EP4454747A1

1. A device (1) for plasma-induced decomposition of alkanes, in particular methane, into carbon and hydrogen, comprising:

   • a centrifugal separator (2) comprising a process chamber (3) extending around a vertical axis (H) and having at least one gas inlet (4) designed such that introduced alkane-containing gas circulates around the vertical axis (H) of the process chamber (3), as well as
   • a plasma device (5) which is designed to decompose alkane contained in the alkane-containing gas in a plasma region (6) of the process chamber (3) by means of plasma (7) into a gas comprising carbon and hydrogen, so that resublimation of the carbon to carbon particles is effected,
     wherein the carbon particles can be separated from the gas by means of the centrifugal separator (2) and the plasma region (6) lies exclusively off the vertical axis (H).

2. A process for the plasma-induced decomposition of alkanes, in particular methane, into carbon and hydrogen, wherein alkane-containing gas is introduced through a gas inlet (4) into a centrifugal separator (2) with a process chamber (3), such that the introduced alkane-containing gas circulates around a vertical axis (H) of the process chamber (3), wherein alkane contained in the alkane-containing gas is decomposed in a plasma region of the process chamber (3) by means of plasma (7) into a gas comprising carbon and hydrogen, such that resublimation of the carbon to carbon particles is effected, wherein the carbon particles can be separated from the gas by means of the centrifugal separator and the plasma region (6) is located exclusively away from the vertical axis (H).