Abstract: A method of processing a reaction product generated from a plasma-based reactive process includes: supplying a first electromagnetic energy to a flowing primary gaseous feed material, such that at least a fraction of the flowing primary gaseous feed material is excited by the supplied first electromagnetic energy into a first plasma within a first plasma zone, and such that at least a fraction of the flowing primary gaseous feed material is converted to a first plasma zone-conditioned product while flowing through the first plasma and the first plasma zone-conditioned product is flowed to a downstream reaction zone. A second gaseous material is then introduced to the downstream reaction zone. The first plasma zone-conditioned product is contacted with the second gaseous material within the downstream reaction zone.

Abstract: There is provided a process of producing carbon black and generating energy. The process includes converting a carbon black-yielding material supply into reaction product material. The reaction product material includes gaseous product material and solid particulate matter. The solid particulate matter includes carbon black. At least a fraction of the carbon black is recovered, and at least a fraction of the gaseous product material is combusted and used to effect generation of energy.

Abstract: A cold arc discharge is used to decompose natural gas or methane into its gaseous constituents and carbon in the form of solid particles. The gaseous constituents obtained are mainly hydrogen and acetylene and they are produced in admixture with unreacted natural gas or methane. The cold arc discharge is generated by a pulsating high voltage discharge imparted through a capacitor to a high voltage electrode or a plurality of high voltage electrodes or through a high voltage electrode to a plurality of capacitor-connected electrodes placed in a reaction zone. The apparatus for performing this process may have a tubular reactor with a cylindrical ground electrode in the middle and a cylindrical outer wall through which the high voltage electrode or electrodes extend into the reaction zone. The apparatus may also have a cylindrical shaft in the middle made of dielectric material in which a plurality of electrodes are embedded, this shaft being surrounded by a high voltage tubular electrode.

Abstract: There is provided a reactor system comprising a plasma generator and a reaction vessel. The plasma generator is configured for effecting a plasma discharge into a reaction zone to produce a plasma plume. The reaction vessel defines the reaction zone. The reaction vessel includes a reactant flow inlet configured for flowing and discharging gaseous reactant flow into the reaction zone, and a stabilizing gaseous flow inlet configured for introducing and effecting vortical flow of a stabilizing gaseous fluid into the reaction vessel. The vortical flow of the stabilizing gaseous fluid effects a spatial disposition of the plasma plume such that at least a fraction of the gaseous reactant flow intersects the plasma plume.