The plasma electrochemical conversion of natural gas to hydrocarbon liquids is a new gas-to-liquids (GTL) process developed at the INEEL and was demonstrated on a bench scale in 1998 and 1999. This technology is a single-step GTL conversion process distinctly different from current multistepped GTL processes.
The basic technology combines a solid oxide electrochemical cell (SOEC) with a dielectric barrier discharge plasma (DBDP). The SOEC provides oxidant in the form of oxide anions (O2-) for water elimination reactions. The DBDP activates methane to form hydrocarbon radicals, ions, hydrogen atoms, and electrons. Because the ionization in DBDP is very weak, the concentrations of ions and electrons are low. The dielectric barrier discharge plasma is nonequilibrium plasma at high pressures and is characterized by a low gas temperature. However, the dielectric barrier discharge plasma is extremely effective in the dissociation of gas molecules.
Dielectric barrier discharge plasma - solid oxide electrochemical cell conversion of methane to liquid.
Reaction products of the process include unreacted methane, C1 to C4 light gases, gasoline (C5 to C12), diesel (C12 to C20), and traces of oxygenates. The other byproduct is water, no CO or CO2 forms. The reaction products have been confirmed by gas chromatograph and online mass spectroscopy. The system has not been optimized and the conversion of methane is very low. Continuing efforts will attempt to substantially increase methane conversion and determine product yields as a function of energy consumption.
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