System, method and apparatus for creating an electrical glow discharge
The present invention provides system, method and apparatus for creating an electric glow discharge that includes a first and second electrically conductive screens having substantially equidistant a gap between them, one or more insulators attached to the electrically conductive screens, and a non-conductive granular material disposed within the gap. The electric glow discharge is created whenever: (a) the first electrically conductive screen is connected to an electrical power source such that it is a cathode, the second electrically conductive screen is connected to the electrical power supply such that it is an anode, and the electrically conductive fluid is introduced into the gap, or (b) both electrically conductive screens are connected to the electrical power supply such they are the cathode, and the electrically conductive fluid is introduced between both electrically conductive screens and an external anode connected to the electrical power supply.
1. A system for creating an electric glow discharge comprising:
a first electrically conductive cylindrical screen having a first end, a second end, and a first diameter;
a second electrically conductive cylindrical screen having a first end, a second end, and a second diameter smaller than the first diameter, wherein the second electrically conductive cylindrical screen is disposed within and separated from the first electrically conductive cylindrical screen by a substantially equidistant gap;
a first insulator attached to the first end of the first electrically conductive cylindrical screen and the first end of the second electrically conductive cylindrical screen, wherein the first insulator maintains the substantially equidistant gap between the first electrically conductive cylindrical screen and the second electrically conductive cylindrical screen;
a second insulator attached to the second end of the first electrically conductive cylindrical screen and the second end of the second electrically conductive cylindrical screen, wherein the second insulator maintains the substantially equidistant gap between the first electrically conductive cylindrical screen and the second electrically conductive cylindrical screen;
a non-conductive granular material disposed within the substantially equidistant gap;
a first electrical terminal electrically connected to the first electrically conductive cylindrical screen;
a second electrical terminal electrically connected to the second electrically conductive cylindrical screen;
an electrical power source electrically connected to the first and second electrical terminals; and
wherein the system is configured to create the electric glow discharge whenever: (a) the first electrical terminal is connected to the electrical power source such that the first electrically conductive cylindrical screen is a cathode, the second electrical terminal is connected to the electrical power supply such that the second electrically conductive cylindrical screen is an anode, and an electrically conductive fluid is introduced into the substantially equidistant gap, or (b) the first electrical terminal and the second electrical terminal are both connected to the electrical power supply such that both electrically conductive screens are the cathode, and the electrically conductive fluid is introduced between both electrically conductive screens and an external anode connected to the electrical power supply.
2. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the non-conductive granular material (a) does not pass through either electrically conductive cylindrical screen, (b) allows an electrically conductive fluid to flow between the first electrically conductive cylindrical screen and the second electrically conductive cylindrical screen, and (c) prevents electrical arcing between the electrically conductive cylindrical screens during the electric glow discharge.
3. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the non-conductive granular material comprises marbles, ceramic beads, molecular sieve media, sand, limestone, activated carbon, zeolite, zirconium, alumina, rock salt, nut shell or wood chips.
4. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the electrical power supply operates in a range from 50 to 500 volts DC or 200 to 400 volts DC.
5. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the cathode reaches a temperature of at least 500° C., 1000° C., or 2000° C. during the electric glow discharge.
6. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein once the electric glow discharge is created, the electric glow discharge is maintained without the electrically conductive fluid.
7. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the electrically conductive fluid comprises water, produced water, wastewater or tailings pond water.
8. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the electrically conductive fluid comprises a fluid containing an electrolyte.
9. The system as recited in claim 8 , wherein the electrolyte comprises baking soda, Nahcolite, lime, sodium chloride, ammonium sulfate, sodium sulfate or carbonic acid.
10. The system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a non-conductive cylindrical rotating sleeve or non conductive cylindirical screen disposed around the first electrically conductive cylindrical screen.
11. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the system is configured for installation within a conduit, pipeline, flow line, stripper column, reactor, a well or a well screen.
12. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is configured to heat or fracture a subterranean formation containing bitumen, kerogen or petroleum.
13. The system as recited in claim 12 , wherein the subterranean formation comprises oil shale or oil sand.