DIELECTRIC BARRIER DISCHARGE REACTOR FOR CATALYTIC NONTHERMAL PLASMA PRODUCTION OF HYDROGEN FROM METHANE

• US 20190321799A1
• Filed: 04/04/2019
• Published: 10/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: California Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: California Institute of Technology
• Inventors: KIM, Soon Sam, VOECKS, Gerald E., KUTHI, Andras, JORAT, Masih
• Granted Patent: US 10,898,875 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/088 giving rise to electric discharges for heating purposes H05B7/00; for the production of ozone C01B13/11, H01T19/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0815 involving stationary electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0833 forming part of a full circle
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0841 Metal
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0875 Gas
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0896 Cold plasma
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0233 the reforming step being a steam reforming step
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0861 by plasma
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/1011 Packed bed of catalytic structures, e.g. particles, packing elements
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/1241 Natural gas or methane
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/38 using catalysts
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 1/2406 using dielectric barrier discharges, i.e. with a dielectric interposed between the electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 1/2431 using cylindrical electrodes, e.g. rotary drums
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 1/2443 the plasma fluid flowing through a dielectric tube
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 1/245 the plasma being activated using internal electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 1/2465 the plasma being activated by inductive coupling, e.g. using coiled electrodes

Abstract

A dielectric barrier discharge reactor for catalytic nonthermal plasma production of hydrogen from methane. The dielectric barrier discharge reactor includes two end pieces connected by a dielectric tube, two steam generators, two catalyst cages, two perforated tube center electrodes, a center electrode rod, a grounding electrode. In one aspect, the end pieces and the dielectric tube are fabricated from ceramic and fused quartz respectively. In another aspect, the dielectric barrier discharge reactor further includes catalyst cages. In yet another aspect, the catalyst cages contain catalysts in form of pellets. In an alternate aspect, the dielectric barrier discharge reactor acts to cause a reaction between incoming reactant gases. The reaction is achieved under a plasma which is generated between the perforated tubular center electrode and the ground electrode. In yet another alternate aspect, the dielectric barrier discharge reactor is used at home to generate hydrogen from methane.

Claims

1. A catalytic nonthermal plasma apparatus, comprising:

a first end piece with a plurality of conduits;

a first steam generator connected to the first end piece;

a perforated tubular center electrode connected to the first steam generator; and

a surrounding ground electrode,

wherein the first end piece, the first steam generator, the perforated tubular center electrode and the surrounding ground electrode, in combination, enable catalytic nonthermal plasma production of hydrogen from methane.

2. The catalytic nonthermal plasma apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of catalyst cages.

3. The catalytic nonthermal plasma apparatus of claim 2, wherein the plurality of catalyst cages comprise catalysts.

4. The catalytic nonthermal plasma apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second end piece with a plurality of conduits and a second steam generator connected to the second end piece.

5. The catalytic nonthermal plasma apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a dielectric barrier tube, wherein the tube connects between the first end piece and the second end piece.

6. The catalytic nonthermal plasma apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a first and second ring holders.

7. The catalytic nonthermal plasma apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first ring holder is connected to the first end piece and the second ring holder connects to the second end piece.

8. The catalytic nonthermal plasma apparatus of claim 1, wherein the perforated tubular center electrode is fabricated from molybdenum.

9. The catalytic nonthermal plasma apparatus of claim 7, wherein the first and second end pieces, and the first and second ring holders are all fabricated from ceramic, and wherein the dielectric tube is fabricated from fused quartz.

17. The catalytic nonthermal plasma apparatus of claim 3, wherein the catalysts are in form of pellets.

10. A method of production of hydrogen from methane, the method comprising:

providing a first end piece with a plurality of conduits;

providing a first steam generator connected to the first end piece;

providing a perforated tubular center electrode connected to the first steam generator;

providing a surrounding ground electrode; and

providing methane and water,

wherein the first end piece, the first steam generator, the perforated tubular center electrode and the surrounding ground electrode, in combination, act to cause a reaction between the methane and the water and thereby produce hydrogen.

11. The method of production of hydrogen from methane of claim 10, wherein a plasma is produced by the perforated tubular center electrode and the surrounding ground electrode, and wherein the reaction between the methane and the water is assisted by the plasma.

12. The method of production of hydrogen from methane of claim 11, further comprising providing a catalyst, wherein the reaction between the methane and the water is assisted by the catalyst.

13. The method of production of hydrogen from methane of claim 11, further comprising providing a heat source, wherein the reaction between the methane and the water is assisted by the heat from the heat source.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the perforated tubular center electrode is fabricated from molybdenum.

14. A dielectric barrier discharge reactor, comprising:

a first end piece with a plurality of conduits;

a first steam generator connected to the first end piece;

a perforated tubular center electrode connected to the first steam generator; and

a surrounding ground electrode,

wherein the first end piece, the first steam generator, the perforated tubular center electrode and the surrounding ground electrode, in combination, enable catalytic nonthermal plasma production of hydrogen from methane.

15. The dielectric barrier discharge reactor of claim 14, further comprising a plurality of catalyst cages.

16. The dielectric barrier discharge reactor of claim 15, wherein the perforated tubular center electrode and the surrounding grounded electrode act, in combination, to create a uniform plasma over the plurality of catalyst cages.