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US 2009/0243168 A1Published application
Apparatus for plasma synthesis of rhenium nano and micro powders
AssigneeTekna Plasma Systems Inc.
InventorsJerzy W. Jurewicz, Jiayin Guo
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The process for the synthesis of rhenium powders comprises the injection of ammonium perrhenate powder through a carrier gas in a plasma torch of a plasma reactor operated using a mixture including hydrogen as the plasma gas, yielding metallic rhenium under the following chemical reaction: 2NH4ReO4+4H2→2Re+N2↑+8H2O↑. The reactor is provided with a quench zone for cooling the metallic rhenium so as to yield rhenium nano and micro powders.
Claims20
1-10. (canceled)
11:
- An apparatus for the synthesis of rhenium powders from ammonium perrhenate, comprising:
- a plasma torch including a plasma chamber, a reactant feeder for injecting ammonium perrhenate powder in said plasma chamber through a carrier gas including hydrogen;
- and
- a reaction chamber mounted to said plasma torch downstream therefrom so as to be in fluid communication with said plasma torch for receiving metallic rhenium from said plasma torch;
- said reaction chamber being provided with quench means for rapidly cooling said metallic rhenium, yielding rhenium powders.
2 more elements
12:
- An apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein said quench means includes a quench gas feeder mounted to the reaction chamber so as to be in fluid communication therewith;
- said quench gas feeder being located longitudinally adjacent said plasma torch.
13:
- An apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein said quench gas feeder is integral to said reaction chamber.
14:
- An apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein said quench means includes a cold finger inserted within said reaction chamber so as to intersect a plasma gas path from said plasma torch.
15:
- An apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein said cold finger includes a cooled surface.
16:
- An apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein said cold finger is in the form of a high heat capacity liquid cooled cylindrical or flat surface.
17:
- An apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein said high heat capacity liquid includes water or other refrigerant fluids.
18:
- An apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein said quench means is in the form of a fine spraying nozzle for injecting an evaporating liquid into said reaction chamber;
- whereby, in operation, said injected evaporating liquid forms a mist barrier intersecting a plasma gas path from said plasma torch.
19:
- An apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein said reaction chamber is generally cylindrical and has opposite top and bottom longitudinal end apertures;
- said plasma torch being mounted on top of said reaction chamber through said top end aperture.
20:
- An apparatus as recited in claim 11, further comprising a first collector mounted to the reaction chamber through said bottom end aperture.
21:
- An apparatus as recited in claim 20, wherein said first collector is mounted to the reaction chamber via a funnel.
22:
- An apparatus as recited in claim 21, further comprising a receptacle connected to said funnel so as to be in fluid communication therewith.
23:
- An apparatus as recited in claim 22, wherein said receptacle is configured and mounted to said reactor chamber for collecting rhenium powder by gravity following the thrust of a plasma jet.
24:
- An apparatus as recited in claim 22, further comprising a vacuum system mounted to said receptacle so as to be located downstream thereof in fluid communication therewith for forcing rhenium powder in said receptacle.
25:
- An apparatus as recited in claim 22, further comprising a cyclone collector having an inlet connected to said receptacle via a conduit so as to be in fluid communication therewith and so as to be located downstream therefrom.
26:
- An apparatus as recited in claim 25, wherein said cyclone collector being provided with an outlet;
- said apparatus further comprising a filter collector having an inlet connected to said outlet of said cyclone collector.
27:
- An apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein said plasma chamber of said plasma torch is generally cylindrical
28:
- An apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein said plasma torch further includes at least one input aperture for feeding said plasma chamber with a sheath gas and a central gas.
29:
- An apparatus as recited in claim 28, wherein said at least one input aperture includes a first aperture for feeding said plasma chamber with said sheath gas and a second aperture for feeding said plasma chamber with said central gas