Thermatrix, Inc.

Other

Bradley L Edgar

Richard J Martin

John D Stilger

Mark R Holst

John D Young

Michael P Barkdoll

Partha P Paul

Stephen R McAdams

Christopher B Baer

Marvin M Kilgo

Dorriah L Page

A spiral shaped device for thermally processing a gas stream and a method of use thereof is provided. The spiral shaped device has at least one sidewall formed into a coil; at least one spiral passage, defined by the sidewall, for directing the gas stream through the device, and having an inlet and an outlet; and a matrix of heat resistant inert media disposed in at least a portion of the device. The device is particularly useful as a recuperative flameless thermal oxidizer for oxidizing organic material contained in the gas stream or as a heat exchanger. When the device is used as a flameless thermal oxidizer, the device preferably has at least two coiled sidewalls; at least two spiral passages defined by the coiled sidewalls; a chamber located proximate to the interior ends of the coiled sidewalls for directing the gas stream from the spiral inlet passage to spiral outlet passage; and a matrix of heat resistant inert media, preferably disposed in at least the chamber. When the device is used as a heat exchanger, the device preferably has two separate loops, where one loop directs a gas stream and the second loop directs a fluid stream in and out of the device to enable heat transfer therebetween. In the method of the present invention, a gas stream is directed in the device of the present invention, and is thermally processed therein.

Device for thermally processing a gas stream, and method for same

A method and system for reducing pollutant concentration within an internal combustion engine exhaust stream is disclosed. Soot and products of incomplete combustion in the engine exhaust stream are destroyed by oxidizing them in a flameless thermal oxidizer that contains a matrix of heat-resistant media. Methods and systems for increasing particle residence time within the thermal oxidizer are also disclosed. These techniques include employing electrostatic precipitation, centrifugal force, and particle impaction sections. A method and system for reducing oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions is also disclosed. Low NOx concentration may be obtained by adding a SCR system after a thermal oxidizer, by tuning the engine to produce low NOx/high soot and destroying the soot in a thermal oxidizer, and by injecting a reductant into the thermal oxidizer. The flameless thermal oxidizer may be located between the engine and a turbo-charger to enhance thermal efficiency and to reduce turbo-charger wear. The thermal oxidizer comprises longitudinal and radial flow systems, which each may include a reaction wave of the following shapes: planar, cylindrical, Bunsen, Burke-Schumann, and an inverted V. An engineered matrix is disclosed to manipulate the shape of the reaction zone.

Method of reducing internal combustion engine emissions, and system for same

An integrated oxidation-reduction process whereby a thermal oxidation zone and a NOx reduction zone are incorporated into a single device. A thermal oxidation and catalytic reduction system having a multi-spiral, heat recuperative configuration and including a lean NOx catalytic section disposed in the low-temperature regions is disclosed, as is a corresponding method. The catalyst may be disposed on the oxidizer walls or on a matrix of porous inert media disposed in the spiral passages of the oxidizer. A film-injection technique to selectively provide reactants to the catalyst surface is also disclosed. The catalyst may be limited to a concave portion of a sidewall to diminish boundary layer separation of the reactants.

Devices for reducing emissions, and methods for same

A matrix bed is disclosed in which a non-planar reaction wave front is formed during operation. This is accomplished by heating the matrix bed, containing heat-resistant material, until at least a reaction portion of the matrix bed is above the temperature required for a plurality of reactant gas streams to react. Next, the reactant gas streams are directed through the matrix bed in a manner so as to form at least a Bunsen, Burke-Schumann, inverted-V, or some other type of non-planar reaction wave front at the portion of the matrix bed that is heated above the reactant gas streams reaction temperature. At the non-planar reaction wave front, the reactant gas streams react to produce a reaction product gas stream that is then exhausted from the matrix bed.

Matrix bed for generating non-planar reaction wave fronts, and method thereof

An improved method and apparatus is provided for thermally reacting chemicals in a matrix bed of porous inert media. The reaction is conducted in an apparatus that is capable of establishing and maintaining a non-planar reaction wave within the matrix bed. The positioning of the non-planar reaction wave permits the interior surfaces of the vessel to be maintained at a temperature at least above 175.degree. F. The apparatus includes a vessel that contains the matrix bed; one or more feed tubes that extend into the matrix bed, where preferably an exterior portion of each of the feed tubes that passes through the vessel is insulated; an exhaust outlet; and a means for heating the matrix bed. The non-planar reaction wave is established by heating at least a portion of the matrix bed to at least the reaction temperature of the chemicals and feeding a process stream containing the chemicals to be reacted into the feed tubes. Upon exiting the feed tubes, the process stream is reacted in a non-planar reaction wave to produce heat and the reacted process stream. The heat from the non-planar reaction wave maintains the interior surfaces of the vessel at a temperature of at least 175.degree. F. during operation of the vessel. The reacted process stream is then directed to the exhaust outlet of the vessel.

Method and apparatus for thermally reacting chemicals in a matrix bed

A process is provided for preparing oxymorphone from morphine by: (1) reacting morphine with (1a) an acyl halide or anhydride to form 3-acylmorphine, or (1b) reacting morphine with benzyl-halide to form 3-benzylmorphine; (2) Oxidizing the 6-hydroxy group of the 3-acyl or 3-benzylmorphine so as to form the corresponding 3-acyl or 3-benzylmorphinone; and thereafter either by (3a) or (3b): (3a) introducing a .beta.-oriented hydroxy group at the 14-position of the 3-acyl- or 3-benzyl-morphinone with aqueous hydrogen peroxide and an acid at a temperature of about 15.degree. to about 70.degree. C. to form the 3-acyl or 3-benzyl-14-hydroxymorphinone; (3b) acylating the 3-acyl or 3-benzyl-morphinone with an acylating agent so as to form the dienol acylate followed by oxidizing the dienol acetate to the corresponding 3-acyl or 3-benzyl-14 -hydroxymorphinone; (4) hydrogenating the 3-acyl-14-hydroxymorphinone with a catalyst so as to form the 3-acyloxymorphone; (5) hydrolyzing the 3-acyl-oxymorphone with aqueous acidic or basic solution to form oxymorphone; (6) hydrogenating the 3-benzyl-14-hydroxymorphinone with a catalyst so as to form oxymorphone.

Growing community of inventors

San Jose, CA, United States of America

Bradley L Edgar