High temperature chemical reaction processes utilizing fluid-wall reactors

Claim 2

A high temperature chemical reaction process which comprises: i. generating an annular envelope of an inert fluid which is substantially transparent to radiation within a shell of a refractory material which reflects radiation; the volume enclosed by the shell constituting a black body cavity, the envelope having substantial axial length and the interior of the envelope defining a reaction chamber; ii. passing at least one reactant into the black body cavity and through the reaction chamber along a predetermined path substantially coincident with the longitudinal axis of the envelope, the reactants being confined within the reaction chamber; and iii. directing high intensity radiant energy into the reaction chamber to coincide with at least a portion of the predetermined path of the reactants, sufficient radiant energy being absorbed within the reaction chamber to raise the temperature of the reactants to a level required to initiate and sustain the desired chemical reaction.

Claim 3

Utilizing a high temperature fluid-wall reactor in which substantially all of the heat is supplied by radiation coupling, which reactor comprises: A. a reactor tube having an inlet end and an outlet end, the interior of the tube defining a reactor chamber, the reactor tube being made of a porous refractory material capable of emitting sufficient radiant energy to raise the temperature of reactants within the reactor tube to a level required to initiate and sustain the desired chamical reaction; the pores of the refractory material being of such diameter as to permit a uniform flow of sufficient inert fluid which is substantially transparent to radiant energy through the tube wall to constitute a protective blanket for the radially inward surface of the reactor tube; B. a fluid-tight, tubular pressure vessel enclosing the reactor tube to define an inert fluid plenum between the reactor tube and the pressure vessel, the inlet and outlet ends of the reactor tube being sealed from the plenum; the pressure vessel having an inlet for admitting the inert fluid which is directed under pressure into the plenum and through the porous tube wall into the reactor chamber; C. means for introducing at least one reactant into the reactor chamber through the inlet end of the reactor tube, the reactants being directed in a predetermined path axially of the reactor tube and being confined by the protective blanket substantially centrally within the reactor chamber and out of contact with the inner wall of the reactor tube; D. electrical means disposed within the plenum and spaced radially outwardly of the reactor tube for heating the reactor tube to the temperature level at which it emits sufficient radiant energy to intitiate and sustain the desired chemical reaction, the radiant energy being directed centrally therewithin substantially coincident with at least a portion of the path of the reactants; and E. a circumferential heat shield disposed within the pressure vessel and radially outwardly of the heating means, the heat shield reflecting radiant energy toward the reactor tube, a high temperature chemical reaction process which comprises: i. generating within the interior of the porous reactor tube an annular envelope constituting an inert fluid which is substantially transparent to radiant energy to form a protective blanket for the radially inward surface of the reactor tube, the annular envelope having substantial axial length and the interior of the envelope defining a reaction chamber; ii. passing at least one reactant through the reaction chamber along a predetermined path substantially coincident with the longitudinal axis of the envelope, the reactants being confined within the reaction chamber; and iii. directing high intensity radiant energy into the reaction chamber to coincide with at least a portion of the predetermined path of the reactants, sufficient radiant energy being absorbed within the reaction chamber to raise the temperature of the reactants to a level required to initiate and sustain the desired chemical reaction.

Claim 4

Utilizing a high temperature fluid-wall reactor in which substantially all of the heat is supplied by radiation coupling, which reactor comprises: A. a reactor tube having an inlet end and an outlet end, the interior of the tube defining a reactor chamber, the reactor tube being made of a porous refractory material capable of emitting sufficient radiant energy to raise the temperature of reactants within the reactor tube to a level required to initiate and sustain the desired chamical reaction; the pores of the refractory material being of such diameter as to permit a uniform flow of sufficient inert fluid which is substantially transparent to radiant energy through the tube wall to constitute a protective blanket for the radially inward surface of the reactor tube; B. a fluid-tight, tubular pressure vessel enclosing the reactor tube to define an inert fluid plenum between the reactor tube and the pressure vessel, the inlet and outlet ends of the reactor tube being sealed from the plenum; the pressure vessel having an inlet for admitting the inert fluid which is directed under pressure into the plenum and through the porous tube wall into the reactor chamber; C. means for introducing at least one reactant into the reactor chamber through the inlet end of the reactor tube, the reactants being directed in a predetermined path axially of the reactor tube and being confined by the protective blanket substantially centrally within the reactor chamber and out of contact with the inner wall of the reactor tube; D. electrical means disposed within the plenum and spaced radially outwardly of the reactor tube for heating the reactor tube to the temperature level at which it emits sufficient radiant energy to intitiate and sustain the desired chemical reaction, the radiant energy being directed centrally therewithin substantially coincident with at least a portion of the path of the reactants; and E. a circumferential heat shield disposed within the pressure vessel and radially outwardly of the heating means, the heat shield reflecting radiant energy toward the reactor tube, a high temperature chemical reaction process which comprises: i. generating within the interior of the porous reactor tube an annular envelope constituting an inert fluid which is substantially transparent to radiant energy to form a protective blanket for the radially inward surface of the reactor tube, the annular envelope having substantial axial length and the interior of the envelope defining a reaction chamber; ii. passing at least one reactant through the reaction chamber along a predetermined path substantially coincident with the longitudinal axis of the envelope, the reactants being confined within the reaction chamber; and iii. directing high intensity radiant energy into the reaction chamber to coincide with at least a portion of the predetermined path of the reactants, sufficient radiant energy being absorbed within the reaction chamber to raise the temperature of the reactants to a level required to initiate and sustain the desired chemical reaction.

Claim 5

A high temperature chemical reaction process according to claim 2, in which the annular envelope is generated in a direction generally perpendicular to the envelope axis and radially inwardly of the outer circumferential surface of the envelope.

Claim 6

A high temperature chemical reaction process according to claim 2, in which a radiant energy absorptive target is introduced along the path of the reactants prior to the introduction of the reactants into the reactor tube, sufficient radiant energy being absorbed by the target to raise the temperature in the reaction chamber to the level required to initiate the desired chemical reaction.

Claim 7

A high temperature chemical reaction process according to claim 4 in which the radiant energy absorptive target is deactivated after the desired reaction is initiated.

Claim 8

A high temperature chemical reaction process according to claim 2, in which the radiant energy is directed to a finite length of the predetermined path of the reactants.

Claim 9

A high temperature chemical reaction process according to claim 2, further including cooling the reaction products and any remaining reactants immediately after the reactants have exited from the reactor tube to terminate the desired chemical reaction and to prevent any further undesired chemical reaction.

Claim 10

A high temperature reaction process according to claim 7, in which the reaction products and remaining reactants are cooled by radiation heat transfer to a cool, radiant energy absorbing surface.

Claim 11

A high temperature chemical reaction process according to claim 7, further including the step of introducing a radiant energy absorptive target along the path of the reactants prior to the introduction of the reactants into the reactor tube, the absorptive targets being cooled immediately thereafter.

Claim 12

A high temperature chemical reaction process according to claim 1, in which the annular envelope is generated in a direction generally parallel to the envelope axis.

Claim 13

A high temperature chemical reaction process according to claim 1, in which the annular envelope is generated in a direction generally perpendicular to the envelope axis and radially inwardly of the outer circumferential surface of the envelope.

Claim 14

A high temperature chemical reaction process according to claim 1, in which a radiant energy absorptive target is introduced along the path of the reactants prior to the introduction of the reactants into the reactor tube, sufficient radiant energy being absorbed by the target to raise the temperature in the reaction chamber to the level required to initiate the desired chemical reaction.

Claim 15

A high temperature chemical reaction process according to claim 12 in which the radiant energy absorptive target is deactivated after the desired reaction is initiated.

Claim 16

A high temperature chemical reaction process according to claim 12 in which the radiant energy is directed to a finite length of the predetermined path of the reactants.

Claim 17

A high temperature chemical reaction process according to claim 1, further including cooling the reaction products and any remaining reactants immediately after the reactants have exited from the reactor tube to terminate the desired chemical reaction and to prevent any further undesired chemical reaction.

Claim 18

A high temperature chemical reaction process according to claim 15, in which the reaction products and remaining reactants are cooled by radiation heat transfer to a cool, radiant energy absorbing surface.

Claim 19

A high temperature chemical reaction process according to claim 15, further including the step of introducing a radiant energy absorptive target along the path of the reactants prior to the introduction of the reactants into the reactor tube, the absorptive targets being cooled immediately thereafter.