Apparatus for processing materials in supercritical fluids and methods thereof
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a capsule configured to contain a supercritical fluid;
a pressure vessel disposed about the capsule, wherein the pressure vessel is configured to contain a pressurized gas surrounding the capsule; and
a pressure control device configured to balance an interior pressure within the capsule with a surrounding pressure of the pressurized gas within the pressure vessel in response to sensed environmental conditions within the capsule or the pressure vessel.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for processing materials in supercritical fluids is disclosed. The apparatus includes a capsule configured to contain a supercritical fluid, a high strength enclosure disposed about the capsule and a sensor configured to sense pressure difference between an interior and an exterior of the capsule. The apparatus also includes a pressure control device configured to adjust pressure difference of the capsule in response to the pressure difference sensed by the sensor. The apparatus further includes at least one dividing structure disposed within the capsule that divides the capsule into a seed growing chamber and a nutrient chamber.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a capsule configured to contain a supercritical fluid;
a pressure vessel disposed about the capsule, wherein the pressure vessel is configured to contain a pressurized gas surrounding the capsule; and
a pressure control device configured to balance an interior pressure within the capsule with a surrounding pressure of the pressurized gas within the pressure vessel in response to sensed environmental conditions within the capsule or the pressure vessel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus comprising:
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a high strength enclosure;
a capsule disposed inside the high strength enclosure, wherein the capsule is configured to contain one or more materials in an environment having a supercritical fluid;
a heating device disposed between the high strength enclosure and the capsule, wherein the heating device is configured to transfer heat into the environment within the capsule, such that the environment becomes heated and self-pressurized from the heat, wherein the high strength enclosure is configured to surround and bear against the capsule to counterbalance internal pressures within the capsule; and
thermal insulation disposed between the high strength enclosure and the heating device, wherein the thermal insulation is configured to retain heat within the capsule and to reduce heat transfer into the high strength enclosure. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An apparatus comprising:
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a pressure vessel configured to process material contained in a self pressurizing capsule, wherein the pressure vessel is configured to contain a pressurized gas surrounding the self-pressurizing capsule;
a displacement measuring device configured to measure deformation of the self-pressurizing capsule due to a pressure difference between an interior pressure and a surrounding pressure of the self-pressurizing capsule; and
a pressure control device configured to balance the interior pressure within the capsule with the surrounding pressure of the pressurized gas within the pressure vessel by minimizing displacement or deformation of the self-pressurizing capsule.
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19. An apparatus comprising:
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a high strength enclosure;
a heating device disposed inside the high strength enclosure and configured to receive a capsule, wherein the heating device is configured to transfer heat into the environment within the capsule, such that the environment becomes heated and self-pressurized from the heat, wherein the high strength enclosure is configured to surround and bear against the capsule to counterbalance internal pressures within the capsule without significant gas pressure between the heating device and the capsule; and
thermal insulation disposed between the high strength enclosure and the heating device.
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20. A method of operation of an apparatus comprising:
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identifying a differential between an interior pressure within a supercritical fluid capsule and a surrounding pressure between a pressure vessel and the supercritical fluid capsule disposed within the pressure vessel; and
adjusting the interior pressure or the surrounding pressure to substantially balance the differential between the interior pressure and the surrounding pressure. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A method of manufacturing an apparatus comprising:
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providing a high strength enclosure;
providing a capsule configured to be positioned inside the high strength enclosure, wherein the capsule is configured to contain a substance including a supercritical fluid, providing a heating device configured to be positioned between the high strength enclosure and the capsule; and
providing thermal insulation configured to be positioned between the high strength enclosure and the heating device.
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Specification