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US 11,898,101 B2Granted
Method and apparatus for continuous production of mesophase pitch
AssigneeKoppers Delaware, Inc.
InventorJames T. Dietz
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process and apparatus for the continuous conversion of isotropic carbonaceous materials into anisotropic mesophase pitch is disclosed. The invention disclosed herein addresses the need for lower production costs compared with traditional batch mesophase conversion of isotropic pitch. A unique thermal processing and in-process separation of reacted mesophase from the continuous matrix of fresh or partially reacted isotropic pitch is provided. Potential uses are for further continuous processing into carbon fibers or carbon form densification.
Claims18
An apparatus for continuous production of mesophase pitch comprising:
- a generally cylindrical reactor vessel having an outer vessel wall, a top end and a bottom end, said vessel having an upper temperature zone and a lower temperature zone;
- a reactor head mounted on said top end of said vessel;
- a cylindrical tube baffle centered and mounted along a central axis of said vessel and spaced inwardly from said outer vessel wall forming (i) an inside space within said cylindrical tube baffle, (ii) an outside space between said cylindrical tube baffle and said outer vessel wall and (iii) a circulation path through said inside space and said outside space;
- an inlet for feeding isotropic pitch into the upper temperature zone;
- an agitator for circulating fluid along said circulation path in said vessel through said inside space and said outside space;
- a mesophase separator located between said upper temperature zone and said lower temperature zone;
- a first heating element for heating said upper temperature zone;
- a second heating element for heating said lower temperature zone;
- and
- an outlet for providing mesophase pitch for further processing.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.