Patent ID: 9393542
Filing Date: 2016-07-19
CPC Classification: B01J,C10J

Claim Text:
1. A multi-stage plasma reactor system with hollow cathodes for cracking carbonaceous material comprising multiple stages, wherein each stage comprises: a hollow cathode and anode cooled by recycling cooling medium or refrigerant, wherein a chamber is formed between the hollow cathode and the anode, and at least a portion of the hollow cathode is positioned within the inner space of the anode; at least one working gas inlet for working gas between the outer surface of the hollow cathode or anode and the interior surface of the hollow anode or cathode so the working gas can enter the chamber; at least one feedstock inlet for carbonaceous material and carrier gas as feedstock located in one end of the hollow cathode or anode going into the chamber, wherein a hollow passage of the hollow cathode or anode is positioned to deliver the carbonaceous material and carrier gas as feedstock and/or volatile caused by pyrolysis which goes through the hollow passage into the chamber via the at least one feedstock inlet of carbonaceous material and carrier gas as feedstock; and a reaction tube formed by the hollow anode or cathode, the reactor system also comprising: wherein plasma gas and/or electric arc is generated in the chamber formed between the hollow cathode of the first stage or the hollow cathode of any stage used as the reaction tube of the next highest stage and the hollow anode, the working gas going through the electric arc forming a region between the hollow cathode and anode so as to generate plasma gas which then contacts and mixes with the carbonaceous material and carrier gas as feedstock and/or volatile caused by pyrolysis, entering the chamber by going through the hollow passage of the hollow cathode within or nearby the highest temperature region of the chamber, and pyrolysis of the carbonaceous material and gas-phase reaction of the volatile occurs.