Method and apparatus for recuperative heating of reactants in an reaction matrix
First Claim
1. A method for the exothermic reaction of process gases in a processor comprising the steps of:
- (a) heating a portion of a matrix bed of heat resistant material within the processor above the autoignition temperature of the process gases;
(b) feeding the process gases into a plenum within the processor;
(c) directing the process gases from the plenum through one or more feeding tubes, each of the feeding tubes having an inside portion, an entrance end, and an exit end, the one or more feeding tubes extending through a gas impermeable barrier such that the entrance end of the feeding tubes is located within the plenum and the exit end of the feeding tubes is positioned either within the matrix bed or within a void located adjacent to the matrix bed within the processor at a position remote from the gas impermeable barrier;
(d) directing the process gases from the exit end of the one or more feeding tubes through the matrix bed and to a processor outlet, whereby the process gases are combusted in the matrix bed or in the void within a combustion wave, and whereby the process gases are recuperatively pre-heated in the one or more feeding tubes by the thermal energy produced during the combustion process in the matrix bed; and
(e) monitoring or otherwise determining the temperature of the matrix bed along the process gas flowpath and controlling the position of the combustion wave within the matrix bed or the void in response thereto.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus are provided for establishing and controlling the stability and movement of a reaction wave of reacting gases in a matrix of solid heat-resistant matter, wherein such reacting gases may be recuperatively pre-heated. At least a portion of the bed is initially preheated above the autoignition temperature of the mixture whereby the mixture reacts upon being introduced into the matrix thereby initiating a self-sustaining reaction region, after which the pre-heating can be terminated. The stability and movement of the wave within the matrix is maintained by monitoring the temperatures along the flowpath of the gases through the bed and adjusting the flow of the gases and/or vapors or air to maintain and stabilize the wave in the bed. The method and apparatus provide for the reaction or combustion of gases to minimize NOx and undesired products of incomplete combustion. A recuperative heat exchange system is used to preheat the reactants with heat generated by the reaction by channeling hot exhaust gases through the matrix surrounding reactant inlet tubes.
122 Citations
56 Claims
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1. A method for the exothermic reaction of process gases in a processor comprising the steps of:
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(a) heating a portion of a matrix bed of heat resistant material within the processor above the autoignition temperature of the process gases; (b) feeding the process gases into a plenum within the processor; (c) directing the process gases from the plenum through one or more feeding tubes, each of the feeding tubes having an inside portion, an entrance end, and an exit end, the one or more feeding tubes extending through a gas impermeable barrier such that the entrance end of the feeding tubes is located within the plenum and the exit end of the feeding tubes is positioned either within the matrix bed or within a void located adjacent to the matrix bed within the processor at a position remote from the gas impermeable barrier; (d) directing the process gases from the exit end of the one or more feeding tubes through the matrix bed and to a processor outlet, whereby the process gases are combusted in the matrix bed or in the void within a combustion wave, and whereby the process gases are recuperatively pre-heated in the one or more feeding tubes by the thermal energy produced during the combustion process in the matrix bed; and (e) monitoring or otherwise determining the temperature of the matrix bed along the process gas flowpath and controlling the position of the combustion wave within the matrix bed or the void in response thereto. - 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, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A method for the exothermic combustion of process gases including one or more hydrocarbons in a processor comprising the steps of:
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(a) heating a portion of a matrix bed of heat resistant material having a void fraction from 0.3 to 0.9 and a specific surface area from 40 m2 /m3 to 1040 m2 /m3 within the processor above the autoignition temperature of the process gases; (b) feeding the process gases into a plenum within the processor (c) directing the process gases from the plenum through one or more feeding tubes containing heat resistant material, each of the feeding tubes having an inside portion, an entrance end, and an exit end, the one or more feeding tubes extending through a gas impermeable barrier such that the entrance end of the feeding tubes is located within the plenum and the exit end of the feeding tubes is positioned within the matrix bed or within a void located adjacent to the matrix bed within the processor at a position remote from the gas impermeable barrier; (d) directing the process gases from the exit end of the one or more feeding tubes through the matrix bed and to a processor outlet, whereby the process gases are combusted within the matrix bed or the void within a flameless combustion wave, the processor outlet being positioned as an outlet from the matrix bed such that the combustion products flow in a countercurrent fashion along an outer portion of the one or more feeding tubes prior to exiting the processor through the processor outlet thereby recuperatively pre-heating the process gases in the one or more feeding tubes by the thermal energy produced during the combustion process in the matrix bed; and (e) monitoring the temperature of the matrix bed along the process gas flowpath and controlling the position of the combustion wave in response thereto by adjusting the volume of air, oxygen, or supplemental fuel supplied to the matrix bed, or by adjusting the flowrate of the process gases.
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37. An apparatus comprising:
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(a) a processor having an inlet for process gases and an outlet for reaction gaseous products; (b) a portion of the processor including a matrix bed comprising packed heat resistant material connected to the outlet and a void space adjacent to the matrix bed; (c) a plenum located between the processor inlet and the matrix bed within the processor; (d) a gas impermeable barrier separating the matrix bed from the plenum; (e) one or more feeding tubes having an inside portion, an entrance end, and an exit end, the on or more feeding tubes extending through the barrier such that the entrance end of the one or more feeding tubes is located in the plenum and the exit end of the one or more feeding tubes is positioned either within the matrix bed or within the void space; (f) thermocouples for sensing the temperature of the matrix bed; and (g) means for adjusting the flow rate of the process gases. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
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56. An apparatus comprising:
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(a) a processor having an inlet for process gases and an outlet for reaction gaseous products; (b) a portion of the processor including a matrix bed comprising packed heat resistant material having a void fraction from 0.3 to 0.9 and a specific surface area from 40 m2 /m3 to 1040 m2 /m3 connected to the outlet and a void space adjacent to the matrix bed; (c) a plenum located between the processor inlet and thematrix bed within the processor; (d) a gaseous impermeable barrier separating the matrix bed from the plenum; (e) one or more feeding tubes having an inside portion, an entrance end, and an exit end, the one or more feeding tubes containing heat resistant material extending through the barrier such that the entrance end of the one or more feeding tubes is located in the plenum and the exit end of the one or more feeding tubes is positioned within the matrix bed or within the void space, wherein the outlet is positioned as an outlet from the matrix bed such that the process gases flow in a countercurrent fashion along an outer portion of the one or more feeding tubes prior to exiting the processor through the outlet; (f) a preheating means for heating the matrix bed to a temperature above the autoignition temperature of the process gases; (g) thermocouples for sensing the temperature of the matrix bed; (h) one or more inlets for control air, oxygen, or supplemental fuel; (i) means for adjusting the flow rate of the control air, oxygen, or supplemental fuel; (j) means for adjusting the flow rate of the process gases; (k) a control system for accepting input from the thermocouples and, in response thereto, controlling the means for adjusting the flow rate of the process gases and the means for adjusting the flow rate of the control air, oxygen, or supplemental fuel.
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Specification