Pulsed compression reactors and methods for their operation

A pulsed compression reactor comprising:

• a reactor housing comprising a rotor and a stator, the rotor comprising an interior volume, wherein the rotor is configured to spin on a central axis of the reactor housing, and wherein the rotor comprises at least a first passage in fluid communication with the interior volume;
• and
• one or more pistons positioned in the interior volume and adapted to translate in the direction of the central axis;
• wherein the first passage aligns with one or more passages in the stator as the rotor spins on the central axis to allow for fluid communication between the stator and the interior volume;
• wherein the stator comprises a reactant gas passage, and a reactant gas enters the interior volume when the reactant gas passage of the stator is aligned with the first passage of the rotor;
• and
• wherein the one or more pistons comprises a spring piston which is configured to translate when the reactant gas enters the interior volume.