H Quest Vanguard, Inc.

H Quest Partners, LP

George L Skoptsov

Alan A Johnson

Kurt W Zeller

Evan T Musselman

James J Strohm

Aayush Mantri

Vignesh Viswanathan

Preet K Jain

A nanocarbon material includes agglomerate nanostructures made of aggregates of: (i) graphene nanostructures having at least partially crumpled morphology, and (ii) clusters of at least one carbon material. The carbon material may have a graphitic structure. At least a portion of the graphitic structure may be at least partially hollow and have at least one winged protrusion. Optionally, the nanocarbon material may be part of a composition that includes a dispersion medium or a cementitious material. Methods of making such a composition are also disclosed.

Nanocarbon material and applications of nanocarbon material

System and methods for plasma treatment of a fluidized bed of particles are disclosed. The systems include an energy coupling zone configured to generate a plasma from microwave radiation and an interface element configured to propagate the plasma from the energy coupling zone to a reaction zone. The reaction zone is configured to receive the plasma, receive a plurality of reactant particles in a fluidization plane direction from a fluidization assembly positioned below the reaction zone, and form a product in presence of the plasma. The fluidization plane is substantially perpendicular to the propagated plasma.

Microwave assisted fluidized bed reactor

Systems and methods for plasma based synthesis of graphitic materials. The system includes a plasma forming zone configured to generate a plasma from radio-frequency radiation, an interface element configured to transmit the plasma from the plasma forming zone to a reaction zone, and the reaction zone configured to receive the plasma. The reaction zone is further configured to receive feedstock material comprising a carbon containing species, and convert the feedstock material to a product comprising the graphitic materials in presence of the plasma.

Methods and systems for microwave assisted production of graphitic materials

A method for converting hydrocarbon materials into a product includes receiving a hydrocarbon feedstock in a first reaction chamber, receiving a process gas in the first reaction chamber, and forming a first set of discharge conditions in the presence of energy from a microwave generator, in the first reaction chamber, to convert the hydrocarbon feedstock into an intermediate product for delivery to a second reaction chamber. The method also includes delivering the intermediate product to the second reaction chamber, forming a second set of discharge conditions, and converting the intermediate product into a final product in the second reaction chamber.

Multi-stage system for processing hydrocarbon fuels

Embodiments relate to generating non-thermal plasma to selectively convert a precursor to a product. More specifically, plasma forming material, a precursor material, and a plasma promoter material are provided to a reaction zone of a vessel. The reaction zone is exposed to microwave radiation, including exposing the plasma forming material, the precursor material, and the plasma promoter material to the microwave radiation. The exposure of the plasma forming material and the plasma promoter material to the microwave radiation selectively converts the plasma forming material to a micro-plasma. The precursor material is mixed with the plasma forming material and the precursor material is exposed to the micro-plasma. The exposure of the precursor material to the micro-plasma and the microwave radiation selectively converts the precursor material to a product.

Non-thermal micro-plasma conversion of hydrocarbons

A non-thermal plasma is generated to selectively convert a precursor to a product. More specifically, plasma forming material and a precursor material are provided to a reaction zone of a vessel. The reaction zone is exposed to microwave radiation, including exposing the plasma forming material and the precursor material to the microwave radiation. The exposure of the plasma forming material to the microwave radiation selectively converts the plasma forming material to a non-thermal plasma including formation of one or more streamers. The precursor material is mixed with the plasma forming material and the precursor material is exposed to the non-thermal plasma including exposing the precursor material to the one or more streamers. The exposure of the precursor material to the streamers and the microwave radiation selectively converts the precursor material to a product.

Microwave-induced non-thermal plasma conversion of hydrocarbons

Non-thermal plasma conversion of hydrocarbons

A method of processing hydrocarbons includes feeding a hydrocarbon feedstock into a reaction tube positioned within an opening of a waveguide, feeding a process gas into the reaction tube, receiving microwaves in the waveguide from a microwave generator, propagating microwave energy from the waveguide into the reaction tube to cause the formation of a first plasma in the reaction tube, that causes the feedstock and process gas to react and form into a product stream comprising a fuel product. The method also includes periodically, without stopping the propagation of microwave energy into the reaction tube, delivering a cleaning gas comprising oxygen. The method may also include forming a second plasma in the reaction tube, from the cleaning gas that causes burning off of a carbon residue film from the reaction tube; extracting the cleaning gas from the product stream; and delivering the extracted cleaning gas to the cleaning gas source.

Method for processing hydrocarbon fuels using microwave energy

A system for processing hydrocarbon materials, comprising a hydrocarbon feedstock source; a process gas source; a waveguide; and a reaction tube structure. The process gas source comprises one or more sources of gases selected from the group consisting of helium, argon, krypton, neon, xenon, methane, propane, butane, ethane, acetylene, propylene, butylene, ethylene, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, water vapor, hydrogen, and nitrogen. The waveguide comprises a lateral portion comprising housing having a first end portion configured to be connected to a microwave generator, a closed opposite end portion, a primary axis extending from the first end portion to the second end portion, and a central portion having an opening, wherein the central portion has a depth that is smaller than a corresponding depth of the first end portion and the second end portion, and a coaxial portion having a first end portion connected to the opening and a lateral dimension that is perpendicular to the primary axis. The reaction tube structure comprises an outer wall made of a dielectric material, and is configured such that when hydrocarbon feedstock from the feedstock source and process gas from the process gas source are fed into the reaction tube structure and microwaves are received in the waveguide, one or more surface waves are propagated in the reaction tube structure to form a plasma within the reaction tube structure and cause the feedstock and process gas to react and form into a product stream, and wherein the reaction tube structure has a lateral dimension that is perpendicular to the lateral portion and parallel to the coaxial portion, and the reaction tube structure is connected to a second end of the coaxial portion.

System for processing hydrocarbon fuels using surfaguide

A method of operating a hydrocarbon material processing system includes feeding a hydrocarbon feedstock from a hydrocarbon feedstock source into a reaction tube positioned within an opening of a waveguide, feeding a process gas from a process gas source into the reaction tube, receiving microwaves in the waveguide from a microwave generator, energy from the waveguide in the reaction tube to cause the feedstock and process gas to react and form into a product stream comprising a fuel product. The method also includes periodically delivering a cleaning gas into the reaction tube, without stopping the propagation of the energy and without pausing the feeding of the hydrocarbon feedstock and the process gas into the reaction tube.

A system for processing hydrocarbon materials includes a waveguide having a lateral portion comprising housing having a first end portion configured to be connected to an energy generator, a closed opposite end portion, a primary axis extending from the first end portion to the second end portion, and a central portion having a circular opening. A reaction tube structure comprising an outer wall made of a dielectric material is positioned in or connected to the opening of the waveguide. When hydrocarbon feedstock and process gas are fed into the reaction tube structure and energy is received in the waveguide, energy is propagated to the reaction tube structure to form a plasma within the reaction tube structure and cause the feedstock and process gas to react and form into a product stream.

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Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America

George L Skoptsov