Abstract:
A process and apparatus for the supercritical water oxidation of organic waste materials which avoids or at least substantially reduces the corrosion and solids deposition problems associated with prior art techniques and which provides for efficient heating of the waste material to reaction conditions. Externally heated supercritical water is fed to a compound platelet tube reactor. The compound reactor includes a reaction zone and inner (smaller) and outer (larger) concentric platelet tubes supported concentrically within a shell. The water fed to the reactor both protectively coats surfaces of the inner and outer platelet tubes facing the reaction zone and heats the waste stream to oxidation reaction conditions. Higher reaction temperatures can be used as compared to prior art processes, which significantly improves the reaction rate and permits smaller reactors to be used. The protective films of water on the surfaces of the platelet tubes, coupled with the elimination of preheating of the waste material, substantially reduces solids deposition and corrosion.
Abstract:
A method for the synthesis of complex organic compounds at high temperatures and internal pressures in a closed system, where autocatalytic activity is present.
Abstract:
A high pressure and high temperature reactor, especially operating under supercritical water conditions combined with corrosive atmosphere. The reactor comprises a reaction chamber and a pressure vessel, which surrounds the reaction chamber. It has high integrity since it has only one penetration in the pressure vessel, and its size is minimized due to induced turbulent flow of the ignited reaction mixture.
Abstract:
A reactor tube for supercritical water oxidation is designed to supply a thin, continuous layer of water along the inner surface of the reaction zone by a wall lining formed of laminated platelets individually etched and superimposed to form an array of engineered fluid passages through the wall. Each passage includes a flow metering channel of closely controlled configuration to impose a preselected level of resistance to water flowing through it, plus a distribution section which distributes the water emerging from the flow metering channel over the length of a slot-shaped exit port. The exit port is arranged in conjunction with neighboring exit ports in an array over the inner surface of the reactor such that the emerging water forms a continuous film over the surface, thereby protecting the surface from corrosion and salts deposition from the supercritical reaction medium.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for delivering supercritical fluids uses one or two high pressure vessels. Each vessel is cooled below the critical temperature of the fluid while the vessel is being filled. The inlet is then closed and the vessel is heated to attain a predetermined pressure. The outlet of the vessel is then opened and supercritical fluid flows from the vessel for use in various processes such as extraction or chromatography. As the fluid flows from the high pressure vessel, the pressure is controlled by adjusting the temperature of the high pressure vessel. Usually, the temperature of the vessel will be increased as the supercritical fluid exits from the vessel. When two high pressure vessels are used, the vessels can be refilled on an alternating basis so that a continuous supply of supercritical fluid can be made available as long as it is required. The high pressure vessels can be two pieces of stainless steel tubing. The system is essentially maintenance free as there are virtually no moving parts. With previous delivery systems for high pressure fluids, high pressure pumps are used. These pumps are relatively expensive and can be subject to problems such as noise and leakage.
Abstract:
A plurality of reactors, which can all be interconnected selectively by way of pipes, are used for the hydrolytic separation of a cellulose-containing substrate so that a stepwise pressure reduction in one reactor is made possible and thus a stepwise pressure build-up in all the other reactors. The steam entering and leaving the reactors is used to produce a fluidized bed of the substrate. A high output with a low specific expenditure of energy is achieved by these measures.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for effecting accelerated chemical reactions at elevated temperatures and pressures including wet oxidation of materials in waste streams. An influent waste stream or first reactant is directed through a long tubular coil within a containment vessel with a second reactant being added to the influent. The flow rates for the gas and liquid components of the waste stream are set to cause plug or slug flow of the waste stream through the tubular coil. The curvature of the coil tends to induce a secondary flow in the liquid such that the liquid tends to travel in a spiral thereby providing more intimate mixing of the reactants; and the containment vessel may be partitioned to form a series of successive compartments to permit different temperature gradients to be applied to successive sections of the tubing coil across its length. Alternatively, a tube in tube construction for the tubular coil permits counter current heat exchange betwen the waste stream within the inner tube and the returning stream. Multiple injection and extraction points are provided along the path of the tubular coil to permit gas, liquid or solid reactants to be added or extracted as desired. The tubular coil provides an excellent environmental container for the reaction stream and is extremely suitable for temperature control to permit continuous heat input, autogenic operation and continuous heat extraction.
Abstract:
In accordance with the present invention there is provided a reaction apparatus having an externalized heat exchange mechanism by which heat may be added to or withdrawn from a reactant mixture. In one aspect, the present invention includes a cased well which extends approximately 5000 feet vertically into the earth in which at least one reaction vessel is suspended from a support plate at substantially ground level surface. The reaction vessel comprises an outer closed-end tube in which an inner open-end tube is disposed in a concentric manner to define an annulus which is in flow communication with the bore of the inner tube. Substantially parallel to the reaction vessel and also suspended from the ground level support plate, is a conduit which extends into the chamber defined by the well-casing. In the method of the present invention, a mixture of reactants, preferably diluted municipal waste, is injected into the annulus of the reaction vessel to form a hydrostatic column which exerts substantial fluid pressure at a reaction zone in the lower part of the reaction vessel. A heat-transfer medium, such as oil, is heated to an elevated temperature and then flowed through the conduit into the chamber where the hot heat-transfer medium envelopes the reaction vessel. Heat is transferred from the heat-transfer medium to the reactant mixture through the wall of the outer closed-end tube. In the case of an exothermic reaction, when the temperature of the reactants reaches a selected level, the reaction process gives off heat which is withdrawn by the heat exchange medium. As the reactants form reaction products, the reaction products are flowed from the annulus through the bore of the inner tube back up to ground surface level.
Abstract:
A reactor for nitration of saturated hydrocarbons having less than five con atoms, alone or in admixture, in the gaseous phase under pressure is made up of a reaction enclosure, in which a tube or pipe bank is in contact with a heated fluid of high heat-exchange capacity. The inside perimeter of the tubes does not exceed 800 mm, and if circular not in excess of 250 mm, and the ratio of the surface of the tube bank, in contact with the reaction medium, to the volume of the reaction enclosure is 1:1 to 3:1.The reactor apparatus further includes a mechanical means to uniformly distribute the delivery of reaction medium gases to the various tubes of the bank so that the load difference between the most loaded tube and that of the least loaded tube is equal to 10% at the most.The reactor also includes a tube bank injector which feeds the tube bank to assure homogeneous mixing of all the reaction fluids in the tube bank.
Abstract:
A reaction vessel for heating by helium under pressure comprising an upright container provided with an upper part and with a lower part constituting a heating space. In the lower container part are vertically spaced inlet and outlet openings for heated helium under pressure. The upper container part has spaced walls providing a space therebetween and two covers. The upper end of the lower container part is closed and catalyst-filled reaction tubes pass through such closure into the heating space. Inlet and outlet pipes for the reaction tubes extend in coaxial manner from the reaction tubes head through the inner wall of the upper reactor part below the cover of such inner wall, and thence through the space between the inner and outer walls and finally to the outside through the outer wall of the upper part below the cover for the outer wall. The length of the inlet and outlet pipes inside the space is more than the distance of the walls, and the coaxial pipes may be disposed in serpentine fashion.