Process for the conversion of feedstocks and apparatus for performing the same

A process for the conversion of a feedstock, the process comprising:

• forming a combustible mixture comprising the feedstock;
• continuously feeding the combustible mixture to an inlet of a reaction zone, the reaction zone having an outlet spaced from the inlet;
• providing a source of ignition in the reaction zone;
• allowing the source of ignition to ignite the combustible mixture, thereby generating a combustion wave;
• allowing the combustion wave to travel through the reaction zone;
• and
• continuously removing converted feedstock from the outlet of the reaction zone.

A process for the conversion of a feedstock comprising methane and oxygen, the process comprising:

• forming a combustible mixture comprising methane and oxygen;
• continuously feeding the combustible mixture to an inlet of a reaction zone, the reaction zone having an outlet spaced from the inlet;
• providing a source of ignition in the reaction zone;
• allowing the source of ignition to ignite the combustible mixture, thereby generating a combustion wave;
• allowing the combustion wave to travel through the reaction zone;
• continuously removing converted feedstock from the outlet of the reaction zone;
• and
• passing the converted feedstock through an energy absorber to produce a treated product stream.

A process for the conversion of a feedstock, the process comprising:

• forming a combustible mixture comprising the feedstock;
• feeding the combustible mixture to an inlet of a reaction zone, the reaction zone having an outlet spaced from the inlet;
• stopping the feed of the combustible mixture;
• providing a source of ignition in the reaction zone;
• allowing the source of ignition to ignite the combustible mixture, thereby generating a combustion wave;
• allowing the combustion wave to travel through the reaction zone;
• allowing the combustion wave to open a valve in the outlet of the reaction zone, thereby removing converted feedstock from the outlet of the reaction zone.

An apparatus for the conversion of a reactive feedstock, the apparatus comprising:

• a reactor comprising a first inlet for the feedstock and a second inlet for an oxygen-containing gas;
• a mixing zone for mixing the feedstock and the oxygen-containing gas to form a combustible mixture thereof;
• a reaction zone having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet of the reactor zone being in communication with the outlet of the mixing zone;
• an initiator zone comprising an ignition source capable of igniting the combustible mixture and operable at a frequency such that the time between successive operations of the ignition source is less than the time taken for the combustible mixture to travel from the inlet of the reaction zone to the outlet of the reaction zone;
• and
• a constriction downstream of the initiator and reaction zones.

An apparatus for the conversion of a reactive feedstock, the apparatus comprising:

• a reactor comprising a first inlet for the feedstock and a second inlet for an oxygen-containing gas;
• a mixing zone for mixing the feedstock and the oxygen-containing gas to form a combustible mixture thereof;
• a reaction zone having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet of the reactor zone being in communication with the outlet of the mixing zone;
• an inlet valve at the inlet of the reactor zone for controlling the flow of the combustible mixture into the reactor zone;
• an initiator comprising an ignition source capable of igniting the combustible mixture within the reactor zone;
• an outlet valve at the outlet of the reactor zone openable at a predetermined elevated pressure within the reactor zone;
• a high pressure product receiver in communication with the outlet valve.

A process for the conversion of a combustible feedstock, comprising:

• providing a first combustible mixture comprising the feedstock to a reaction zone;
• providing a second combustible mixture comprising the feedstock to a driver zone;
• igniting the first combustible mixture in the driver zone, thereby generating a conversion wave of elevated temperature and pressure;
• allowing the conversion wave to enter and pass through the reaction zone;
• and
• recovering at least partially converted feedstock from the reaction zone.

A process for the conversion of a component comprising:

• forming a reactive mixture comprising the component within a reaction zone having an outlet;
• initiating a reaction within the reactive mixture to form a high pressure conversion wave;
• allowing the conversion wave to travel through the reaction zone;
• opening the outlet of the reaction zone under the action of the high pressure conversion wave;
• and
• collecting a high pressure product.