Kværner-process
Encyclopedia
The Kværner-process or Kvaerner carbon black & hydrogen process (CB&H) is a method, developed in the 1980s by Aker Solutions of Norway, for the production of hydrogen from hydrocarbons (CnHm), such as methane
, natural gas
and biogas
.
and hydrogen
in a plasma burner (see Plasma
, Electric arc
) at around 1600 C.
Reaction:
The biggest advantage over all other known reformation methods (steam reforming
, partial oxidation
, etc.) is that the natural gas is transformed 100% into pure carbon and hydrogen in an energy-efficient way.
Of the available energy of the feed, approximately 48% is contained in the Hydrogen, 40% is contained in activated carbon
and 10% in superheated steam.
was presented in 2009. Methane and natural gas is converted to hydrogen, heat and carbon using a plasma converter.
Methane
Methane is a chemical compound with the chemical formula . It is the simplest alkane, the principal component of natural gas, and probably the most abundant organic compound on earth. The relative abundance of methane makes it an attractive fuel...
, natural gas
Natural gas
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
and biogas
Biogas
Biogas typically refers to a gas produced by the biological breakdown of organic matter in the absence of oxygen. Organic waste such as dead plant and animal material, animal dung, and kitchen waste can be converted into a gaseous fuel called biogas...
.
Description
The hydrocarbons are separated into their components, carbonCarbon
Carbon is the chemical element with symbol C and atomic number 6. As a member of group 14 on the periodic table, it is nonmetallic and tetravalent—making four electrons available to form covalent chemical bonds...
and hydrogen
Hydrogen
Hydrogen is the chemical element with atomic number 1. It is represented by the symbol H. With an average atomic weight of , hydrogen is the lightest and most abundant chemical element, constituting roughly 75% of the Universe's chemical elemental mass. Stars in the main sequence are mainly...
in a plasma burner (see Plasma
Plasma (physics)
In physics and chemistry, plasma is a state of matter similar to gas in which a certain portion of the particles are ionized. Heating a gas may ionize its molecules or atoms , thus turning it into a plasma, which contains charged particles: positive ions and negative electrons or ions...
, Electric arc
Electric arc
An electric arc is an electrical breakdown of a gas which produces an ongoing plasma discharge, resulting from a current flowing through normally nonconductive media such as air. A synonym is arc discharge. An arc discharge is characterized by a lower voltage than a glow discharge, and relies on...
) at around 1600 C.
Reaction:
The biggest advantage over all other known reformation methods (steam reforming
Steam reforming
Fossil fuel reforming is a method of producing hydrogen or other useful products from fossil fuels such as natural gas. This is achieved in a processing device called a reformer which reacts steam at high temperature with the fossil fuel. The steam methane reformer is widely used in industry to...
, partial oxidation
Partial oxidation
Partial oxidation is a type of chemical reaction. It occurs when a substoichiometric fuel-air mixture is partially combusted in a reformer, creating a hydrogen-rich syngas which can then be put to further use, for example in a fuel cell...
, etc.) is that the natural gas is transformed 100% into pure carbon and hydrogen in an energy-efficient way.
Of the available energy of the feed, approximately 48% is contained in the Hydrogen, 40% is contained in activated carbon
Activated carbon
Activated carbon, also called activated charcoal, activated coal or carbo activatus, is a form of carbon that has been processed to make it extremely porous and thus to have a very large surface area available for adsorption or chemical reactions.The word activated in the name is sometimes replaced...
and 10% in superheated steam.
Plasma variation
A variation of this process using plasma arc waste disposalPlasma arc waste disposal
Plasma arc gasification or Plasma Gasification Process abbreviated PGP is a waste treatment technology that uses electrical energy and the high temperatures created by an electric arc gasifier. This arc breaks down waste primarily into elemental gas and solid waste , in a device called a plasma...
was presented in 2009. Methane and natural gas is converted to hydrogen, heat and carbon using a plasma converter.