Chemical reactors with annularly positioned delivery and removal devices, and associated systems and methods

• US 8,624,072 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2012
• Issued: 01/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Advanced Green Innovations, LLC
• Original Assignee: McAlister Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: McAlister, Roy Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): BHAT, NINA NMN
• Application Number:
  US13/481,682
• Publication Number:
  US 20130149208A1
• Time in Patent Office: 592 Days
• Field of Search: 422/186, 422/186.3, 126/569, 126/572, 126/600, 585/240, 588/400, 204/157.15, 201/21
• US Class Current: 585/240
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/0006 Controlling or regulating processes controlling or regulating in general G05
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/0013 Controlling the temperature of the process
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/127 Sunlight; Visible light
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/1812 Tubular reactors
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/20 in the form of helices, e.g. screw reactors
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/245 placed in series
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00074 by indirect heating or cooling employing heat exchange fluids
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00085 Plates; Jackets; Cylinders
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00144 Sunlight; Visible light
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00162 controlling the pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00164 controlling the flow
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0801 Controlling the process
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0871 Heating or cooling of the reactor
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0875 Gas
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/1203 Incoherent waves
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/187 inclined at an angle to the horizontal or to the vertical plane
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/24 Stationary reactors without moving elements inside
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0266 containing a decomposition step
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/04 containing a purification step for the hydrogen or the synthesis gas
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0465 Composition of the impurity
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0485 : the impurity being a sulfur compound
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0811 : by combustion of fuel
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0822 : the fuel containing hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0872 : Methods of cooling
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0883 : by indirect heat exchange
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/02 : Production of hydrogen or of gaseous mixtures containing a substantial proportion of hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/24 : of hydrocarbons
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/26 : using catalysts
• CPC Class Codes: C10B 23/00 : Other methods of heating coke ovens
• CPC Class Codes: C10B 53/02 : of cellulose-containing material production of pyroligneous acid C10C5/00
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 2300/1284 : by renewable energy, e.g. solar energy, photovoltaic cells, wind
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 2300/1665 : to alcohols, e.g. methanol or ethanol
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 2300/1884 : with one stream being synthesis gas
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 2300/1892 : with one stream being water/steam
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 3/20 : Apparatus; Plants
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 3/72 : Other features
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 3/723 : Controlling or regulating the gasification process
• CPC Class Codes: F23G 5/02 : with pretreatment
• CPC Class Codes: F23G 7/00 : Incinerators or other apparatus for consuming industrial waste, e.g. chemicals incinerator closets A47K11/02; oxidation of sludge C02F11/06; burners in general, burner details F23D; incinerating radioactive waste G21F9/00
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 20/20 : Solar heat collectors for receiving concentrated solar energy, e.g. receivers for solar power plants
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 20/40 : Solar heat collectors combined with other heat sources, e.g. using electrical heating or heat from ambient air
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 20/61 : Passive solar heat collectors, e.g. operated without external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 23/00 : Arrangements for concentrating solar-rays for solar heat collectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/223 : for pipe joints or seals
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/405 : by adsorption or absorption
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/021 : Correlating sampling sites with geographical information, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00613 : Quality control
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00871 : Communications between instruments or with remote terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/20 : Solar thermal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/40 : Solar thermal energy, e.g. solar towers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 20/12 : Heat utilisation in combustion or incineration of waste
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/10 : Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/30 : Fuel from waste, e.g. synthetic alcohol or diesel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/32 : Hydrogen storage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/36 : Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/10 : Process efficiency
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/129 : Energy recovery, e.g. by cogeneration, H2recovery or pressure recovery turbines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/133 : Renewable energy sources, e.g. sunlight
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 : Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

Chemical reactors with annularly positioned delivery and removal devices, and associated systems and methods. A reactor in accordance with a particular embodiment includes a reactor vessel having a light-transmissible surface proximate to a reaction zone, and a movable reactant delivery system positioned within the reactor vessel. The reactor can further include a product removal system positioned within the reactor vessel and positioned annularly inwardly or outwardly from the delivery system. A solar concentrator is positioned to direct solar radiation through the light-transmissible surface to the reaction zone.

Claims

1. A method for performing a chemical reaction, comprising:

concentrating solar radiation;

directing the concentrated solar radiation through a light-transmissive surface of a reaction vessel and to a reaction zone within the reaction vessel;

actuating a reactant delivery system to direct a reactant to the reaction zone;

performing an endothermic reaction at the reaction zone to produce a product; and

actuating a product removal system positioned annularly inwardly or outwardly from the reactant delivery system to remove a product from the reaction zone while transferring heat from the product radially outwardly or inwardly to a reactant volume carried by the reactant delivery system.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising compacting the reactant as the reactant approaches the reaction zone.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the reactant includes at least one solid reactant.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the reactant includes at least one gaseous reactant.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the reactant includes a biomass reactant, and wherein compacting the reactant includes removing water and air from the reactant.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein directing a reactant includes directing a hydrocarbon reactant.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein directing a reactant includes directing a nitrogen-bearing reactant.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein directing a reactant includes directing a biomass reactant.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein removing a product includes removing a hydrogen-bearing product.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein conducting a reaction includes conducting a dissociation reaction.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising supplementing the concentrated solar radiation with heat from a supplemental heat source.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising sliding the supplemental heat source over the reaction zone.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the supplemental heat source includes an inductive heat source.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the product removal system is positioned annularly inwardly from the reactant delivery system.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein actuating the product removal system includes rotatating a screw having an outwardly-extending helical thread positioned to convey the products from the reaction zone.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein actuating the reactant delivery system includes rotatating a screw having an outwardly-extending helical thread positioned to convey the reactants to the reaction zone.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein transferring the heat from the product includes transferring the heat through the screw via conduction.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein a volume between neighboring threads of the screw decreases in a direction toward the reaction zone, and wherein actuating the reactant delivery system includes compacting the reactants as the screw rotates.

6. A method for performing a chemical reaction, comprising:

concentrating solar radiation during daylight hours;

directing the concentrated solar radiation through a light-transmissive surface of a reaction vessel and to a reaction zone within the reaction vessel;

rotating a first helical screw to direct a hydrocarbon reactant to the reaction zone;

performing an endothermic reaction at the reaction zone to dissociate the hydrocarbon into a gaseous hydrogen-containing constituent and a gaseous carbon-containing constituent and the gaseous carbon-containing constituent from the reaction zone;

rotating a second helical screw located within an axial aperture of the first helical screw to remove the solid product from the reaction zone;

after daylight hours, directing oxygen to the reaction zone via a gas conduit located within an axial aperture of the first helical screw to support a combustion process; and

directing heat from the combustion process to the reaction zone.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising transferring heat from the source products to an incoming hydrocarbon reactant as at least one of the first and second helical screws rotates relative to the other.