Plasma microjet arrays for selective oxidation of methane to methanol
AssigneeCalifornia Institute of Technology
InventorsKonstantinos P. Giapis, R. Mohan Sankaran, Sean McHugh
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for converting methane to methanol by partial oxidation comprises a source of methane, a source of oxygen, and a capillary tube having an outflow end and an inflow end communicating with the sources of methane and oxygen. An anode is positioned proximate to but spaced from the capillary tube. A voltage source negatively biases the capillary tube relative to the anode. A plasma jet flows from the outflow end of the capillary tube. The methane partially oxidizes into methanol in a reaction zone in the plasma jet. A collector receives the methanol in the plasma jet for subsequent condensation, separation and purification.
Claims23
A method for converting methane to methanol by partial oxidation comprising:
- flowing a mixture of methane and oxygen into a capillary tube having an inflow end and an outflow end;
- negatively biasing the capillary tube relative to an anode;
- striking a plasma jet flowing from the outflow end of the capillary tube;
- partially oxidizing the methane into methanol in the plasma jet in a reaction zone of predetermined length;
- and
- flowing the methanol in the plasma jet past the anode.
An apparatus for converting methane to methanol by partial oxidation comprising:
- a source of methane;
- a source of oxygen;
- a capillary tube having an outflow end and an inflow end communicating with the sources of methane and oxygen;
- an anode proximate to but spaced from the capillary tube;
- a voltage source for negatively biasing the capillary tube relative to the anode;
- a plasma jet flowing from the outflow end of the capillary tube;
- a reaction zone for partially oxidizing the methane into methanol in the plasma jet;
- and
- a collector of the methanol in the plasma jet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.