HYDROGEN PRODUCTION USING PLASMA- BASED REFORMATION
First Claim
1. A method for producing hydrogen gas, comprising:
- supplying a hydrocarbon fluid to a pair of spatially separated electrodes defining a gap between the pair of electrodes;
applying a voltage across the pair of electrodes to induce an electrical arc in the gap, wherein the electrical arc contacts the hydrocarbon to form a plasma and produce a gaseous product comprising hydrogen gas and a solid product comprising carbon; and
dynamically adjusting the spatial separation of the electrodes to change the length of the gap so as to control at least one parameter of the plasma.
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Abstract
Hydrogen gas production includes supplying a hydrocarbon fluid to a gap between a pair of electrodes, applying a voltage across the electrodes to induce an electrical arc, wherein the electrical arc contacts the hydrocarbon to form a plasma and produces a gaseous product comprising hydrogen gas and a solid product comprising carbon, and dynamically adjusting the gap length to control at least one parameter of the plasma. Preferably, the gap length is decreased during plasma initiation or reformation and increased to increase the hydrogen gas production rate. The method preferably includes dynamically adjusting the spatial separation of the electrodes and rotating at least one electrode while generating hydrogen gas to reduce adherence of solids to the electrodes. Furthermore, the polarity of the electrodes may be periodically reversed, primarily to reduce adherence of solids. If the hydrocarbon fluid is a liquid, the method may include controlling the level of the hydrocarbon liquid relative to the pair of electrodes.
53 Citations
43 Claims
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1. A method for producing hydrogen gas, comprising:
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supplying a hydrocarbon fluid to a pair of spatially separated electrodes defining a gap between the pair of electrodes;
applying a voltage across the pair of electrodes to induce an electrical arc in the gap, wherein the electrical arc contacts the hydrocarbon to form a plasma and produce a gaseous product comprising hydrogen gas and a solid product comprising carbon; and
dynamically adjusting the spatial separation of the electrodes to change the length of the gap so as to control at least one parameter of the plasma. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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Specification