Method and apparatus for producing fine carbon particles
First Claim
1. A method including:
- (a) producing an isolation atmosphere in a phase changing area above a reactant liquid, the phase changing area being included within a phase changing chamber defined by an inner boundary wall including a side wall portion extending transverse to a level of the reactant liquid;
(b) injecting a feed material into the reactant liquid, the feed material including a carbon bearing material;
(c) maintaining the carbon bearing material and any reaction products in contact with the reactant liquid for a period of time sufficient to liberate carbon atoms from the carbon bearing material or reaction products and place the liberated carbon atoms in an excited state;
(d) enabling the liberated carbon atoms in the excited state to traverse a surface of the reactant liquid and flow along a particle formation path through the phase changing area; and
(e) introducing an isolation fluid into the phase changing chamber at the side wall portion of the inner boundary wall and above the surface of the reactant liquid as liberated carbon atoms in the excited state traverse the surface of the reactant liquid and flow along the particle formation path.
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Abstract
A method includes producing an isolation atmosphere in a phase changing area above a reactant liquid and then injecting a feed material into the reactant liquid. The feed material preferably comprises a quantity of a hydrocarbon compound. The method further includes maintaining the molecules of the injected hydrocarbon compound and any reaction products in contact with the reactant liquid for a period of time sufficient to liberate carbon atoms from the hydrocarbon compound or reaction products and place the liberated carbon atoms in an excited state. Liberated carbon atoms in the excited state are then allowed to traverse a surface of the reactant liquid and flow along a particle formation path through the phase changing area so that the liberated carbon atoms may phase change to the ground state while suspended in the phase changing area.
54 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method including:
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(a) producing an isolation atmosphere in a phase changing area above a reactant liquid, the phase changing area being included within a phase changing chamber defined by an inner boundary wall including a side wall portion extending transverse to a level of the reactant liquid; (b) injecting a feed material into the reactant liquid, the feed material including a carbon bearing material; (c) maintaining the carbon bearing material and any reaction products in contact with the reactant liquid for a period of time sufficient to liberate carbon atoms from the carbon bearing material or reaction products and place the liberated carbon atoms in an excited state; (d) enabling the liberated carbon atoms in the excited state to traverse a surface of the reactant liquid and flow along a particle formation path through the phase changing area; and (e) introducing an isolation fluid into the phase changing chamber at the side wall portion of the inner boundary wall and above the surface of the reactant liquid as liberated carbon atoms in the excited state traverse the surface of the reactant liquid and flow along the particle formation path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method including:
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(a) liberating carbon atoms from a carbon bearing material by reaction with or in a reactant liquid and maintaining the liberated carbon atoms in an excited state; (b) enabling the liberated carbon atoms in the excited state to traverse a surface of the reactant liquid and pass into a phase changing area; and (c) introducing an isolation fluid into the phase changing area at a boundary of the phase changing area and above the surface of the reactant liquid as liberated carbon atoms in the excited state traverse the surface of the reactant liquid and pass into the phase changing area, the boundary at which the isolation fluid is introduced into the phase changing area extending transverse to the surface of the reactant liquid traversed by the liberated carbon atoms. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An apparatus including:
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(a) a reactant liquid vessel for containing a reactant liquid at a reactant liquid level; (b) an injection arrangement for injecting a stream of feed material into the reactant liquid vessel at a point below the reactant liquid level; (c) a phase changing chamber positioned to receive effluent escaping from the reactant liquid in the reactant liquid vessel in an effluent ejection area; and (d) a number of isolation fluid injection openings spaced apart across an inner boundary wall of the phase changing chamber above the reactant liquid level in position to direct an isolation fluid into the phase changing chamber. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification