Various methods and apparatuses for an ultra-high heat flux chemical reactor

US9011560B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Sundrop Fuels, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Wayne W. Simmons · Longmont, US
• Christopher Perkins · Boulder, US
• Zoran Jovanovic · Louisville, US
• Courtland Hilton · Broomfield, US
• Peter Popp · Broomfield, US
• Bryan Schramm · Broomfield, US
• John T. Turner · Sharonville, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 8, 2010
• Grant date: Apr 21, 2015
• Expiry date: Apr 2, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02P30/20
• WIPO field: Basic materials chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Various processes and apparatus are discussed for an ultra-high heat flux chemical reactor. A thermal receiver and the reactor tubes are aligned to 1) absorb and re-emit radiant energy, 2) highly reflect radiant energy, and 3) any combination of these, to maintain an operational temperature of the enclosed ultra-high heat flux chemical reactor. Particles of biomass are gasified in the presence of a steam carrier gas and methane in a simultaneous steam reformation and steam biomass gasification reaction to produce reaction products that include hydrogen and carbon monoxide gas using the ultra-high heat flux thermal energy radiated from the inner wall and then into the multiple reactor tubes. The multiple reactor tubes and cavity walls of the receiver transfer energy primarily by radiation absorption and re-radiation, rather than by convection or conduction, to the reactants in the chemical reaction to drive the endothermic chemical reaction flowing in the reactor tubes.