ELECTRICAL DEVICE FOR CONVERSION OF MOLECULAR WEIGHTS

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, (32), with a semiconducting layer beneath their inner surfaces (34) which carries a current. During operation, electrons strike the inner surface (34) of the tubes (32), ionizing molecules absorbed on the surfaces, which are then accelerated by the electric field and are carried 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.