Process of converting gaseous hydrocarbons to a liquid hydrocarbon composition
A non-thermal, repetitively-pulsed gliding discharge reactor includes a high-voltage power source configured to provide a pulsed high-voltage potential; a gas inlet; a liquid sorbent inlet; a product outlet; a plurality of first electrodes connected to the high-voltage power source; a plurality of second electrodes that are grounded; and a trough; the plurality of first electrodes being separated from the plurality of second electrodes by a discharge region.
1. A process of converting gaseous hydrocarbons to a liquid hydrocarbon composition, the process comprising:
introducing a gaseous hydrocarbon into a reactor comprising:
a plurality of first electrodes, each individually connected to a pulsed, high-voltage power source;
a plurality of second electrodes that are grounded; and
a trough;
the plurality of first electrodes being separated from the plurality of second electrodes by a discharge region;
introducing to the trough a liquid sorbent comprising gasoline, diesel fuel, kerosene, a liquid alkane, or a mixture of any two or more such materials;
generating a non-thermal, repetitively pulsed gliding discharge in the discharge region; and
producing the liquid hydrocarbon composition.
2. The process of claim 1 , wherein a level of the liquid sorbent in the reactor is maintained in close proximity to the discharge region.
3. The process of claim 1 , wherein a duration of a single pulse of the non-thermal, repetitively-pulsed gas discharge reactor is less than 100 ns.
4. The process of claim 1 , wherein an electric field strength inside the non-thermal, repetitively-pulsed gas discharge reactor is less than 8 kV/cm.
5. The process of claim 1 , wherein the gaseous hydrocarbon is a C 1 , C 2 , C 3 , or C 4 alkane.
6. The process of claim 5 , wherein the gaseous hydrocarbon is methane, ethane, n-propane, iso-propane, n-butane, iso-butane, tent-butane, or a mixture of any two or more thereof.
7. The process of claim 1 , wherein the gaseous hydrocarbon further comprises CO 2 ,
8. The process of claim 1 , wherein the reactor further comprises a solid catalyst.
9. The process of claim 8 , wherein the solid catalyst comprises alumina, alumosilica, an aluminophosphate, Li, Na, K, Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Cu, Ag, Au, Zn, Cd, Hg, Fe, Ru, Os, Co, Rh, Ir, Ni, Pd, Pt, or a mixture of any two or more thereof.
10. The process of claim 2 , wherein a time of a single discharge is on the order of about 10 ns.
11. The process of claim 1 , wherein the liquid hydrocarbon composition comprises olefins and the specific energy of the non-thermal, repetitively-pulsed gas discharge is about 2 J/cm 3 per pulse.
12. The process of claim 1 , wherein the liquid hydrocarbon composition comprises hydrocarbon oils, and the specific energy of gas discharge is from about 2 J/cm 3 to about 2.5 J/cm 3 per one discharge pulse.
13. The process of claim 1 , wherein the reactor comprises a solid catalyst comprising oxides of elements IIA, IVA, IIB, IVB groups and elements of VIIIB group.
14. A process of converting gaseous hydrocarbons to liquid hydrocarbon fuel, the process comprising:
introducing a gaseous hydrocarbon into a reactor comprising:
a plurality of first electrodes, each individually connected to a pulsed, high-voltage power source;
a plurality of second electrodes that are grounded; and
a trough;
the plurality of first electrodes being separated from the plurality of second electrodes by a discharge region;
introducing to the trough a liquid sorbent;
generating a non-thermal, repetitively pulsed gliding discharge in the discharge region; and
producing a liquid hydrocarbon composition;
wherein a duration of a single pulse of the non-thermal, repetitively-pulsed gas discharge reactor is less than 100 ns.
15. The process of claim 14 , wherein a level of the liquid sorbent in the reactor is maintained in close proximity to the discharge region.
16. The process of claim 14 , wherein an electric field strength inside the non-thermal, repetitively-pulsed gas discharge reactor is less than 8 kV/cm.
17. The process of claim 14 , wherein the gaseous hydrocarbon is a C 1 , C 2 , C 3 , or C 4 alkane.
18. The process of claim 17 , wherein the gaseous hydrocarbon is methane, ethane, n-propane, iso-propane, n-butane, iso-butane, tent-butane, or a mixture of any two or more Thereof.
19. The process of claim 14 , wherein the gaseous hydrocarbon further comprises CO 2 , air, or oxygen.
20. The process of claim 14 , wherein the reactor further comprises a solid catalyst.
21. The process of claim 20 , wherein the solid catalyst comprises alumina, alumosilica, an aluminophosphate, Li, Na, K, Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Cu, Ag, Au, Zn, Cd, Hg, Fe, Ru, Os, Co, Rh, Ir, Ni, Pd, Pt, or a mixture of any two or more thereof.
22. The process of claim 14 , wherein the liquid sorbent is gasoline, diesel fuel, kerosene, a liquid alkane, or a mixture of any two or more such materials.
23. The process of claim 14 , wherein a time of a single discharge is on the order of about 10 ns.
24. The process of claim 14 , wherein the liquid hydrocarbon composition comprises olefins and the specific energy of the non-thermal, repetitively-pulsed gas discharge is about 2 J/cm 3 per pulse.
25. The process of claim 14 , wherein the liquid hydrocarbon composition comprises hydrocarbon oils, and the specific energy of gas discharge is from about 2 J/cm 3 to about 2.5 J/cm 3 per one discharge pulse.
26. The process of claim 14 , wherein the reactor comprises a solid catalyst comprising oxides of elements IIA, IVA, IIB, IVB groups and elements of VIIIB group.