Plasma quench technology for natural gas conversion applications
- Idaho National Engineering Lab., Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
This paper describes the experimental demonstration of a process for direct conversion of methane to acetylene in a thermal plasma. The process utilizes a thermal plasma to dissociate methane and form an equilibrium mixture of acetylene followed by a supersonic expansion of the hot gas to preserve the produced acetylene in high yield. The high translational velocities and rapid cooling result in an overpopulation of atomic hydrogen which persists throughout the expansion process. The presence of atomic hydrogen shifts the equilibrium composition by inhibiting complete pyrolysis of methane and acetylene to solid carbon. This process has the potential to reduce the cost of producing acetylene from natural gas. Acetylene and hydrogen produced by this process could be used directly as industrial gases, building blocks for synthesis of industrial chemicals, or oligomerized to long chain liquid hydrocarbons for use as fuels. This process produces hydrogen and ultrafine carbon black in addition to acetylene.
- Research Organization:
- International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; American Physical Society, New York, NY (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 223684
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-950875-Vol.2; TRN: 96:002546-0007
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 12. international symposium on plasma chemistry, Minneapolis, MN (United States), 21-25 Aug 1995; Other Information: PBD: Jul 1995; Related Information: Is Part Of 12th International symposium on plasma chemistry. Proceedings, Volume 2; Heberlein, J.V.; Ernie, D.W.; Roberts, E.D. [eds.] [Minnesota Univ., Minneapolis, MN (United States)]; PB: 615 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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