Turbomachine chemical reactor and method for cracking hydrocarbons in a process fluid
US11059018B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 16, 2018 |
| Grant date | Jul 13, 2021 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 16, 2038 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB01J2219/0004
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
Chemical reactors (10) and methods crack hydrocarbons in process fluids by accelerating the process fluid to a velocity greater than Mach 1 with an axial impulse impeller (40) and generating a shock wave (90) in the process fluid by decelerating it in a static diffuser (70) having diverging diffuser passages (72). Temperature increase of the process fluid downstream of the shockwave cracks the entrained hydrocarbons in a single pass, through a unidirectional flow path (F), within a single stage, without recirculating the process fluid for another pass through the same stage. In some embodiments, the turbomachine chemical reactor (110) has multiple successive stages of one or more axial impulse impellers (40A, 40B), paired with a diverging passage, static diffuser (70). Successive stages crack additional hydrocarbons by successively raising temperature of the flowing process fluid.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.