Plasma reactor for carrying out gas reactions and method for the plasma-supported reaction of gases

1. Device for carrying out gas reactions, comprising a plasma reactor with a through-flow of gases, said plasma reactor having a plasma chamber, wherein flow-forming elements for forming the flow of gases are arranged in the plasma reactor to form a gas stream within the plasma chamber such that at least one zone in the gas flow is formed which is flow-reduced for producing a stable plasma, wherein said flow-forming elements are arranged to be adjustable, wherein the flow-forming elements for forming the flow of gases are configured to cause a rotating gas stream wherein a rotation speed of the gas stream is lowest at a central part of the gas stream and for forming the flow-reduced zone in the rotation center of the gas stream.

2. Device according to claim 1 , wherein the flow-forming elements arranged in the gas stream are configured as cones, drops, annular gaps, diaphragms, grids, baffle bodies, vortex tubes, cyclones or turbines.

3. Device according to claim 1 , wherein a reaction tube is arranged axially after the reactor.

4. Device according to claim 3 , wherein catalysts are arranged in the reaction tube, said catalysts in particular being heterogeneous catalysts, in a basket, or in a form selected from the group consisting of granules, nets, catalytically acting gases and a monolith.

5. Device according to claim 4 , wherein the catalysts are arranged to be displaceable in the reaction tube.

6. Device according to claim 3 , wherein the reaction tube has a wall, and cooling chambers are arranged at a position selected from the group consisting of in the wall of the reaction tube and on the wall of the reaction tube.

7. Device according to claim 1 , wherein the plasma reactor has an inlet and an outlet, and wherein cooling chambers are arranged at a position selected from the group consisting of the inlet of the plasma reactor and the outlet of the plasma reactor.

8. Device according to claim 1 , wherein feed elements are provided for introduction of cooling medium.

9. Device according to claim 8 , wherein the feed elements form flow-forming elements.

10. Device according to claim 8 , wherein said feed elements are selected from the group consisting of nozzles, slots, and tubes.

11. Device according to claim, 8 , wherein the cooling medium is selected from the group consisting of cold gases, liquid substances and part of the starting materials.

12. Device according to claim 1 , wherein said plasma chamber is a cylindrical plasma chamber.

13. Device according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one zone is a central zone.

14. Device according to claim 1 , wherein the flow-forming elements put the gas stream in rotation immediately before or after the chamber.

15. Method for carrying out gas reactions comprising passing a stream of gas or of gasifiable substances through a plasma in a plasma chamber of a plasma reactor for converting components of the gas or gasifiable substances in a device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one flow-reduced zone is formed in the gas stream in the plasma chamber by adjustable flow-forming elements for producing the stable plasma within said at least one flow-reduced zone.

16. Method according to claim 15 , further comprising integrating a heat exchanger in a reaction tube for recovering heat.

17. Method according to claim 15 , further comprising introducing gases or aerosols via nozzles for controlling the temperature in a reaction zone or a recombination zone of the gas or gasifiable substances.

18. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the plasma is a non-equilibrium plasma.