Our Proprietary Plasma Pyrolysis Technology
Celestial Fuels employs a cutting-edge DC Arc Plasma Pyrolysis process for the highly efficient, emission-free conversion of methane (CH₄) into ultra-pure hydrogen (H₂) and solid carbon (C). This advanced method ensures minimal energy consumption and superior product quality.
The Plasma Pyrolysis Process: CH₄ → C + 2H₂
- Feedstock Input: Our process primarily utilizes methane (CH₄) as the feedstock, offering a direct pathway to decarbonize natural gas infrastructure.
- Plasma Torch & Reactor System: Approximately 15% of the methane is superheated to 4000°C within a high-power plasma torch. This hyper-energetic plasma then mixes with the remaining 85% of methane in the reactor, achieving an optimal reaction temperature of 1500°C.
- Methane Conversion & Hydrogen Selectivity: The DC arc plasma efficiently cracks methane molecules, achieving a remarkable 99% methane conversion and 95% hydrogen selectivity. The reaction proceeds according to the equation: CH₄ → C + 2H₂ (ΔH° = 37.4 kJ mol⁻¹ H₂), indicating an endothermic process requiring minimal energy input to drive.
- Hydrogen Purification: The produced hydrogen gas undergoes advanced membrane filtration, resulting in ultra-high purity of 99.9999%, suitable for the most demanding industrial and fuel cell applications.
- Carbon Separation: Solid carbon, a valuable co-product, is efficiently separated from the gas stream using a cyclone filter, ensuring a clean and continuous process.
Performance & Efficiency Metrics
| Metric | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Energy Consumption | 20-30 kWh/kg H₂ | 4-8 times more efficient than traditional steam methane reforming (SMR); less than one-third of electrolysis (50-60 kWh/kg). |
| Production Capacity | 50 tons H₂ per annum (initial) | Scalable modular design with proportional high-value carbon output. |
| Methane Conversion | 99% | High efficiency in cracking methane molecules. |
| Hydrogen Selectivity | 95% | Optimized for maximum hydrogen yield. |
| Hydrogen Purity | 99.9999% | Ultra-high purity via advanced membrane filtration. |
| Carbon Co-Product | Carbon black & nanomaterials | Valuable by-products offsetting production costs. |
