Gas conversion system
A gas conversion system using microwave plasma is provided. The system includes: a microwave waveguide; a gas flow tube passing through a microwave waveguide and configured to transmit microwaves therethrough; a temperature controlling means for controlling a temperature of the microwave waveguide; a temperature sensor disposed near the gas flow tube and configured to measure a temperature of gas flow tube or microwave waveguide; an igniter located near the gas flow tube and configured to ignite a plasma inside the gas flow tube so that the plasma converts a gas flowing through the gas flow tube during operation; and a plasma detector located near the gas flow tube and configured to monitor the plasma.
1. A gas conversion system using a microwave plasma, comprising:
a microwave waveguide for transmitting microwaves therethrough;
a gas flow tube passing through the microwave waveguide and configured to transmit the microwaves through the gas flow tube;
a first temperature controlling means for controlling a temperature of the microwave waveguide;
a temperature sensor disposed near the gas flow tube and configured to measure a temperature of the microwave waveguide;
an igniter located near the gas flow tube and configured to ignite a plasma inside the gas flow tube so that the plasma converts a gas flowing through the gas flow tube during operation; and
a plasma detector located near the gas flow tube and configured to monitor the plasma.
2. A gas conversion system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
a gas inlet disposed on the gas flow tube and configured to receive the gas.
3. A gas conversion system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
a second temperature controlling means for controlling a temperature of the gas flow tube.
4. A gas conversion system as recited in claim 3 , wherein the second temperature controlling means includes a cooling system using a coolant.
5. A gas conversion system as recited in claim 1 , where the gas contains carbon dioxide and the plasma is adapted to convert the carbon dioxide into carbon monoxide and oxygen.
6. A gas conversion system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
a grounded metal mesh plate disposed at a bottom of the gas flow tube and configured to prevent microwave leakage through the gas flow tube.
7. A gas conversion system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
an inlet gas separator located upstream of the gas flow tube and configured to separate carbon dioxide contained in the gas from other components of the gas;
an outlet gas separator located downstream of the gas flow tube and configured to separate carbon dioxide contained in the gas converted by the plasma; and
a gas line for directing the carbon dioxide separated by the outlet gas separator to a gas inlet of the gas flow tube to thereby form a gas circulation system.
8. A gas conversion system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the gas flow tube is configured to impart a swirling motion to the gas.
9. A gas conversion system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the gas flow tube is made of quartz.
10. A gas conversion system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first temperature controlling means includes a cooling system using a coolant.
11. A gas conversion system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the plasma detector is an optical sensor for sensing a light emission from the plasma.
12. A gas conversion system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the igniter is a high voltage spark igniter.
13. A gas conversion system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
a temperature sensor disposed near the gas flow tube and configured to measure a temperature of the gas flow tube.
14. A gas conversion system, comprising:
an inlet gas manifold for supplying a gas;
a plurality of gas conversion units coupled to the inlet gas manifold and configured to receive the gas therefrom, each of the plurality of gas conversion units including:
a microwave waveguide for transmitting microwaves therethrough;
a gas flow tube passing through the microwave waveguide and configured to transmit microwaves therethrough;
a first temperature controlling means for controlling a temperature of the microwave waveguide;
a temperature sensor disposed near the gas flow tube and configured to measure a temperature of the microwave waveguide;
an igniter located near the gas flow tube and configured to ignite a plasma inside the gas flow tube so that the plasma converts the gas flowing through the gas flow tube during operation; and
a plasma detector located near the gas flow tube and configured to monitor the plasma; and
an outlet gas manifold connected to the plurality of gas conversion units and configured to receive therefrom.
15. A gas conversion system as recited in claim 14 , wherein each of the plurality of gas conversion unit further includes:
an inlet gas separator;
an outlet gas separator; and
a gas line for directing carbon dioxide separated by the outlet gas separator to a gas inlet of the gas flow tube to thereby form a gas circulation system.
16. A gas conversion system as defined in claim 14 , further comprising:
an inlet gas separator disposed upstream of the inlet gas manifold;
an outlet gas separator disposed downstream of the outlet gas manifold; and
a gas line for directing carbon dioxide separated by the outlet gas separator to the inlet gas manifold to thereby form a gas circulation system.
17. A gas conversion system as recited in claim 14 , wherein each of the plurality of gas conversion unit further includes a second temperature controlling means for controlling a temperature of the gas flow tube.