Methods for the reformation of gaseous hydrocarbons are provided. The methods can include forming a bubble containing the gaseous hydrocarbon in a liquid. The bubble can be generated to pass in a gap between a pair of electrodes, whereby an electrical discharge is generated in the bubble at the gap between the electrodes. The electrodes can be a metal or metal alloy with a high melting point so they can sustain high voltages of up to about 200 kilovolts. The gaseous hydrocarbon can be combined with an additive gas such as molecular oxygen or carbon dioxide. The reformation of the gaseous hydrocarbon can produce mixtures containing one or more of H.sub.2, CO, H.sub.2O, CO.sub.2, and a lower hydrocarbon such as ethane or ethylene. The reformation of the gaseous hydrocarbon can produce low amounts of CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2O, e.g. about 15 mol-% or less.

Plasma devices for hydrocarbon reformation are provided. Methods of using the devices for hydrocarbon reformation are also provided. The devices can include a liquid container to receive a hydrocarbon source, and a plasma torch configured to be submerged in the liquid. The plasma plume from the plasma torch can cause reformation of the hydrocarbon. The device can use a variety of plasma torches that can be arranged in a variety of positions in the liquid container. The devices can be used for the reformation of gaseous hydrocarbons and/or liquid hydrocarbons. The reformation can produce methane, lower hydrocarbons, higher hydrocarbons, hydrogen gas, water, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, or a combination thereof.

A reactor assembly for igniting and sustaining a plasma and method for performing a reaction. The assembly includes an elongated cylindrical inner electrode; a dielectric tube arranged helically around the elongated cylindrical inner electrode to form a helical reactor. The reactor assembly also includes an annular outer electrode arranged around at least a portion of the exterior of the helical reactor. The assembly includes a power source to provide a voltage across the elongated cylindrical inner electrode and the annular outer electrode. A process stream including at least a gas flows through the dielectric tube. The voltage is applied across the elongated cylindrical inner electrode and the annular outer electrode such that at least a portion of the flow of the process stream through the dielectric tube is exposed to the voltage and the plasma is ignited and sustained.

An olefin synthesis plant comprising: a feed pretreatment section configured to pretreat a feed stream; a pyrolysis section comprising one or more pyrolysis reactors configured to crack hydrocarbons in the feed stream in the presence of a diluent to produce a cracked gas stream; a primary fractionation and compression section configured to provide heat recovery from and quenching of the cracked gas stream; remove a component from the cracked gas stream; and compress the cracked gas stream, thus providing a compressed cracked gas stream; and/or a product separation section configured to separate a product olefin stream from the compressed cracked gas stream, wherein the olefin synthesis plant is configured such that, relative to a conventional olefin synthesis plant, more of the energy and/or the net energy required by the olefin synthesis plant and/or one or more sections thereof, is provided by a non-carbon based and/or renewable energy source and/or electricity.

A methanol synthesis plant comprising: a feed pretreating section operable to pretreat a feed stream; a synthesis gas (syngas) generation section comprising one or more reactors operable to produce a syngas synthesis product stream comprising synthesis gas from the feed stream; a methanol synthesis section comprising one or more methanol synthesis reactors operable to produce a synthesis product comprising methanol; and/or a methanol purification section operable to remove at least one component from the synthesis product to provide a purified methanol product; wherein the methanol synthesis plant is configured such that, relative to a conventional methanol synthesis plant, more of the net energy required by the methanol synthesis plant, the feed pretreating section, the syngas generation section, the methanol synthesis section, the methanol purification section, or a combination thereof, is provided by a non-carbon based energy source, a renewable energy source, and/or electricity.

A system and a method are provided for an axial flow through chemical reactor that provides for the separation of hydrogen from a hydrocarbon feedstock and to form longer chain hydrocarbon molecules. The system consists of a radial magnetic field and an axial electric field in a cylindrical device, and a method of exciting flow through gas molecules by means of Lorentz Force to cause centrifugal force on the gas stream in the radial direction, inducing high molecular sheer in the rotating gas stream causes hydrogen to be removed from the rotating gas column, high molecular density forces radical hydrocarbon molecules to combine in the absence of Hydrogen.

The present invention provides a hybrid reforming system for producing syngas through a reforming reaction between carbon dioxide plasma and a hydrocarbon material, the system comprising: a carbon dioxide feeder (110) which feeds carbon dioxide; a hydrocarbon material feeder (120) which feeds the hydrocarbon material; a plasma reformer (200) which respectively receives carbon dioxide and the hydrocarbon material from the carbon dioxide feeder (110) and the hydrocarbon material feeder (120), and produces primary syngas through a reforming reaction while producing the carbon dioxide plasma using electromagnetic waves; a wet carbon-refining device (130) which is arranged at a gas exhaust end of the plasma reformer (200) and filters and refines carbon contained in the primary syngas; and a catalyst dry-reformer (140) which is arranged at a gas exhaust end of the wet carbon-refining device (130) and produces secondary syngas by making the refined syngas undergo a catalyst dry-reforming reaction.

A chemical synthesis plant comprising: one or more reactors configured for producing, from one or more reactants, a process stream comprising at least one chemical product; a feed preparation system configured to prepare one or more feed streams comprising one or more of the one or more reactants for introduction into the one or more reactors; and/or a product purification system configured to separate the at least one chemical product from reaction byproducts, unreacted reactants, or a combination thereof within the process stream, wherein the chemical synthesis plant is configured such that a majority of the net energy needed for heating, cooling, compressing, or a combination thereof utilized via the one or more reactors, the feed preparation system, the product purification system, or a combination thereof is provided from a noncarbon based energy source, from a renewable energy source, and/or from electricity.

An olefin synthesis plant comprising: a feed pretreatment section configured to pretreat a feed stream; a pyrolysis section comprising one or more pyrolysis reactors configured to crack hydrocarbons in the feed stream in the presence of a diluent to produce a cracked gas stream; a primary fractionation and compression section configured to provide heat recovery from and quenching of the cracked gas stream; remove a component from the cracked gas stream; and compress the cracked gas stream, thus providing a compressed cracked gas stream; and/or a product separation section configured to separate a product olefin stream from the compressed cracked gas stream, wherein the olefin synthesis plant is configured such that, relative to a conventional olefin synthesis plant, more of the energy and/or the net energy required by the olefin synthesis plant and/or one or more sections thereof, is provided by a non-carbon based and/or renewable energy source and/or electricity.

A method of generating syngas as a primary product from renewable feedstock, fossil fuels, or hazardous waste with the use of a cupola. The cupola operates on inductive heat alone, chemically assisted heat, or plasma assisted heat. Cupola operation is augmented by employing carbon or graphite rods to carry electrical current into the metal bath that is influenced by the inductive element. The method includes the steps of providing a cupola for containing a metal bath; and operating an inductive element to react with the metal bath. A combination of fossil fuel, a hazardous waste, and a hazardous material is supplied to the cupola. A plasma torch operates on the metal bath directly, indirectly, or in a downdraft arrangement. Steam, air, oxygen enriched air, or oxygen are supplied to the metal bath. A pregassifier increases efficiency and a duct fired burner is added to a simple cycle turbine with fossil fuel augmentation.