Disclosed are example efficient circuits that produce spark discharges for hydrocarbon conversion (or treatment of other mixtures) using a high-voltage rectified DC supply to discharge a capacitor (either internal or external) across a two-electrode gap, optimized to minimize waste energy by operating in a constant current, approximately-constant current, or constant power mode. The circuits may operate off of a standard electrical supply line (e.g. 120 VAC or 240 V AC, 60 Hz, single-phase or multi-phase). The disclosed approach is scalable to any number of discharge gaps while maintaining similar pulse characteristics and electrical efficiency.

Disclosed are example efficient circuits that produce spark discharges for hydrocarbon conversion (or treatment of other mixtures) using a high-voltage rectified DC supply to discharge a capacitor (either internal or external) across a two-electrode gap, optimized to minimize waste energy by operating in a constant current, approximately-constant current, or constant power mode. The circuits may operate off of a standard electrical supply line (e.g. 120 VAC or 240 V AC, 60 Hz, single-phase or multi-phase). The disclosed approach is scalable to any number of discharge gaps while maintaining similar pulse characteristics and electrical efficiency.

Methods for liquefaction of carbonaceous materials, including methods that use electromagnetic radiation. Systems for liquefaction of carbonaceous materials. The systems may include a circulation conduit for mixing reactants, and/or a heating apparatus that relies on electromagnetic radiation.

A distillation apparatus for use in microwave-assisted pyrolysis includes a microwave, a pyrolysis reactor, a microwave-absorbent bed, and a condenser. The pyrolysis reactor is located within the microwave and configured to receive a liquid input stream and to output a vapor. The microwave-absorbent bed is located within the pyrolysis reactor that converts microwave energy provided by the microwave to thermal energy to initiate pyrolysis within the pyrolysis reactor, wherein the pyrolysis reactor provides a vapor output. The condenser is configured to receive the vapor output of the pyrolysis reactor and to cool and condense the vapor into a recoverable product.

An NMR-based system (10) to analyze one or more of the following: (i) crude oil property, (ii) crude oil rheology of crude oil, comprising an NMR device (11) for providing time and/or batch resolved NMR analysis and/or crude oil rheological profile, said NMR having a crude oil inflow pipe (13), and is in a fluid connection (14) with a crude oil refinery facility (12); wherein said system further comprising a computer readable medium configured to store a retrievable crude oil NMR analysis and/or crude oil rheological profile of a desired crude oil product (standard crude oil product, SCOP), thereby providing said system means to compare NMR analysis and/or crude oil theological profile of said SCOP with said time or batch resolved crude oil.

A method of producing a hydrocarbon fuel from a soapstock includes supplying a pyrolysis reactor that includes a microwave absorbent bed susceptible to microwave irradiation, applying microwave energy to the pyrolysis reactor, wherein the microwave absorbent bed converts the microwave energy to thermal energy, supplying the soapstock to the microwave absorbent bed, and condensing a vapor generated by pyrolysis of the soapstock sufficient to collect the hydrocarbon fuel.

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.

An ultrasonification system is provided. The ultrasonification system includes a duct having a proximal end and a distal end, and a vibrating head disposed within the duct near the proximal end thereof. A fluid enters the duct from the proximal end and flows toward the distal end. Related apparatus, systems, techniques, and articles are also described.

The present disclosure provides an opening-closing type microwave catalytic reaction apparatus, including a microwave system, a microwave cavity, a protective cover, a cooling system, and a vertical furnace tube, where two ends of the furnace tube are respectively stretched out of the microwave cavity, the microwave system includes a plurality of microwave transmitting units, and the microwave transmitting unit includes a microwave transmitter; the furnace tube is provided with a gas inlet on a top and a gas outlet on a bottom; a compression hinge and a cavity cover capable of being opened or closed are arranged on the microwave cavity, a convex edge plate is disposed at an edge of the cavity cover, the compression hinge can compress the cavity cover such that the convex edge plate is tightly attached to a concave edge plate on the microwave cavity, and the protective cover can cover the entire cavity cover.

Systems for facilitating fluid flow including a tubular segment having a length, a tube wall with a thickness, a tube wall exterior surface, and a tube wall interior surface. The tube wall interior surface defines a conduit configured to permit fluid flow along the length of the tubular segment. The tube wall may include a material configured to convey heat energy through the tube wall and at least one heating element coupled to an exterior surface of the tube wall along the length of the tubular segment, at least one heating element comprising an enabler material configured to receive electromagnetic energy, convert the electromagnetic energy into heat energy, and release the heat energy into the tube wall. The system may include a source of electromagnetic energy associated with the at least one heating element. The source of electromagnetic energy is configured to transmit electromagnetic energy into the heating element.