A method of converting a hydrocarbon-based material into acetylene or ethylene according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a supply step of supplying a gaseous or liquid hydrocarbon-based material to a plasma reactor, and a temperature control step of creating a temperature condition of a decomposition reaction of converting the hydrocarbon-based material into acetylene or ethylene in a reaction space in the plasma reactor.

A method of converting a hydrocarbon-based material into acetylene or ethylene according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a supply step of supplying a gaseous or liquid hydrocarbon-based material to a plasma reactor, and a temperature control step of creating a temperature condition of a decomposition reaction of converting the hydrocarbon-based material into acetylene or ethylene in a reaction space in the plasma reactor.

The invention includes a gas processing system for transforming a hydrocarbon-containing inflow gas into outflow gas products, where the system includes a gas delivery subsystem, a plasma reaction chamber, and a microwave subsystem, with the gas delivery subsystem in fluid communication with the plasma reaction chamber, so that the gas delivery subsystem directs the hydrocarbon-containing inflow gas into the plasma reaction chamber, and the microwave subsystem directs microwave energy into the plasma reaction chamber to energize the hydrocarbon-containing inflow gas, thereby forming a plasma in the plasma reaction chamber, which plasma effects the transformation of a hydrocarbon in the hydrocarbon-containing inflow gas into the outflow gas products, which comprise acetylene and hydrogen. The invention also includes methods for the use of this gas processing system.

The invention includes a gas processing system for transforming a hydrocarbon-containing inflow gas into outflow gas products, where the system includes a gas delivery subsystem, a plasma reaction chamber, and a microwave subsystem, with the gas delivery subsystem in fluid communication with the plasma reaction chamber, so that the gas delivery subsystem directs the hydrocarbon-containing inflow gas into the plasma reaction chamber, and the microwave subsystem directs microwave energy into the plasma reaction chamber to energize the hydrocarbon-containing inflow gas, thereby forming a plasma in the plasma reaction chamber, which plasma effects the transformation of a hydrocarbon in the hydrocarbon-containing inflow gas into the outflow gas products, which comprise acetylene and hydrogen. The invention also includes methods for the use of this gas processing system.

A method for selectively hydrogenating acetylene in a cracked gas from a steam cracking unit for producing olefins may include separating a hydrogenation feed from the cracked gas. The hydrogenation feed may include acetylene, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and at least one product. The method may further include contacting the hydrogenation feed with an acetylene hydrogenation catalyst, the contacting causing hydrogenation of at least a portion of the acetylene of the hydrogenation feed to produce a hydrogenation effluent. In response to a change in a composition of a feedstock to the steam cracking unit that results in a change in a hydrogen concentration in the hydrogenation feed, the method may further include determining the hydrogen concentration in the hydrogenation feed and increasing or decreasing a temperature of the hydrogenation feed based on the determined hydrogen concentration of the hydrogenation feed.

A method for selectively hydrogenating acetylene in a cracked gas from a steam cracking unit for producing olefins may include separating a hydrogenation feed from the cracked gas. The hydrogenation feed may include acetylene, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and at least one product. The method may further include contacting the hydrogenation feed with an acetylene hydrogenation catalyst, the contacting causing hydrogenation of at least a portion of the acetylene of the hydrogenation feed to produce a hydrogenation effluent. In response to a change in a composition of a feedstock to the steam cracking unit that results in a change in a hydrogen concentration in the hydrogenation feed, the method may further include determining the hydrogen concentration in the hydrogenation feed and increasing or decreasing a temperature of the hydrogenation feed based on the determined hydrogen concentration of the hydrogenation feed.

In a first stage of a methane conversion system, at least some methane (CH.sub.4) in an input gas flow stream can be converted into C.sub.2 hydrocarbons, hydrogen gas (H.sub.2), and aromatics to provide a first processed stream. The conversion can be direct non-oxidative methane conversion (DNMC). At least some of the aromatics can be removed from the first processed stream to provide a second processed stream. In a second stage of the methane conversion system, at least some of the H.sub.2 can be removed from the second processed stream to provide a recycle stream. The recycle stream can be returned to the first stage of the methane conversion system for further conversion of methane and removal of aromatics and H.sub.2 products.

In a first stage of a methane conversion system, at least some methane (CH.sub.4) in an input gas flow stream can be converted into C.sub.2 hydrocarbons, hydrogen gas (H.sub.2), and aromatics to provide a first processed stream. The conversion can be direct non-oxidative methane conversion (DNMC). At least some of the aromatics can be removed from the first processed stream to provide a second processed stream. In a second stage of the methane conversion system, at least some of the H.sub.2 can be removed from the second processed stream to provide a recycle stream. The recycle stream can be returned to the first stage of the methane conversion system for further conversion of methane and removal of aromatics and H.sub.2 products.

The invention includes a gas processing system for transforming a hydrocarbon-containing inflow gas into outflow gas products, where the system includes a gas delivery subsystem, a plasma reaction chamber, and a microwave subsystem, with the gas delivery subsystem in fluid communication with the plasma reaction chamber, so that the gas delivery subsystem directs the hydrocarbon-containing inflow gas into the plasma reaction chamber, and the microwave subsystem directs microwave energy into the plasma reaction chamber to energize the hydrocarbon-containing inflow gas, thereby forming a plasma in the plasma reaction chamber, which plasma effects the transformation of a hydrocarbon in the hydrocarbon-containing inflow gas into the outflow gas products, which comprise acetylene and hydrogen. The invention also includes methods for the use of the gas processing system.

The invention includes a gas processing system for transforming a hydrocarbon-containing inflow gas into outflow gas products, where the system includes a gas delivery subsystem, a plasma reaction chamber, and a microwave subsystem, with the gas delivery subsystem in fluid communication with the plasma reaction chamber, so that the gas delivery subsystem directs the hydrocarbon-containing inflow gas into the plasma reaction chamber, and the microwave subsystem directs microwave energy into the plasma reaction chamber to energize the hydrocarbon-containing inflow gas, thereby forming a plasma in the plasma reaction chamber, which plasma effects the transformation of a hydrocarbon in the hydrocarbon-containing inflow gas into the outflow gas products, which comprise acetylene and hydrogen. The invention also includes methods for the use of the gas processing system.