Methods for generating hydrogen gas using plasma sources

• US 9,677,431 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2013
• Issued: 06/13/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Powerdyne, Inc. (Powerdyne International, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Powerdyne, Inc. (Powerdyne International, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hirson, Geoffrey, Shouse, Gus F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mayekar, Kishor
• Application Number:
  US14/426,052
• Publication Number:
  US 20150224467A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,377 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 21/0009 Settling tanks making use of electricity or magnetism electric ultra filters B01D61/425; filters making use of electricity or magnetism B01D35/06; magnetic or electrostatic separation B03C
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 21/01 using flocculating agents for purifying water C02F1/52; for liquid radioactive waste G21F9/10
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 12/002 carried out in the plasma state generating or handling plasma H05H1/00
• 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 2219/0809 employing two or more electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0815 involving stationary electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0875 Gas
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0877 Liquid
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0898 Hot plasma
• CPC Class Codes: B09B 3/29 involving a melting or softening step
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/062 Hydrocarbon production, e.g. Fischer-Tropsch process
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0861 by plasma
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/02 Production of hydrogen or of gaseous mixtures containing a substantial proportion of hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/042 Decomposition of water
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/12 by reaction of water vapour with carbon monoxide
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 1/04 from carbon monoxide with hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 2/32 with the use of catalysts
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 1/06 for spark ignition
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 1/08 for compression ignition
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 2200/0415 Light distillates, e.g. LPG, naphtha
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 2200/0423 : Gasoline
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 2200/043 : Kerosene, jet fuel
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 2200/0446 : Diesel
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 2290/38 : Applying an electric field or inclusion of electrodes in the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 2290/42 : Fischer-Tropsch steps
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 25/06 : using mixtures of different fluids plants using mixtures of steam and gas F01K21/04
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 1/05 : characterised by the type or source of heat, e.g. using nuclear or solar energy
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 1/34 : Details, e.g. electrodes, nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 1/42 : with provisions for introducing materials into the plasma, e.g. powder, liquid arc stabilising or constricting arrangements H05H1/3405; coaxial protecting fluids H05H1/341; electrostatic spraying, spraying apparatus with means for charging the spray electrically B05B5/00 ; cf. B23K9/324, B05B7/22
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 1/44 : using more than one torch
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/30 : Fuel from waste, e.g. synthetic alcohol or diesel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/36 : Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/129 : Energy recovery, e.g. by cogeneration, H2recovery or pressure recovery turbines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/678 : Aviation using fuels of non-fossil origin

Abstract

Methods of making a fuel fluid are disclosed. A first working fluid and a second working fluid may be provided. The first working fluid may be exposed to a first high voltage electric field to produce a first fluid plasma, and the second working fluid may be exposed to a second high voltage electric field to produce a second fluid plasma. The first fluid plasma and the second fluid plasma may be contacted to form a fluid plasma mixture, which is transported to a heat exchange device. The fluid plasma mixture may be cooled to form a fuel fluid; and the fuel fluid may be collected.

Claims

1. A method of making a fuel fluid, the method comprising:

providing a first working fluid of oxygen gas;

exposing the first working fluid to a first high voltage electric field to produce a first fluid plasma;

providing a second working fluid of water vapor;

exposing the second working fluid to a second high voltage electric field to produce a second fluid plasma;

contacting the second fluid plasma with the first fluid plasma to form a fluid plasma mixture;

transporting the fluid plasma mixture to a heat exchange device;

cooling the fluid plasma mixture using the heat exchange device to form a fuel fluid; and

collecting the fuel fluid.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein exposing the first working fluid to a first high voltage electric field comprises:

providing an anode surface;

providing a cathode surface at a distance from the anode surface to create a gap between the anode surface and the cathode surface;

providing a high voltage electric potential between the anode surface and the cathode surface; and

causing the first working fluid to traverse the gap.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the high voltage electric potential is about 5 kV/cm times the distance in centimeters to about 60 kV/cm times the distance in centimeters.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the first high voltage electric potential has a frequency of about 1 MHz to about 50 MHz.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein exposing the second working fluid to a second high voltage electric field comprises:

providing an anode surface;

providing a cathode surface at a distance from the anode surface to create a gap between the anode surface and the cathode surface;

providing a high voltage electric potential between the anode surface and the cathode surface; and

causing the second working fluid to traverse the gap.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the high voltage electric potential is about 2.4 kV times the distance in centimeters to about 60 kV times the distance in centimeters.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the second high voltage electric potential has a frequency of about 1 MHz to about 50 MHz.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein exposing the first working fluid to a first high voltage electric field comprises causing the first working fluid to pass through a first plasma torch.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein exposing the second working fluid to a second high voltage electric field comprises causing the second working fluid to pass through a second plasma torch.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein:

exposing the first working fluid to a first high voltage electric field comprises causing the first working fluid to pass through a plasma torch, and

exposing the second working fluid to a second high voltage electric field comprises causing the second working fluid to pass through the plasma torch.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein contacting the second fluid plasma with the first fluid plasma comprises directing the second fluid plasma to mix with the first fluid plasma, directing the first fluid plasma to mix with the second fluid plasma, or directing the second fluid plasma and directing the first fluid plasma to mix together.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid plasma mixture has an initial temperature of about 7232°

F. (4000°

C.) to about 36032°

F. (20000°

C.).

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

cooling the plasma mixture using a coolant prior to transporting the plasma mixture to the heat exchange device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the coolant comprises liquid oxygen.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein cooling the fluid plasma mixture comprises cooling the fluid plasma mixture to a temperature of about 100°

F. (38°

C.) to about 2950°

F. (1620°

C.).

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the heat exchange device is a heat recovery steam generator.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the second working fluid comprises at least in part an amount of steam generated by the heat recovery steam generator.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the fuel fluid is hydrogen.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a processing chamber comprising a plurality of inlets and at least one outlet, wherein contacting the second fluid plasma mixture with the first fluid plasma comprises contacting the second fluid plasma with the first fluid plasma in the processing chamber.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the processing chamber maintains an internal pressure between 50 kPa and 507 kPa.