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

• US 9,541,284 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2014
• Issued: 01/10/2017
• 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:
  US14/148,534
• Publication Number:
  US 20140190080A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,100 Days
• Field of Search: 422/186.3, 588/400, 585/240
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 preparation of alcohols in general C07C29/00
• 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 chemical reactor, comprising:

a reactor vessel having a light-transmissible surface proximate to a reaction zone;

a movable reactant delivery system positioned within the reactor vessel;

a product removal system positioned within the reactor vessel and positioned annularly inwardly or outwardly from the delivery system wherein the product removal system is positioned in close thermal communication with the reactant delivery system to transfer heat to the reactant delivery system; and

a solar concentrator positioned to direct solar radiation through the light transmissible surface to the reaction zone.

2. The reactor of claim 1 wherein the reactant delivery system includes a rotatable screw having an outwardly-extending helical thread positioned to convey reactants to the reaction zone.

3. The reactor of claim 2 wherein the screw is extended along and rotatable about a rotation axis, and wherein a pitch of the helical thread varies as a function of position along the rotation axis.

4. The reactor of claim 2 wherein the screw is extended along and rotatable about a rotation axis, and wherein a radial width of the helical thread varies as a function of position along the rotation axis.

5. The reactor of claim 1 wherein the product removal system includes a rotatable screw having an outwardly-extending helical thread positioned to convey products from the reaction zone.

6. The reactor of claim 1 wherein the reactant delivery system includes a piston that is incrementally movable toward the reaction zone.

7. The reactor of claim 1, further comprising:

a combustor operatively coupled to the reaction zone to direct heat to the reaction zone;

a sensor positioned to detect incident solar radiation; and

a controller operatively coupled to the combustor and the sensor to activate the combustor when the incident solar radiation falls below a threshold level.

8. The reactor of claim 1, further comprising a source of solid reactants, and wherein the product delivery system extends between the source and the reaction zone.

9. The reactor of claim 1, further comprising a source of gaseous reactants, and wherein the product delivery system extends between the source and the reaction zone.

10. The reactor of claim 1, further comprising a source of hydrocarbon reactants, and wherein the product delivery system extends between the source and the reaction zone.

11. The reactor of claim 1, further comprising a source of reactants, and wherein the source includes nitrogen.

12. A chemical reactor, comprising:

a cylindrical reactor vessel having a light-transmissible surface proximate to and bounding a reaction zone positioned within the vessel;

a reactant delivery system positioned within the reactor vessel, the reactant delivery system including a first screw shaft having an outwardly extending first spiral thread and being rotatable about a rotation axis, the first spiral thread having a volume between neighboring threads that is smaller proximate to the reaction zone than distal from the reaction zone, the first screw shaft extending to the reaction zone and having a first axial opening extending along the rotation axis;

a product removal system positioned within the reactor vessel, the product removal system including a second screw shaft positioned concentrically within the first axial opening of the first screw shaft in close thermal communication with the first screw shaft, the second screw shaft having an outwardly extending second spiral thread and being rotatable about the rotation axis, the second screw shaft extending to the reaction zone and having a second axial opening extending along the rotation axis, the second screw shaft further having perforations at the reaction zone to receive gaseous products from the reaction zone;

a combustor zone operatively coupled to the reaction zone to direct heat to the reaction zone;

a gas supply conduit positioned in the second axial opening of the second screw shaft to deliver at least one of a fuel and an oxidant to the combustor zone via the perforations of the second screw shaft;

a solar concentrator positioned to direct solar radiation through the light transmissible surface to the reaction zone;

a sensor positioned to detect incident solar radiation; and

a controller operatively coupled to the combustor and the sensor to activate the combustor when the incident solar radiation falls below a threshold level.

13. The reactor of claim 12 wherein a radial width of the spiral thread decreases as a function of position along the rotation axis.

14. The reactor of claim 12 wherein a pitch of the spiral thread decreases as a function of position along the rotation axis.