Gas-to-liquid reactor and method of using
A device and a process to propagate molecular growth of hydrocarbons, either straight or branched chain structures, that naturally occur in the gas phase to a molecular size sufficient to shift the natural occurring phase to a liquid or solid state is provided. According to one embodiment, the device includes a grounded reactor vessel having a gas inlet, a liquid outlet, and an electrode within the vessel; a power supply coupled to the electrode for creating an electrostatic field within the vessel for converting the gas to a liquid and or solid state.
1 . A method for hydrocarbon conversion, comprising:
introducing a first gaseous hydrocarbon having a first molecular weight into a vessel, the vessel comprising an outlet and a liquid level controller coupled to a liquid control valve, and wherein the vessel is charged or grounded;
maintaining, via manipulation of the liquid control valve by the liquid level controller, a liquid level within the vessel so that the outlet of the vessel is located at a level below a liquid gas interface of the vessel, and
subjecting the first gaseous hydrocarbon to an electric field to create a plasma in the vessel, whereby at least a portion of the first gaseous hydrocarbon is converted to a second hydrocarbon having a second molecular weight.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the second molecular weight is greater than the first molecular weight.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the heavier hydrocarbon is a liquid hydrocarbon.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the electric field is variable frequency electric field.
5 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising adjusting a frequency of the variable frequency electric field to adjust a rate of conversion of the first gaseous hydrocarbon to the second hydrocarbon.
6 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
measuring a characteristic of a product formed in the vessel, the product comprising the second hydrocarbon; and
adjusting a frequency of the variable frequency electric field in response to the measured characteristic.
7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising subjecting the first gaseous hydrocarbon to a variable voltage electric field.
8 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising adjusting a voltage of the variable voltage electric field to adjust a rate of conversion of the first gaseous hydrocarbon to the second hydrocarbon.
9 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
measuring a characteristic of a product formed in the vessel, the product comprising the second hydrocarbon; and
adjusting a voltage of the variable voltage electric field in response to the measured characteristic.
10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising subjecting the first gaseous hydrocarbon to a variable frequency and a variable voltage electric field.
11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising adjusting a frequency and a voltage of the variable frequency and variable voltage electric field to adjust a rate of conversion of the first gaseous hydrocarbon to the second hydrocarbon.
12 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising introducing the first gaseous hydrocarbon introduced into the vessel at a controlled rate based on conversion of the first gaseous hydrocarbon to the second hydrocarbon.
13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein an amount of the first gaseous hydrocarbon introduced into the vessel is controlled based on a pressure within the vessel.
14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the electric field is an oscillating electric field.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the electric field oscillates at a frequency from 60 to 1000 Hz.
16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the vessel comprises an electrode covered with an insulating material having dielectric properties.
17 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising applying an alternating current to one or more electrodes to form the electric field.
18 . A method for hydrocarbon conversion, comprising:
introducing a first gaseous hydrocarbon having a first molecular weight into a vessel, wherein the vessel is charged or grounded; and
subjecting the first gaseous hydrocarbon to an electric field to create a plasma in the vessel, whereby at least a portion of the first gaseous hydrocarbon is converted to a second hydrocarbon having a second molecular weight,
wherein the vessel comprises one or more powered electrodes and one or more grounded electrodes, wherein the vessel comprises a different number of powered electrodes than grounded electrodes.
19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising:
subjecting the first gaseous hydrocarbon to a variable frequency and a variable voltage electric field;
measuring a characteristic of a product formed in the vessel, the product comprising the heavier hydrocarbon; and
adjusting a frequency or a voltage of the variable frequency and variable voltage electric field in response to the measured characteristic.