Abstract:
Apparatus for optimizing gas-liquid interfacial contact for molecular mass transfer between gas and liquid comprises a gas-liquid contactor assembly including a hollow porous tube surrounded by an outer jacket defining a gas plenum between the jacket and the porous tube; a liquid feed assembly including a nozzle for injecting liquid into the porous tube in a spiraling flow pattern around and along the porous tube; a gas-liquid separator assembly at the first end of the porous tube including a nonporous degassing tube coaxially aligned with and connected to the porous tube, a gas outlet port coaxially aligned with the degassing tube to receive a first portion of gas flowing from the degassing tube, a first gas duct coaxially aligned with and connected to the gas outlet duct to convey the first portion of gas therefrom; a liquid collection assembly; and a second gas discharge assembly to collect and convey gas from the first end of the porous tube. A method of optimizing gas-liquid interfacial contact comprises the general steps of introducing a stream of liquid to the hollow interior of a cylindrical porous tube in a thin film following a spiral flow pattern around and along the wall of the tube; controlling the physical characteristics of the liquid film and the flow pattern followed by the film through the tube; sparging gas through the wall of the tube and into the liquid film at a preselected flow rate so as to create a two phase gas-liquid froth around the wall of the tube and a discrete column of gas in the central portion of the tube; maintaining the froth flow in a radial force field so as to prevent mixing of the froth and gas in the central column; removing gas forming the column from both ends of the tube; and removing liquid from the tube.
Abstract:
Method for simultaneous recovery of hydrogen and hydrogen isotopes from water and from hydrocarbons. A palladium membrane, when utilized in cooperation with a nickel catalyst in a reactor, has been found to drive reactions such as water gas shift, steam reforming and methane cracking to substantial completion by removing the product hydrogen from the reacting mixture. In addition, ultrapure hydrogen is produced, thereby eliminating the need for an additional processing step.
Abstract:
An apparatus for producing a highly uniform mixture of a first solution with two or more solute-containing solutions comprises a reaction vessel with a porous member located therein. The porous member, whic may be a membrane or a plurality of fine tubes, is located within the vessel below the surface of the first solution. One or more solute-containing solutions are rapidly and uniformly introduced into the first solution through the porous member. The solute containing solutions diffuse rapidly into the first solution through the openings in the porous member, mixing evenly to produce a uniform composition.
Abstract:
There is provided an apparatus for suspension polymerization to produce polymer particles having uniform size. The apparatus has a droplet forming device with at least one orifice and a recycle line which recycles the aqueous dispersion medium through the droplet forming device, a first reactor and a second reactor. The apparatus can produce polymer particles having uniform particle size.
Abstract:
A method and device are provided for producing synthetic gas by combustion of a fuel in a combustive agent deficient atmosphere, said combustive agent being gaseous, said device including first means for feeding the fuel and a part of the combustive gas into the reactor, and second means for feeding a second part of the combustive gas into the reactor, said second means including a porous wall defining at least a part of said reactor.
Abstract:
An oxidizable charge is oxidized in a gaseous phase reaction. The oxidizable charge and an oxidizing gas flow simultaneously and separately through a distribution zone made of a ceramic material. In at least a part of the distribution zone, the oxidizable charge and the oxidizing gas flow through a multiplicity of passages of a dimension so small that any flame resulting from oxidation of the oxidizable charge will be quenched. The oxidizable charge and oxidizing gas are then mixed in a mixing zone made from a ceramic material defining a multiplicity of spaces with passages having a dimension comparable to the dimension of the passages in the distribution zone. The mixture of gases then flows through a reaction zone made from a ceramic material defining another multiplicity of passages having dimensions comparable to those in the distribution zone. The distance between each of the distribution, mixing and reaction zones is also so small that any flame resulting from oxidation of the oxidizable charge will be quenched.
Abstract:
A new technique for oxidizing a gaseous phase oxidizable feed involves a process wherein a gas mixture containing at least one oxidizing gas is placed in contact with an oxidizable feed inside a mixing contact zone situated between at least one first zone passed through by the feed and at least one second zone passed through by the oxidation reaction products. The first and second zones define a multiplicity of multidirectional spaces exhibiting passages having, along at least one direction, a dimension at most equal to the jamming distance of the flame possibly resulting from oxidations of feed. The contact zone comprises an oxidizing gas mixture supply means comprising a plurality of parallel pipes with porous walls situated at a distance from the first and second zones which is at most equal to the jamming distance.
Abstract:
Disclosed is a method of carrying out a mobile atom insertion reaction, such as a hydrogen insertion reaction, for the synthesis of reduced, hydrogenated compounds. Such reactions include the production of ammonia and hydrazine from nitrogen, formic acid and methanol from carbon dioxide, and hydrogen peroxide from oxygen. The insertion reactions are carried out at a bipolar mobile atom transmissive membrane comprising a membrane formed of a mobile atom pump material, as a hydrogen pump material, conductive atom transmissive means on one surface of the membrane and conductive atom transmissive means on the opposite surface of the membrane. The mobile atom, such as hydrogen, diffuses across the membrane, to provide a source of hydrogen on the insertion reaction side of the membrane. The insertion reaction side of the membrane is positively biased with respect to a counterelectrode so that a reactant molecule, such as carbon dioxide, is electrosorbed on that surface of the membrane. The electrosorbed reactant molecular chemically reacts with the surface hydrogen by the insertion reaction to form a reduced, hydrogenated product such as formic acid. Also disclosed is a chemical reactor, containing the membrane, and several electrical field assisted chemical reactions utilizing the membrane and reactor.
Abstract:
Reagent is added to liquid chromatographic effluent to increase detection sensitivity of sample bands, or to enhance sensitivity with respect to interfering bands which overlap sample bands of interest, using one or more hollow fibers immersed within mobile reagent which is permeated through the walls of the fibers and, thus, ultimately diffused into the column effluent.