skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Nonthermal plasma systems and methods for natural gas and heavy hydrocarbon co-conversion

Patent ·
OSTI ID:1175361

A reactor for reactive co-conversion of heavy hydrocarbons and hydrocarbon gases and includes a dielectric barrier discharge plasma cell having a pair of electrodes separated by a dielectric material and passageway therebetween. An inlet is provided for feeding heavy hydrocarbons and other reactive materials to the passageway of the discharge plasma cell, and an outlet is provided for discharging reaction products from the reactor. A packed bed catalyst may optionally be used in the reactor to increase efficiency of conversion. The reactor can be modified to allow use of a variety of light sources for providing ultraviolet light within the discharge plasma cell. Methods for upgrading heavy hydrocarbons are also disclosed.

Research Organization:
Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
AC07-05ID14517
Assignee:
Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC (Idaho Falls, ID)
Patent Number(s):
6,896,854
Application Number:
10/059,669
OSTI ID:
1175361
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (2)

Generation of atmospheric pressure plasma with a dual-chamber discharge journal October 2000
EHD surface waves of diesel oil thin films generated by wire-plate barrier discharges conference August 2002