A method of enhancing yield and transfer rate of a packed bed in a reactor chamber of a vessel includes steps of applying acoustic energy to the packed bed, measuring impedance of the packed bed deriving a natural resonance frequency of the packed bed from the measured impedance and applying the acoustic energy to the packed bed at the derived natural resonance frequency of the packed bed.

An apparatus is disclosed for the pre-capture of carbon from natural gas and/or other light gaseous hydrocarbons and oils, and for co-firing the resulting hydrogen and any remaining hydrocarbons with higher carbon ratio fuels, such as coal and heavy oils and even lower carbon ratio natural gas, in a steam electric generator and/or other boilers, processes, reactors, power plants, engines and combustion turbines, and combined cycle units, to reduce their carbon dioxide production and emissions to the environment, and for co-processing the syngas with other feed materials to react them in a separate vessel and produce a desired outcome.

This invention relates to processes and systems for converting acyclic hydrocarbons to alkenes, cyclic hydrocarbons and/or aromatics, for example converting acyclic C.sub.5 hydrocarbons to cyclopentadiene in a reactor system. The process includes heating an electrically-conductive reaction zone by applying an electrical current to the first electrically-conductive reaction zone; and contacting a feedstock comprising acyclic hydrocarbons with a catalyst material in the electrically-conductive reaction zone under reaction conditions to convert at least a portion of the acyclic hydrocarbons to an effluent comprising alkenes, cyclic hydrocarbons, and/or aromatics.

A non-thermal plasma is generated to selectively convert a precursor to a product. More specifically, plasma forming material and a precursor material are provided to a reaction zone of a vessel. The reaction zone is exposed to microwave radiation, including exposing the plasma forming material and the precursor material to the microwave radiation. The exposure of the plasma forming material to the microwave radiation selectively converts the plasma forming material to a non-thermal plasma including formation of one or more streamers. The precursor material is mixed with the plasma forming material and the precursor material is exposed to the non-thermal plasma including exposing the precursor material to the one or more streamers. The exposure of the precursor material to the streamers and the microwave radiation selectively converts the precursor material to a product.

Methods and systems include supplying pulsed microwave radiation through a waveguide, where the microwave radiation propagates in a direction along the waveguide. A pressure within the waveguide is at least 0.1 atmosphere. A supply gas is provided at a first location along a length of the waveguide, a majority of the supply gas flowing in the direction of the microwave radiation propagation. A plasma is generated in the supply gas, and a process gas is added into the waveguide at a second location downstream from the first location. A majority of the process gas flows in the direction of the microwave propagation at a rate greater than 5 slm. An average energy of the plasma is controlled to convert the process gas into separated components, by controlling at least one of a pulsing frequency of the pulsed microwave radiation, and a duty cycle of the pulsed microwave radiation.

The invention comprises a process for obtaining a gas from a fluid fuel and an oxidising fluid, said process comprising steps in which the incoming fluid is subjected to temperature, photocatalytic action and reaction with catalysts, all this within a device with a tubular structure which the incoming fluid circulates through in a spiral manner, between a fixed bed attached to the walls of the duct and a circulating bed with an ionised gas stream that occupies a central position of the duct, producing a gas obtained.

Provided is a process for producing fluorinated alkenes by providing a microwave plasma in a reactor chamber, introducing a protective gas feed into the reactor chamber, and contacting a conversion feed comprising at least one fluorinated linear or branched alkane with the plasma. Also provided are an apparatus and the use of the process and the apparatus.

Techniques for photocatalytic hydrogen generation are provided. In one aspect, a hydrogen producing cell is provided. The hydrogen producing cell includes an anode electrode; a photocatalytic material adjacent to the anode electrode; a solid electrolyte adjacent to a side of the photocatalytic material opposite the anode electrode; and a cathode electrode adjacent to a side of the solid electrolyte opposite the photocatalytic material. A solar hydrogen producing system including at least one solar concentrating assembly having the hydrogen producing cell, and a method for producing hydrogen using the hydrogen producing cell are also provided.

A production apparatus for fine particles includes a vacuum chamber, a material feeding device connected to the vacuum chamber and feeding material particles from a material feeding port into the vacuum chamber, electrodes arranged in the vacuum chamber for generating plasma and a fine particle collection device connected to the vacuum chamber and collecting fine particles. The fine particles are produced from the material by generating electric discharge inside the vacuum chamber. The apparatus includes an inner chamber which forms an outside space with respect to the vacuum chamber installed between a wall of the vacuum chamber and a plasma generation region and gas supply pipes which supply a gas to the outside space between the wall of the vacuum chamber and a wall of the inner chamber.

The invention relates to a smoke analysis characterization cell employing optical spectroscopy, which comprises: a reaction chamber, an inlet orifice for injecting smoke into the reaction chamber; an outlet orifice for discharging the smoke from the reaction chamber; and an analysis window for the entry of a laser beam intended to form the plasma inside the reaction chamber, which cell is characterized in that the system further includes a blower for blowing an inert gas close to the analysis window; and a shielding gas injector for the shielded injection of the smoke into the reaction chamber, the shielding being provided by a jet of inert gas around the smoke.