Production of Hydrogen from Heavy Hydrocarbons

Abstract

The mechanism of the effect of an arc discharge on heavy hydrocarbon raw materials is studied in the work. The mechanism of formation of charged particles in micro-discharges with recessed electrodes is shock ionization. As a result of the interaction of hydrocarbon raw materials with an arc discharge, long hydrocarbon molecules are broken down, light hydrocarbons such as ethylene, hydrogen, and methane are formed. In the case of the organization of a micro-arc discharge, a gentle thermal regime also provides a gentle splitting of long hydrocarbon molecules, and in this case gasoline fractions of oil are formed in greater quantities compared to the case of exposure to raw materials by a conventional arc discharge.