US4045359A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for photon excited catalysis
Assignee: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
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Filing: 1976-01-29
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Granted: 1977-08-30
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Expires: 1996-01-29
Abstract
Abstract The yield of photonically excited gas phase reactions is increased by extracting excess energy from unstable, excited species by contacting the species with the surface of a finely divided solid.
Inventors
- 👤 with respect to an invention of Fletcher James C. Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- 👤 Melvin M. Saffren
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 13:20
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01J; B01J19/00; B01J19/08; B01J19/12; B01J19/121
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
An apparatus for increasing the yield of photonically excited gas phase reactions comprising in combination: a closed gas phase reactor having a reaction chamber, an inlet for flowing a gas reactant to the reaction chamber, an outlet for removing a stable gaseous reaction product from the reactor and at least one aperture; photon source means disposed outside said reactor including a laser having the output photon emitter end connected to said aperture in optical alignment with said chamber for directing excess light energy onto the inlet gas reactant for forming at least one highly excited unstable gas species containing excess energy; and finely divided, solid, energy sink means disposed in said reactor between the inlet and outlet for stabilizing said unstable, excited species by contacting and absorbing excess energy therefrom to form said stable gaseous reaction product.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
137 words
An apparatus for increasing the yield of photonically excited gas phase reactions comprising in combination: a closed gas phase reactor having a reaction chamber, an inlet for flowing a gas reactant to the reaction chamber, an outlet for removing a stable gaseous reaction product from the reactor and at least one aperture; photon source means disposed outside said reactor including a laser having the output photon emitter end connected to said aperture in optical alignment with said chamber for directing excess light energy onto the inlet gas reactant for forming at least one highly excited unstable gas species containing excess energy; and finely divided, solid, energy sink means disposed in said reactor between the inlet and outlet for stabilizing said unstable, excited species by contacting and absorbing excess energy therefrom to form said stable gaseous reaction product.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 further including means for suspending the finely divided energy sink into a fluidized bed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus according to claim 2 in which the inlet further includes a mixing chamber for mixing a plurality of reactant gases.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 in which the reaction chamber includes an illumination portion and an energy sink portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 in which the photon source means includes means for adjusting the frequency of the source to a narrow band of wavelengths.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 in which the energy sink means includes a bed of finely divided solid particles a first gas pervious screen for separating the bed from the inlet and a second gas pervious screen for separating the bed from the outlet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 further including vacuum pump connected to said outlet.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 in which the reactor includes a plurality of apertures each having the photon emitter end of a laser connected thereto focussed onto the reaction chamber.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-08-29 | 1981-02-28 | 1981-08-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-08-29 | 1985-02-28 | 1985-08-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-08-29 | 1989-02-28 | 1989-08-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |