HEATER DEVICE AND METHOD FOR HIGH PRESSURE PROCESSING OF CRYSTALLINE MATERIALS
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A heater for processing materials in supercritical fluids at high pressure and high temperature, comprising:
- at least one inner tube member comprising a first region and a second region, the inner tube member comprising an outer surface region and an inner surface region;
at least two heating elements spatially disposed respectively at least within the first region and the second region;
a thickness of at least one insulating material overlying the at least two heating elements, the thickness of insulating material comprising a first inner surface region and a first outer surface region;
a cylindrical structure provided by at least the inner tube member, the two heating elements, and the thickness of insulating material to form a substantially incompressible sandwiched structure including at least the inner tube member, two heating elements, and thickness of insulating material, the cylindrical structure being substantially free from one or more voids and/or gaps, the one or more gaps and/or voids being capable of causing a failure including a crack and/or creep condition during an operation condition;
a length of no longer than about ten millimeters characterizing the cylindrical structure from an inner portion of the cylindrical structure and an outer portion of the cylindrical structure; and
wherein the inner portion of the cylindrical structure and the outer portion of the cylindrical structure are electrically isolated from the at least two heating elements.
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Abstract
An improved heater for processing materials or growing crystals in supercritical fluids is provided. In a specific embodiment, the heater is scalable up to very large volumes and is cost effective. In conjunction with suitable high pressure apparatus, the heater is capable of processing materials at pressures and temperatures of 0.2-2 GPa and 400-1200° C., respectively.
168 Citations
46 Claims
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1. A heater for processing materials in supercritical fluids at high pressure and high temperature, comprising:
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at least one inner tube member comprising a first region and a second region, the inner tube member comprising an outer surface region and an inner surface region; at least two heating elements spatially disposed respectively at least within the first region and the second region; a thickness of at least one insulating material overlying the at least two heating elements, the thickness of insulating material comprising a first inner surface region and a first outer surface region; a cylindrical structure provided by at least the inner tube member, the two heating elements, and the thickness of insulating material to form a substantially incompressible sandwiched structure including at least the inner tube member, two heating elements, and thickness of insulating material, the cylindrical structure being substantially free from one or more voids and/or gaps, the one or more gaps and/or voids being capable of causing a failure including a crack and/or creep condition during an operation condition; a length of no longer than about ten millimeters characterizing the cylindrical structure from an inner portion of the cylindrical structure and an outer portion of the cylindrical structure; and wherein the inner portion of the cylindrical structure and the outer portion of the cylindrical structure are electrically isolated from the at least two heating elements. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A heater for processing materials in supercritical fluids at high pressure and high temperature, comprising:
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at least one inner tube member comprising a first region and a second region, the inner tube member comprising an outer surface region and an inner surface region; at least two heating elements spatially disposed respectively at least within the first region and the second region; a thickness of insulating material overlying the two heating elements, the thickness of insulating material comprising an inner surface region and an outer surface region; an interface region provided between the outer surface region of the inner tube member and the inner surface region of the thickness of insulating material, the interface region being substantially free from one or more voids and/or gaps, the one or more gaps and/or voids being capable of causing a failure including a crack and/or creep condition during an operation condition; a cylindrical structure provided by at least the inner tube member, the two heating elements, and the thickness of insulating material to form a substantially incompressible sandwiched structure including at least the inner tube member, two heating elements, and thickness of insulating material; wherein the inner portion of the cylindrical structure and the outer portion of the cylindrical structure are electrically isolated from the at least two heating elements; and wherein at least two heating elements are spatially disposed respectively at least within the first region and the second region, each of the heating elements being configured as a plurality of strips running parallel down an axial direction, at least two of the plurality of strips comprising lengths of at least two different values of resistance per unit length. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A heater for processing materials in supercritical fluids at high pressure and high temperature, comprising:
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at least one inner tube member comprising a first region and a second region, the inner tube member comprising an outer surface region and an inner surface region; at least two sets of heating elements spatially disposed respectively at least within the first region and the second region; a thickness of insulating material overlying the two sets of heating elements, the thickness of insulating material comprising a first inner surface region and a first outer surface region; an interface region provided between the outer surface region of the inner tube member and the first inner surface region of the thickness of insulating material, the interface region being substantially free from one or more voids and/or gaps, the one or more gaps and/or voids being capable of causing a failure including a crack and/or creep condition during an operation condition; a cylindrical structure provided by at least the inner tube member, the at least two sets of heating elements, and the thickness of insulating material to form a substantially incompressible sandwiched structure including at least the inner tube member, two sets of heating elements, and the thickness of insulating material; wherein the inner portion of the cylindrical structure and the outer portion of the cylindrical structure are electrically isolated from the at least two heating elements; and wherein the at least two sets of heating elements are spatially disposed respectively at least within the first region and the second region, each of the heating elements being configured as a plurality of strips running parallel down an axial direction, the ends of each of the plurality of strips distal with respect to the ends of the inner tube being placed in electrical contact with the inner tube. - View Dependent Claims (35)
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36. Apparatus for processing one or more materials comprising:
- at least one heating element configured to transfer thermal energy to a process region within a capsule contained in a high pressure reactor, the high pressure reactor being capable of withstanding a pressure of about 0.2 GPa and greater, the heating element being spatially disposed within a vicinity of the capsule and characterized by a thickness of less than a predetermined amount to maintain an exterior region of the capsule substantially free from damage while the process region of the capsule is subjected to a pressure of about 0.2 GPa and greater.
- View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A method for forming crystalline material, the method comprising:
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using an apparatus for processing one or more materials comprising at least one heating element configured to transfer thermal energy to a process region within a capsule contained in a high pressure reactor, the high pressure reactor being capable of withstanding a pressure of about 0.2 GPa and greater, the heating element being spatially disposed within a vicinity of the capsule and characterized by a thickness of less than a predetermined amount to maintain an exterior region of the capsule substantially free from damage while the process region of the capsule is subjected to a pressure of about 0.2 GPa and greater; and forming a gallium nitride crystalline material within one or more portions of the process region. - View Dependent Claims (46)
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Specification