Apparatus and method for hydrothermal electrolysis

• US 6,939,458 B1
• Filed: 02/10/2000
• Issued: 09/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ebara Corporation
• Original Assignee: Ebara Corporation
• Inventors: Su, Qingquan, Nishimura, Tatsuya, Isaka, Masahiro, Serikawa, Roberto Masahiro
• Primary Examiner(s): King, Roy
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wilkins, III, Harry D
• Application Number:
  US09/890,871
• Time in Patent Office: 2,035 Days
• Field of Search: 204/267, 204/272, 204/278.5, 204/671, 204/672, 204/673, 205/742
• US Class Current: 205/742
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/32 by electrical effects other than those provided for in group B01D61/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/77 Liquid phase processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 10/00 Chemical processes in general for reacting liquid with gaseous media other than in the presence of solid particles, or apparatus specially adapted therefor B01J19/08 takes precedence; separation, e.g. distillation, also combined with chemical reactions B01D, e.g. B01D3/009
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/18 Stationary reactors having moving elements inside B01J19/08, B01J19/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/26 Nozzle-type reactors, i.e. the distribution of the initial reactants within the reactor is effected by their introduction or injection through nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00054 Controlling or regulating the heat exchange system
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00058 Temperature measurement
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00063 of the reactants
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00069 Flow rate measurement
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00087 with heat exchange elements outside the reactor
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00099 the reactor being immersed in the heat exchange medium
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00103 in a heat exchanger separate from the reactor
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00132 using electric heating or cooling elements
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00135 Electric resistance heaters
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00155 using insulating materials or refractories
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00157 by means of a burner
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00159 controlling multiple zones along the direction of flow, e.g. pre-heating and after-cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00162 controlling the pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00164 controlling the flow
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00182 controlling the level of reactants in the reactor vessel
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/083 : cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0884 : Gas-liquid
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/185 : vertical
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/30207 : Sphere
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/30223 : Cylinder
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 3/04 : Pressure vessels, e.g. autoclaves
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/02 : by heating methods of steam generation F22B; preheating boiler feed-water or accumulating preheated boiler feed-water F22D
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/025 : Thermal hydrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/461 : by electrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/46104 : Devices therefor; Their operating or servicing
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/46114 : Electrodes in particulate form or with conductive and/or non conductive particles between them
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/467 : by electrochemical disinfection; by electrooxydation or by electroreduction
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/4672 : by electrooxydation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/74 : with air aeration of stretches of water C02F7/00
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2001/46133 : characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2101/36 : containing halogen
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/18 : from the purification of gaseous effluents
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/28 : from the paper or cellulose industry
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/4612 : Controlling or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/46155 : Heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2301/066 : Overpressure, high pressure
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2301/08 : Multistage treatments, e.g. repetition of the same process step under different conditions

Abstract

A hydrothermal electrolytic apparatus comprises a reaction cell for electrolyzing influent at high temperature and high pressure, wherein an overall surface area of a pair of electrodes located in the reaction cell per 1 m³ of the volume of the influent is 0.05 m² or more. The hydrothermal electrolytic apparatus has two or more tubular reaction cells each having a metal inner wall serving as a cathode, and an anode is provided in each of the reaction cells. A hydrothermal electrolytic process comprises incorporating conductive particles into an influent to substantially increase a surface area of electrodes during hydrothermal electrolysis.

Claims

1. A method for clarifying influent, comprising:

introducing an influent containing water and a reducing substance into a reaction cell that includes

(i) at least two tubular reaction cells each having a metal inner wall that serves as a cathode, and

(ii) an anode in each of said at least two tubular reaction cells; and

supplying a direct current into said reaction cell while a temperature within said reaction cell is within a range of from 100°

C. to a critical temperature of said influent and a pressure within said reaction cell is such that the water of said influent is maintained in a liquid phase.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

introducing an oxidizer into said reaction cell; and

discharging an effluent from said reaction cell.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

introducing conductive particles into said reaction cell.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising:

discharging an effluent and at least some of said conductive particles from said reaction cell; and

separating said at least some of said conductive particles from said effluent.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein separating said at least some of said conductive particles from said effluent comprises using one of a liquid cyclone and a filter device to separate said at least some of said conductive particles from said effluent.

6. A method for clarifying influent, comprising:

introducing an influent containing water and a reducing substance into a reaction cell that includes

(i) a first electrode having concentrically arranged cylindrical first side walls and a first connecting member for interconnecting said concentrically arranged cylindrical first side walls, and

(ii) a second electrode having concentrically arranged cylindrical second side walls and a second connecting member for interconnecting said concentrically arranged cylindrical second side walls,

with said concentrically arranged cylindrical first side walls and said concentrically arranged cylindrical second side walls being alternately arranged so as to form a channel therebetween for said influent; and

supplying a direct current into said reaction cell while a temperature within said reaction cell is within a range of from 100°

C. to a critical temperature of said influent and a pressure within said reaction cell is such that the water of said influent is maintained in a liquid phase.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising:

introducing an oxidizer into said reaction cell; and

discharging an effluent from said reaction cell.

8. The method according to claim 6, further comprising:

introducing conductive particles into said reaction cell.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising:

discharging an effluent and at least some of said conductive particles from said reaction cell; and

separating said at least some of said conductive particles from said effluent.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein separating said at least some of said conductive particles from said effluent comprises using one of a liquid cyclone and a filter device to separate said at least some of said conductive particles from said effluent.