Abstract: A technique of cooling of a reactor with a fixed catalytic bed for exothermic catalytic syntheses, such as the Fischer-Tropsch (FT) synthesis of liquid fuels by selective hydrogenation of the monoxide of carbon (CO) by the hydrogen (H2), includes mixing of these two gases being called “synthesis gas” or “syngas”, and is characterized by the fact that the heat of such synthesis is taken away by a heat medium of non-fossil origin and having a high boiling point in comparison with water and that at least a part of the resultant vapors of such boiling heat medium is extracted from the reactor to feed, as a carbonaceous matter, another reactor, called “reformer”, in which this vapor is converted into syngas to feed the aforesaid reactor of exothermic synthesis.

Abstract: A device for converting carbonaceous matter into synthesis gas includes a plasma head and a reformer connected to and extending downwardly from the plasma head. The plasma head may include a vortex zone, a plasma zone positioned beneath the vortex zone, and an oxidant input adjacent an upper portion of the vortex zone for inputting oxidant into the vortex zone. The plasma head may also include a high voltage electrode positioned to extend through a medial portion of the vortex zone and having a termination in the vortex zone so that high voltage discharge strikes are emitted into a lower portion of the vortex zone, a carbonaceous matter input for inputting carbonaceous matter into the plasma zone, and a plasma zone exit. The reformer may include a post plasma zone positioned beneath the plasma zone, a thermal barrier protective layer adjacent an uppermost portion of the post plasma zone adjacent an exit of the plasma zone, a catalyst carried by the post plasma zone, and a synthesis gas output.

Abstract: The process and the device of assistance by electric discharge plasma for a partial oxidization of various liquids or gas, has for object the gas rich production of CO and H2 (syngas) can contain the CH4 and C2H4 also, this without soot formation. Carbonaceous matters considered here are fossil origin (as the diesel oil, gas, the kerosene, the naphtha, the heavy oil, the natural gas, etc.) or renewable (as the rape oil, the ethanol, the glycerol, the biooil, the molasses, the biogas, etc.). Products conversion is obtained in a device by electric discharge plasma GlidArc-I, installed in a superior compartment of the device and communicating directly with its full lower compartment by a refractory porous containing oxides of nickel. The GlidArc-I first of all serves to light the electro-reinforced total combustion of a flux reduce a carbonaceous (fuel) mixed with a gas combustive base of oxygen (for example air).

Abstract: Systems and methods for ignition and reignition of unstable electrical discharges wherein a secondary electrode positioned is between a set of primary electrodes and a high voltage is applied between the secondary electrode and successive ones of the primary electrodes to produce pilot discharges that ionize a gas there between and thereby reduce the voltage necessary to ignite a primary discharge between the primary electrodes. Power is provided to the secondary electrode by a circuit which is independent of the circuit that supplies power to the primary electrodes and generates voltage pulses which are substantially higher than the voltage between the primary electrodes.

Abstract: The process and the device of assistance by electric discharge plasma for a partial oxidization of various liquids or gas, has for object the gas rich production of CO and H2 (syngas) can contain the CH4 and C2H4 also, this without soot formation. Carbonaceous matters considered here are fossil origin (as the diesel oil, gas, the kerosene, the naphtha, the heavy oil, the natural gas, etc.) or renewable (as the rape oil, the ethanol, the glycerol, the biooil, the molasses, the biogas, etc.). Products conversion is obtained in a device by electric discharge plasma GlidArc-I, installed in a superior compartment of the device and communicating directly with its full lower compartment by a refractory porous containing oxides of nickel. The GlidArc-I first of all serves to light the electro-reinforced total combustion of a flux reduce a carbonaceous (fuel) mixed with a gas combustive base of oxygen (for example air).

Abstract: Systems and methods for ignition and reignition of unstable electrical discharges wherein a secondary electrode positioned is between a set of primary electrodes and a high voltage is applied between the secondary electrode and successive ones of the primary electrodes to produce pilot discharges that ionize a gas there between and thereby reduce the voltage necessary to ignite a primary discharge between the primary electrodes. Power is provided to the secondary electrode by a circuit which is independent of the circuit that supplies power to the primary electrodes and generates voltage pulses which are substantially higher than the voltage between the primary electrodes.

Abstract: Systems and methods for ignition and reignition of unstable electrical discharges wherein a secondary electrode positioned is between a set of primary electrodes and a high voltage is applied between the secondary electrode and successive ones of the primary electrodes to produce pilot discharges that ionize a gas there between and thereby reduce the voltage necessary to ignite a primary discharge between the primary electrodes. Power is provided to the secondary electrode by a circuit which is independent of the circuit that supplies power to the primary electrodes and generates voltage pulses which are substantially higher than the voltage between the primary electrodes.

Abstract: Systems and methods for ignition and reignition of unstable electrical discharges wherein a secondary electrode positioned is between a set of primary electrodes and a high voltage is applied between the secondary electrode and successive ones of the primary electrodes to produce pilot discharges that ionize a gas there between and thereby reduce the voltage necessary to ignite a primary discharge between the primary electrodes. Power is provided to the secondary electrode by a circuit which is independent of the circuit that supplies power to the primary electrodes and generates voltage pulses which are substantially higher than the voltage between the primary electrodes.

Abstract: A process and device for electrically assisted partial oxidation of light hydrocarbons by oxygen. The purpose of the process and device is to produce gases rich in CO and H.sub.2 that may also have high contents of C.sub.2 H.sub.4 and C.sub.2 H.sub.2, without any formation of soot or coke by assisting with gliding electric discharge plasma the partial oxidation of hydrocarbons, accompanied by their steam reforming and/or reforming with CO.sub.2,. This mixture of products is achieved in a plasma reactor with gliding electric discharges that glow in the compartment brought to a temperature lower than 1200.degree. C. and at a pressure of less than 6 bars. The discharges act directly in an exothermic reactive medium consisting of hydrocarbons mixed with gaseous oxygen of any origin, and possibly with H.sub.2 O and/or CO.sub.2.

Abstract: Method for conversion of hydrocarbons assisted by gliding electric arcs in the presence of water vapor and/or carbon dioxide.The objective of the process and the plasma assistance device to steam reforming, to the reforming with CO2 or to simultaneous reforming with an H2O/CO2 mixture of hydrocarbons is the production of gases rich in CO and H2, containing also high ratios of C2H2, C2H4 and C3H6, without formation of soot or coke. The process makes it also possible to upgrade the CO2 by converting it into CO in the presence of hydrocarbons.This mixture of valuable products is obtained in a reactor /1/ with electric gliding arcs /4/ which strike directly into an endothermic reaction medium consisting of hydrocarbons mixed with H2O and/or CO2.

Abstract: A process for the conversion of N.sub.2 O into NO.sub.x (x=1 or 2) thereof, comprising forming a jet of gas to be treated comprising N.sub.2 O and directing the jet into the interstitial space of at least two divergent electrodes placed under an electric voltage, to create at least one electric discharge and/or arc, and is part of a low-temperature plasma generator. The generator works by formation of electric discharges sliding between the electrodes such that the gas circulates along the electrodes from the discharge region where these electrodes are closest to each other. Finally, the NO.sub.x gas formed is recovered. The invention also relates to a device for carrying out the process.