Other

University of Illinois

Drexel University

Igor Matveev

Young I Cho

Alexander Fridman

Alexander F Gutsol

Alexei V Saveliev

Kenneth Blank

Lawrence Kennedy

Andrey Romanets

Improvements to a triple helical flow vortex reactor improve the radio-transparent portion of the reactor. A central part is added thereto consisting of an electrically conductive, non-magnetic material. A movable electrode configured to controllably extend into a zone, discharge and retract. A protrusion on the wall optionally aids in the discharge. A feedstock injection unit includes nested pipes: an outer pipe conveys coolants and the inner pipe conveys feedstock. An additional fuel inlet may be connected to an additional reaction chamber connected in series to the reaction chamber. The central part may be porous permitting inward flow of fuel. Slots penetrating the inner wall of the central part enhance the introduction of magnetic and electric fields. An outer shell over the reaction chamber is configured to flow coolant over the outer wall of the reaction chamber.

Triple helical flow vortex reactor improvements

A vortex reactor is provided. The vortex reactor includes a reaction chamber formed by a frustum-shaped portion, the narrower part of which is downwardly oriented. Proximate to the narrower part of the frustum-shaped portion, the vortex reactor includes apparatus for creating an axial gas flow and apparatus for creating a circumferential gas flow. The vortex reactor also includes a particulate solid inlet for feeding particulate solids to the reaction chamber. The vortex reactor may optionally include apparatus for generating plasma in the reaction chamber by providing a gliding arc electrical discharge in the reaction chamber. Also provided is a method of processing particulate solids using the vortex reactor of the invention. A reverse vortex plasma reactor (TSAPG) is also provided.

Vortex reactor and method of using it

A powerplant and method for production and use of synthesis gas from a hydrocarbon fuel is disclosed in a combination of a triple helical flow vortex reactor () and a power producer (). The triple helical flow vortex reactor () steam-reforms a hydrocarbon fuel in a rich combustion environment and produces a gas stream with synthesis gas. The triple helical flow vortex reactor () has a plasma torch to introduce a central vortex and two swirlers to introduce counterposing vortexes, or circumferential flows, at the periphery of a reaction chamber in the triple helical flow vortex reactor. The synthesis gas fuels the power producer ().

Powerplant and method using a triple helical vortex reactor

Improvements to a triple helical flow vortex reactor add an inner wall () having at least one transition point () between the fuel inlet end () and the gas outlet end () and a circumferential flow apparatus () operating at each transition point (). A restrictor at each transition point () is optionally added to reduce aerodynamic resistance to the various fluid flows. A vortex swirler is optionally added through the fuel inlet end, which preferably surrounds an inlet nozzle combined with a plasma torch. The fuel inlet end is optionally equipped with cooling channels in which a coolant can flow isolated from the reaction chamber. An optional coaxial cylindrical wall extends through the reaction chamber and creates a toroidal volume for reactions.

A triple helical flow vortex reactor has a reaction chamber () with the means to create three fluid flow vortexes and an optional double end orbiting plasma arc to sustain combustion. The first vortex is of fuel and combusted gases such that said fuel and combusted gases spiral away from a fuel inlet end () towards an exhaust nozzle or gas outlet end () of the reaction chamber (). The second vortex is one starting at the gas outlet end () and confined to a thin layer at the inner wall surface () of the reaction chamber (). The second vortex spirals in a direction reverse to the flow of the first vortex towards the fuel inlet end () of the reaction chamber (). The third vortex is starting at the fuel inlet end and also confined to a thin layer at the inner wall surface () of the reaction chamber () in a direction with the flow of the first vortex.

Growing community of inventors

McLean, VA, United States of America

Igor Matveev