CHEMICAL REACTOR FOR CONVERTING A FIRST MATERIAL INTO A SECOND MATERIAL

• US 20110236272A1
• Filed: 02/08/2008
• Published: 09/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Peter C. Kong
• Original Assignee: Peter C. Kong
• Inventors: Kong, Peter C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,287,814 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/186.22
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/088 giving rise to electric discharges for heating purposes H05B7/00; for the production of ozone C01B13/11, H01T19/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0809 employing two or more electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0833 forming part of a full circle
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0871 Heating or cooling of the reactor
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0884 Gas-liquid
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0886 Gas-solid
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/089 Liquid-solid
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0894 Processes carried out in the presence of a plasma
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 6/21 Preparation of borohydrides of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, magnesium or beryllium; Addition complexes thereof, e.g. LiBH4.2N2H4, NaB2H7
• CPC Class Codes: F23G 2204/201 Plasma

Abstract

A chemical reactor and method for converting a first material into a second material is disclosed and wherein the chemical reactor is provided with a feed stream of a first material which is to be converted into a second material; and wherein the first material is combusted in the chemical reactor to produce a combustion flame, and a resulting gas; and an electrical arc is provided which is passed through or superimposed upon the combustion flame and the resulting gas to facilitate the production of the second material.

Claims

1. A chemical reactor, comprising:

a combustion assembly for receiving a first material, and combusting the first material to produce a combustion flame;

a chemical reactor positioned adjacent to the combustion assembly, and which receives the combustion flame; and

an electrical arc which passes through the combustion flame to create a high temperature plasma, and wherein the plasma is formed in a fashion so as to increase the residency time of the combustion flame within the plasma, and to facilitate the chemical reaction of the first material into a second material.

2. A chemical reactor as claimed in claim 1, and wherein the combustion assembly comprises a chemical torch, and wherein the chemical torch is mounted adjacent to the chemical reactor and is electrically insulated therefrom.

3. A chemical reactor as claimed in claim 1, and further comprising:

a collection chamber positioned in downstream fluid flowing relation relative to the chemical reactor, and wherein the collection chamber is electrically insulated from the chemical reactor.

4. A chemical reactor as claimed in claim 1, and wherein the electrical arc, and the resulting high temperature plasma are formed in the chemical reactor, and wherein the chemical reactor has a first and a second end, and a passageway having a length dimension is defined by the chemical reactor and extends from the first end, and through the second end, and wherein the high temperature plasma is created along a preponderance of the length dimension of the passageway.

5. A chemical reactor as claimed in claim 1, and further comprising:

a first electrode borne by the chemical reactor and juxtaposed relative to the passageway;

a second electrode borne by the chemical reactor and positioned in spaced relation relative to the first electrode, and further juxtaposed relative to the passageway;

a source of electricity which is selectively electrically coupled to the respective electrodes and which creates the electrical arc and the resulting high temperature plasma; and

an electrically insulative material positioned therebetween the first and second electrodes and which defines, at least in part, the passageway.

6. A chemical reactor as claimed in claim 5, and wherein the first and second electrodes are spaced apart at a distance which facilitates the production of the second material from the first material .

7. A chemical reactor as claimed in claim 3, and wherein the combustion assembly, chemical reactor and collection chamber are substantially aligned along a substantially vertically oriented axis.

8. A chemical reactor as claimed in claim 1, and wherein the high temperature plasma has a temperature of greater than about 5000 degrees C., and wherein the chemical flame has a temperature of least about 15 percent of the temperature of high temperature plasma.

9. A chemical reactor as claimed in claim 3, and wherein the first material comprises sodium borate, which is supplied to the combustion assembly, and the second material comprises sodium borohydride which is collected in the collection chamber, and wherein a third material comprising a source of hydrogen is supplied to the combustion assembly, and combusted with the sodium borate by the combustion assembly, and subsequently acted upon by the high temperature plasma to facilitate the production of the sodium borohydride.

10. A chemical reactor as claimed in claim 9, and wherein the third material comprises methane.

11. A chemical reactor, comprising:

a source of a first material which is to be converted into a second material;

a chemical torch which is coupled in fluid flowing relation relative to the source of the first material, and which combusts the first material to produce a chemical flame;

a chemical reactor positioned adjacent to the chemical torch and which defines a passageway that receives the chemical flame, and wherein the chemical reactor is electrically insulated from the chemical torch;

a first electrode borne by the chemical reactor, and which is positioned downstream, and at a first distance from the chemical torch;

a second electrode borne by the reaction chamber, and which is positioned downstream, and at a second distance from the chemical torch, and wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance, and wherein the second electrode is electrically insulated from the first electrode;

a source of electrical power supplied to the first and second electrodes and which generates an electrical arc which passes between the first and second electrodes and through the chemical flame which is passing through the reaction zone, and wherein the electrical arc facilitates the formation of a high temperature plasma which promotes the chemical reaction of the first material to produce a second material; and

a collection chamber positioned downstream, and at a third distance from the chemical torch, and wherein the third distance is greater than the second distance, and wherein the collection chamber receives, at least in part, the chemical flame, and which further collects the second material, and wherein the second electrode is electrically insulated from the collection chamber.