Dielectric barrier discharge reactor for catalytic nonthermal plasma production of hydrogen from methane

• Main Authors: Jorat, Masih, Kim, Soon Sam, Voecks, Gerald E, Kuthi, Andras
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 26.01.2021
• Subjects: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOIDCHEMISTRY; ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ELECTRICITY; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL; PLASMA TECHNIQUE; PRODUCTION OF ACCELERATED ELECTRICALLY-CHARGED PARTICLES OR OFNEUTRONS; PRODUCTION OR ACCELERATION OF NEUTRAL MOLECULAR OR ATOMICBEAMS; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS; TRANSPORTING

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.