METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING HYDROGEN-RICH FUEL VIA DECOMPOSITION OF METHANE PLASMA ON CATALYST UNDER MICROWAVE EFFECT Russian patent published in 2011 - IPC C01B3/26 C01B31/02 

FIELD: chemistry.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to chemistry and can be used in production of hydrogen fuel. The first version of the method of producing the fuel is characterised by exposing methane gas to 70-140 W microwave radiation at negative pressure of 20-200 mm Hg in order to obtain methane plasma, applying the methane plasma onto a catalyst containing nickel particles in order to convert a portion of the methane gas to hydrogen and solid carbon, controlling flow of methane gas and microwave radiation power to obtain an end product containing hydrogen, unreacted methane and solid carbon containing fibrous carbon. The second version involves formation of methane plasma by exposing methane gas to microwave radiation at negative pressure of 20-200 mm Hg at gas flow rate of 120 ml/min and microwave radiation power of 70-140 W, directing the methane plasma onto a catalyst containing a metal selected from a group comprising Ni100, Ni81Al, Ni 93Al, Ni77Cu16Al, Ni54Cu27Al and Ni83Mg6Al, with conversion of at least a portion of methane gas to hydrogen gas and fibrous carbon, controlling flow of the methane plasma to obtain a gaseous product containing methane and hydrogen and a solid carbonaceous product containing fibrous carbon. The third version employs a tubular reactor whose walls transmit microwave radiation, connected to a methane source to allow flow of methane through the tubular reactor, using a catalyst containing a metal selected from Ni100, Ni81Al, Ni93Al, Ni77Cu16Al, Ni54Cu27Al and Ni83Mg6Al, preliminary treatment of the catalyst in the reactor using microwave radiation with power of 160 W, exposing methane to microwave radiation with power of 70-140 W to obtain methane plasma, directing the methane plasma onto a catalyst to obtain solid carbon containing fibrous carbon, hydrogen, methane and small amounts of CO and CO₂.

EFFECT: invention increases efficiency of producing hydrogen fuel.

14 cl, 9 dwg, 2 tbl