US5015349A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Low power density microwave discharge plasma excitation energy induced chemical reactions
Assignee: CONNECTICUT STORRS CT 06268, University of
•
Filing: 1989-12-21
•
Granted: 1991-05-14
•
Expires: 2009-12-21
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is a method for cracking a hydrocarbon material. The method includes introducing a stream including a hydrocarbon fluid into a reaction zone. A microwave discharge plasma is continuously maintained within the reaction zone, and in the presence of the hydrocarbon fluid. Reaction products of the microwave discharge are collected downstream of the reaction zone.
Inventors
- 👤 Steven L. Suib
- 👤 Zongchao Zhang
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 12:35
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01J; B01J19/00; B01J19/08; B01J19/12; B01J19/122; B01J19/126; C; C10; C10G; C10G15/00; C10G15/08; C10G15/12; B01J2219/00; B01J2219/08; B01J2219/0894; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S585/00; Y10S585/949; Y10S585/953
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
A method for cracking a hydrocarbon to create cracked reaction products, which comprises: introducing a stream consisting of a hydrocarbon in fluid form into a reaction zone; exposing said reaction zone to a microwave energy to continuously maintain a low power density microwave discharge plasma within said reaction zone and in the presence of said hydrocarbon; determining concentrations of said cracked reaction products obtained downstream of said reaction zone; adjusting said microwave energy introduced to said reaction zone until the concentrations of said cracked reaction products cannot be increased by further adjustment of said energy; and collecting at least one of said cracked reaction products at a point located downstream of said reaction zone.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
114 words
A method for cracking a hydrocarbon to create cracked reaction products, which comprises: introducing a stream consisting of a hydrocarbon in fluid form into a reaction zone; exposing said reaction zone to a microwave energy to continuously maintain a low power density microwave discharge plasma within said reaction zone and in the presence of said hydrocarbon; determining concentrations of said cracked reaction products obtained downstream of said reaction zone; adjusting said microwave energy introduced to said reaction zone until the concentrations of said cracked reaction products cannot be increased by further adjustment of said energy; and collecting at least one of said cracked reaction products at a point located downstream of said reaction zone.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 which further comprises conducting said hydrocarbon over a catalyst.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 2 which comprises positioning said catalyst downstream of said reaction zone.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said catalyst is a member selected from the group consisting of metals and metal oxide.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said catalyst is a member selected from the group consisting of nickel, platinum, iron, nickel/iron, nickel/silica, nickel/yttrium, nickel/alumina, platinum/alumina, manganese oxide, manganese trioxide and molybdenum trioxide.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 5 which further comprises locating said catalyst on a silica support.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said hydrocarbon is selected from the group consisting of straight and branched chain hydrocarbons having between one and six carbon atoms.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said hydrocarbon is heated prior to introduction to said reaction zone.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 which further comprises collecting said cracked reaction products downstream of said reaction zone in a liquid nitrogen trap.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said fluid hydrocarbon is a member selected from the group consisting of methane, ethane, ethylene, propane, propylene, butane, butene, pentane, pentene, hexane and hexene.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 which comprises initiating said microwave discharge by application of microwave energy through said reaction zone at a frequency of about 2.45 gigahertz.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said hydrocarbon fluid is admitted into said reaction zone at a flow rate of between 10 and 500 milliliters of fluid per minute.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the pressure of said reaction zone is maintained at a pressure of between about 3 and about 760 torr.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 1 which further comprises irradiating into said reaction zone sufficient microwave energy to break the chemical bonds of said fluid hydrocarbon, but less than the quantity of energy required to polymerize said fluid hydrocarbon.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
143 words
A method for cracking a hydrocarbon into cracked reaction products, which comprises: conducting a fluid stream containing said hydrocarbon into a reaction zone; applying sufficient microwave energy at a frequency in a range of about 2.45 gigahertz to continuously maintain a lower power density microwave discharge plasma within said reaction zone in the presence of said hydrocarbon, said energy being sufficient to break the bonds of said hydrocarbon, but insufficient to polymerize said hydrocarbon or decomposition products or radicals of said hydrocarbon; determining the concentration of said cracked reaction products obtained downstream of said reaction zone; adjusting said microwave energy introduced to said reaction zone until the concentration of said cracked reaction products cannot be increased by further adjustment of said microwave energy; and collecting one or more of said cracked reaction products of said microwave discharge plasma downstream of said reaction zone.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
143 words
A method for cracking a hydrocarbon into cracked reaction products, which comprises: conducting a fluid stream containing said hydrocarbon into a reaction zone; applying sufficient microwave energy at a frequency in a range of about 2.45 gigahertz to continuously maintain a lower power density microwave discharge plasma within said reaction zone in the presence of said hydrocarbon, said energy being sufficient to break the bonds of said hydrocarbon, but insufficient to polymerize said hydrocarbon or decomposition products or radicals of said hydrocarbon; determining the concentration of said cracked reaction products obtained downstream of said reaction zone; adjusting said microwave energy introduced to said reaction zone until the concentration of said cracked reaction products cannot be increased by further adjustment of said microwave energy; and collecting one or more of said cracked reaction products of said microwave discharge plasma downstream of said reaction zone.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-05-13 | 1994-11-12 | 1995-05-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-05-13 | 1998-11-12 | 1999-05-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-05-13 | 2002-11-12 | 2003-05-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |