon;
• a gas fluid contactor operable to mix the hydrocarbon into the molten medium;
• and
• level control means for adding or removing the molten medium into the reactor to maintain a surface level of the molten medium in the reactor at a desired level.

A method for thermal cracking of a hydrocarbon to produce hydrogen gas, the method comprising:

• heating a molten medium to an operating temperature sufficient to thermally crack the hydrocarbon;
• mixing the hydrocarbon into the heated molten medium;
• pumping the mixed molten medium and hydrocarbon to flow through a reactor in a turbulent flow such that the hydrocarbon is thermally cracked to yield carbon and hydrogen gas;
• separating the carbon and hydrogen gas from the molten medium that has passed through the reactor.