Activation of gases and dispersed liquids with electric discharge treatment

The biggest part of hydrocarbons, obtained in process of oil extraction, can not be effectively utilized and they are usually combusted in flames. Great amounts of valuable hydrocarbon raw materials are lost causing damages to environment. Technologies of light hydrocarbon processing are known worldwide, but the problem of low-cost utilization of relatively small amounts of hydrocarbons has not yet been solved. Possible solution can be found using non-catalytic technology, which would allow to treat gases without high-pressure and high temperature conditions, and to provide in-situ utilization of output products, or to transport these products in pipelines. In our work we present the results of studying the influence of pulsed electrical discharge on propane-butane mixture, which is used as a model of broad fraction of hydrocarbons. Model mixture is fed through a system of electrodes. The electrodes are energized with nanosecond voltage pulses with pulse energy up to 0.25 J, and pulse repetition rate up to 1000 Hz. In the interelectrode gap a quasi-volume discharge is formed, causing the formation of hydrocarbon radicals and synthesis of branchy dimers. Resulting liquid hydrocarbons consist basically of paraffin hydrocarbons of isomeric structure the average length of their carbon chain is 6-8 atoms. Since these compounds have very high octane number, fraction that boils away before 180/spl deg/C (about 90 percent) may be used as an automobile fuel or its components. High-boiling residue possesses very low freezing temperature, and may be used as a valuable component of diesel fuel. Conversion to liquid product is up to 20 percent. Gas phase taken after the reactor contains not only input substances, but also hydrogen, unsaturated hydrocarbons, methane, ethane. When including oxygen or water vapours into the input gas, reaction products contain alcohols and aldehydes, which are the substances with high detonation characteristics and significant washing effect. They - - are also able to decrease freezing temperature of their mixtures with hydrocarbons. The products of isomerisation and dimerisation of hydrocarbon fuels, both light hydrocarbon gases and benzenes, will allow to effectively reduce combustions rates of fuel mixtures.