Gas-Assisted Liquid Fuel Oxygen Reactor

A gas-assisted liquid fuel oxygen reactor system, comprising:

• a CO2-assisted atomizer having an inlet adapted to receive a liquid fuel and an outlet adapted to spray atomized fuel and CO2;
• an evaporation zone having an inlet adapted to receive the atomized liquid fuel and CO2;
• a reaction zone co-axially aligned and in flow communication with the evaporation zone such that the reaction zone receives a flow of the vaporized fuel and CO2 from the evaporation zone;
• a series of tubes comprised of ion transport membranes situated within the reaction zone and oriented perpendicularly to the flow of the vaporized fuel and CO2 in the reaction zone, wherein the tubes are adapted to internally receive an air stream and allow permeation of O2 from the air stream through the ion transport membranes to the reaction zone which surrounds the ion transport membranes, thereby resulting in an O2-depleted air stream inside the ion transport membranes and a combustion reaction in the reaction zone which is located external to the ion transport membranes, wherein the combustion reaction produces heat and creates exhaust gases that are recirculated in the system;
• and
• a heating vessel comprising an inlet for a heated air and gaseous fuel stream, wherein the heating vessel defined by a structure that surrounds the reaction zone such that heat is transferred from the heated air and gaseous fuel stream to the reaction zone.