Plasma whirl reactor apparatus and methods of use
First Claim
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1. A chemical reactor, comprising:
- a kinetic energy comminutor comprising a vessel having an interior defined by a cylindrical portion disposed between a first end and a second end, an outlet in said first end that is aligned with a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical portion, and at least one inlet in said first end to receive a waste material;
a plasma system comprising a set of radio frequency coils disposed around or within said cylindrical portion to generate a plasma within said interior, and two or more jets mounted tangentially in said cylindrical portion to direct a fluid or a gas into said interior to create angular momentum in said plasma to form a plasma vortex that circulates around a central void substantially aligned with said longitudinal axis; and
wherein said plasma vortex reacts with said waste material to create comminution, separation, chemical conversion or a combination thereof.
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Abstract
Apparatus for synergistically combining a plasma with a comminution means such as a fluid kinetic energy mill (jet mill), preferably in a single reactor and/or in a single process step is provided by the present invention. Within the apparatus of the invention potential energy is converted into kinetic energy and subsequently into angular momentum by means of wave energy, for comminuting, reacting and separation of feed materials. Methods of use of the apparatus in the practice of various processes are also provided by the present invention.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A chemical reactor, comprising:
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a kinetic energy comminutor comprising a vessel having an interior defined by a cylindrical portion disposed between a first end and a second end, an outlet in said first end that is aligned with a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical portion, and at least one inlet in said first end to receive a waste material; a plasma system comprising a set of radio frequency coils disposed around or within said cylindrical portion to generate a plasma within said interior, and two or more jets mounted tangentially in said cylindrical portion to direct a fluid or a gas into said interior to create angular momentum in said plasma to form a plasma vortex that circulates around a central void substantially aligned with said longitudinal axis; and wherein said plasma vortex reacts with said waste material to create comminution, separation, chemical conversion or a combination thereof. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A chemical reactor, comprising:
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a kinetic energy comminutor comprising a vessel having an interior defined by a cylindrical portion disposed between a first end and a second end, an outlet in said second end that is aligned with a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical portion, and an inlet in said cylindrical portion to receive a waste material; a first plasma source comprising a plasma torch connected to the first end and aligned with said longitudinal axis of said cylindrical portion to introduce a plasma into said interior; a second plasma source comprising a set of radio frequency coils disposed around or within said cylindrical portion to add energy to said plasma, and two or more jets or slits within said cylindrical portion to direct a fluid or a gas into said interior to create angular momentum in said plasma to form a plasma vortex that circulates around said longitudinal axis; and wherein said plasma vortex reacts with said waste material to create comminution, separation, chemical conversion or a combination thereof. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. A reactor comprising:
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a vessel having a vertical longitudinal axis, a cylindrical middle portion aligned with said vertical longitudinal axis, a top portion and a bottom portion; three or more plasma sources mounted tangentially in said cylindrical middle portion such that said plasma touches are substantially aligned with one another in a horizontal plane with respect to the vertical longitudinal axis and said plasma from said plasma sources combine together to create sufficient angular momentum to form a plasma vortex that circulates around a central void within said vessel and is self-confining; one or more inlets disposed in said top portion that are sized and aligned to direct a waste material into said plasma vortex; and an outlet aligned with said vertical longitudinal axis and disposed in either said top portion or said bottom portion. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification