Experiments on the conversion of lower hydrocarbons with the use of nanosecond discharges

Abstract

The process of conversion of C/sub 2/-C/sub 4/ hydrocarbons was investigated, using nanosecond pulses (135 kV, 3 ns), in a plasmochemical reactor with a corona-streamer discharge. The principal products of conversion are acetylene, ethylene, and propylene. The conversion degree and the composition of the reaction products depend on the electrode gap spacing and its attendant corona-streamer-to-spark transition. The power demand for the production of alkenes is 8-10 kW/spl middot/h/kg.