Pressure letdown method and device for coal conversion systems

US4418722A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration · US

Inventors

• James M. Kendall, Jr. · Pasadena, US
• John Walsh · Sound Beach, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 30, 1981
• Grant date: Dec 6, 1983
• Expiry date: Apr 30, 2001

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C10J2200/09
• WIPO field: Basic materials chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

In combination with a reactor for a coal utilization system, a pressure letdown device for accepting from a reactor, a polyphase fluid at an entrance pressure and an entrance velocity, and discharging the fluid from the device at a discharge pressure substantially lower than the entrance pressure and at a discharge temperature and a discharge velocity substantially equal to the entrance temperature and entrance velocity. The device 10 is characterized by a series of pressure letdown stages 28a through 28x including a plurality of symmetrical baffles, designated 30, disposed in coaxially nested alignment, each baffle having defined therein a plurality of ports or apertures 32 of uniform dimensions. The number of ports or apertures for each baffle plate is unique with respect to the number of ports or apertures defined in each of the other baffles of the plurality, the mass rate of flow for each port being a function of the area of the port, the pressure of the fluid as applied to the port and a common pressure ratio established across the ports.