University of Alaska

William M Sackinger

Robert W Airey

Brian L Morgan

An electrical apparatus is provided for the conversion of compounds, elements, or mixtures which are in particulate form, into new compounds, elements or mixtures in gaseous, liquid, or particulate form. In a reaction chamber, particulates are mechanically transported into a first region of high electric field, where they acquire a charge and are projected into a second region in which a low-density plasma is maintained. Energetic plasma ions strike the surfaces of the particulates, causing chemical reactions and release of both neutral and ionic products species. Charge exchange on particulates causes the reduced-size particles to fall back into the first region, where the charging recurs and the cycle is repeated. Gaseous and particulate products are removed from the chamber. In one application, naturally-occurring ores may be reduced by a methane plasma; in another, coal may be converted in a methane plasma to intermediate range hydrocarbons.

Electrical method for conversion of molecular weights of particulates

An electrical device is provided for the conversion of molecules of one molecular weight into molecules of another molecular weight. A reaction chamber comprises an array of dynodes, each of which possesses a plurality of apertures. External voltages are available which are applied between dynodes, producing an electric field. During operation, electrons and ions strike the interior surfaces of the dynode apertures, ionizing neutral molecules absorbed on the surfaces, which are desorbed by the energy of the impact, and which are accelerated by the electric field to a new dynode surface location, where they combine with absorbed molecules there to form a variety of new, larger molecules, or different, smaller molecules. Certain ones of the ions created are repetitively moved to one end of the device, where they may be pumped away separately. The controlled electron and ion impact ionization in the device can also produce reactions among several molecular species which would be unlikely or impossible under normal chemical equilibrium conditions, or with normal catalysts.

Electrical device for conversion of molecular weights using dynodes

An electrical device is provided for the conversion of low-molecular-weight molecules, such as methane, into higher weight molecules, such as heptane and octane. The reaction chamber contains an array of parallel dielectric tubes, with a semiconducting layer beneath their inner surfaces which carries a current. During operation, electrons strike the inner surfaces of the tubes, ionizing molecules absorbed on the surfaces, which are then accelerated by the electric field and are carries to a new surface location, where they combine with absorbed molecules there to form a variety of new larger molecules. Excess hydrogen in the ionized condition is removed, being accelerated by the electric field to the opposite ends of the tubes. Under some conditions of operation, large molecules can be segmented into smaller ones. The controlled electron impact ionization in the device can also produce reactions among several molecular species which would be unlikely or impossible under normal chemical equilibrium conditions, or with normal catalysts.

Growing community of inventors

Fairbanks, AK, United States of America

William M Sackinger