# US 2021/0278080 A1 · Reaction chamber for supercritical water oxidation reactor

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- Number: US 2021/0278080 A1
- Document ID: US20210278080A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/249,609
- Filed: 2021-03-05
- Published: 2021-09-09
- Earliest claimed: 2020-03-05
- Assignees: Sreus Energy, LLC
- Inventors: John Troy Kraczek; Gordon Ray Whipple; Paul James Freeman
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210278080A1

## CPC

- B01J 3/008: {Processes carried out under supercritical conditions}
- B01J 3/042: {in the form of a tube}
- B01J 3/048: {Multiwall, strip or filament wound vessels (for pressurised gas vessels F17C1/06; for making them B29)}
- B01J 4/002: {Nozzle-type elements (nozzle-type reactors B01J19/26)}
- B01J 19/244: {Concentric tubes}
- B01J 19/26: Nozzle-type reactors, i.e. the distribution of the initial reactants within the reactor is effected by their introduction or injection through nozzles
- C02F 1/441: {by reverse osmosis}
- F03B 1/00: Engines of impulse type, i.e. turbines with jets of high-velocity liquid impinging on blades or like rotors, e.g. Pelton wheels; Parts or details peculiar thereto
- F03B 15/04: of turbines (rotors having adjustable blades F03B3/06, F03B3/14; adjustable guide vanes F03B3/18; specially adapted for turbines with jets of high-velocity liquid impinging on bladed or like rotors F03B15/20)
- F04F 1/06: the fluid medium acting on the surface of the liquid to be pumped (F04F1/02 takes precedence)
- F23G 7/001: {for sludges or waste products from water treatment installations (F23G5/008 takes precedence)}
- B01J 2219/00135: Electric resistance heaters
- B01J 2219/00162: controlling the pressure
- B01J 2219/00182: controlling the level of reactants in the reactor vessel
- B01J 2219/185: vertical
- C02F 2103/08: Seawater, e.g. for desalination
- F05B 2240/2411: Pelton type
- F23G 2201/70: Blending
- F23G 2202/30: in a pressurised chamber
- F23G 2900/50003: Waste oxidation, pyrolysis or gasification in water under supercritical conditions
- Y02E 10/20: Hydro energy
- Y02E 20/12: Heat utilisation in combustion or incineration of waste
- Y02P 20/54: using solvents, e.g. supercritical solvents or ionic liquids
- B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
- C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes)
- F03B: MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS (positive-displacement engines for liquid F03C; machines for liquids and gases F01; positive-displacement machines for liquids F04, rotary fluid gearing of the hydrokinetic type F16H41/00)
- F04F: PUMPING OF FLUID BY DIRECT CONTACT OF ANOTHER FLUID OR BY USING INERTIA OF FLUID TO BE PUMPED {(evacuating by sorption F04B)}; SIPHONS {(conveying materials in bulk by flows of gas, liquid of foam B65G53/00)}
- F23G: CREMATION FURNACES; CONSUMING WASTE PRODUCTS BY COMBUSTION
- F05B: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS

## Abstract

Fuel mixed in water is combusted in a reactor having an internal operating pressure and temperature greater than 3200 psi and greater than 374° C., where the combustion of the fuel is exothermic. Air and fuel are pressurized for introduction into the reactor to a pressure greater than the internal operating pressure using energy generated from the combustion of the fuel, and the pressurized air and the pressurized fuel are injected into the reactor. Pressurized water from the reactor is injected into a drive water column that is partially filled with water to increase a pressure of the drive water column, and water at a temperature less than 100° C. is injected into the reactor to replace water from the reactor that is injected into the drive water column. Pressurized water from the drive water column is used to drive a hydroelectric drive system to produce electrical power.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus comprising:
an enclosed outer pressure vessel containing liquid and an air pocket above the liquid and having walls, including one or more side walls, configured for withstanding a pressure difference between an inside of the enclosed outer pressure vessel and an outside of the enclosed outer pressure vessel of more than 3200 psi, wherein walls of the enclosed outer pressure vessel define a hollow cavity within the enclosed outer pressure vessel;
a first inner vessel within the hollow cavity of the enclosed outer pressure vessel filled with liquid contained in the enclosed outer pressure vessel, the first inner vessel having one or more walls that define an interior of the first inner vessel, that define a longitudinal axis within the interior of the first inner vessel, and that define a first water jacket space between the one or more walls of the first inner vessel and the one or more side walls of the enclosed outer pressure vessel, wherein the first inner vessel is open at an open end of the first inner vessel;
a liquid inlet port through a wall of the enclosed outer pressure vessel, the liquid inlet port defining a conduit for liquid to be injected into the first water jacket space from outside the enclosed outer pressure vessel;
a first liquid outlet port through a wall of the enclosed outer pressure vessel, the first liquid outlet port configured to remove liquid injected through the liquid inlet port from the interior of the first inner vessel to outside the enclosed outer pressure vessel;
wherein the first inner vessel is arranged within the hollow cavity, such that liquid injected through the liquid inlet port and removed through the first liquid outlet port flows through the first water jacket space and into the interior of the first inner vessel through the open end of the first inner vessel; and
at least one fuel inlet port through a wall of the enclosed outer pressure vessel, the at least one fuel inlet port defining a conduit for fuel to be injected from outside the enclosed outer pressure vessel into the interior of the first inner vessel in a direction have an azimuthal component relative to the longitudinal axis and relative to a radial direction from the longitudinal axis to induce a cyclonic rotation in the liquid in the interior of the first inner vessel.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the enclosed outer pressure vessel includes metal.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first inner vessel includes glass.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first inner vessel includes ceramic.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one fuel inlet port includes a nozzle having a hollow channel, a first hollow tube at least partially located in the hollow channel, and a second hollow tube located at least partially in the hollow channel and surrounding the first hollow tube, the second hollow tube extending further away from the wall of the enclosed outer pressure vessel than the first hollow tube, with the second hollow tube extending through the first water jacket space and into the interior of the first inner vessel.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first and second hollow tubes are angled upward, with respect to a direction of gravity from first ends proximate to the wall of the enclosed outer pressure vessel to second ends distal to the wall of the enclosed outer pressure vessel.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the second hollow tube includes openings in an end of the second hollow tube distal to the wall of the enclosed outer pressure vessel, the openings being configured to emit the fuel into the interior of the first inner vessel in the direction having the azimuthal component.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a heater within the enclosed outer pressure vessel, the heater being configured to heat the liquid in the interior of the first inner vessel to a temperature at which fuel in the liquid combusts.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cyclonic rotation creates a radial density gradient in the liquid in the interior of the first inner vessel with lower densities located along the longitudinal axis and higher densities located radially distant from the longitudinal axis.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim of claim 1, wherein exothermic combustion reactions of the fuel injected into the interior of the first inner vessel release heat to maintain a pressure and temperature for water in the interior of the first inner vessel to be supercritical.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
a second inner vessel within the hollow cavity of the enclosed outer pressure vessel, the second inner vessel having one or more side walls between the first inner vessel and a side wall of the enclosed outer pressure vessel, the one or more side walls of the second inner vessel defining the first water jacket space and a second water jacket space between the one or more side walls of the second inner vessel and the first inner vessel,
wherein the first inner vessel and the second inner vessel are arranged within the hollow cavity, such that liquid injected through the liquid inlet port and removed through the first liquid outlet port flows through the first water jacket space and through the second water jacket space into the interior of the first inner vessel through the open end of the first inner vessel.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The apparatus of claim 11,
wherein the first liquid outlet port includes an opening into the first liquid outlet port located along the longitudinal axis.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a second liquid outlet port configured to remove liquid injected through the liquid inlet port from the interior of the first inner vessel to outside the enclosed outer pressure vessel, the second liquid outlet port including an opening into the second liquid outlet port located a distance away from the longitudinal axis, wherein the opening into the second liquid outlet port is located below the opening into the first liquid outlet port.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a lid over the open end of the first inner vessel.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the lid is connected to the one or more side walls of the second inner vessel.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the second inner vessel includes glass.

### Claim 17 (depends on 11)

The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the second inner vessel includes ceramic.

### Claim 18 (depends on 11)

The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a heater within the enclosed outer pressure vessel, the heater being configured to heat the liquid in the interior of the first inner vessel to a temperature at which fuel in the liquid combusts.

### Claim 19

A method comprising, in a reaction chamber having an outer vessel and a first inner vessel located within a hollow cavity defined by walls of the outer vessel, the first inner vessel having one or more walls that define an interior of the first inner vessel, the interior containing liquid, the liquid having a temperature greater than 350° C. and a pressure greater than 3200 psi, and the one or more walls defining a longitudinal axis in the interior of the first inner vessel:
injecting combustible fuel into the interior of the first inner vessel in a direction, such that the introduced fuel creates a cyclonic rotation of the liquid in the interior of the first inner vessel about the longitudinal axis;
injecting water having a temperature less than 100° C. into a first water jacket space between the first inner vessel and the outer vessel; and
removing water from the interior of the first inner vessel, wherein water injected into the first water jacket space and removed from the interior of the first inner vessel flows through the first water jacket space around the one or more walls of the first inner vessel before entering the first inner vessel though an open end of the first inner vessel.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein the outer vessel includes metal, and wherein the first inner vessel includes glass.

### Claim 21 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein:
the reaction chamber includes a second inner vessel within the hollow cavity, the second inner vessel having one or more side walls between the first inner vessel and a wall of the outer vessel; and
the water injected into the first water jacket space and removed from the interior of the first inner vessel flows through the first water jacket space around the one or more walls of the first inner vessel and through a second water jacket space between the one or more side walls of the second inner vessel and the first inner vessel before entering the first inner vessel though the open end of the first inner vessel.

### Claim 22 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19,
wherein removing water from the interior of the first inner vessel includes removing mineral-rich water from the first inner vessel through a first port having an opening in the interior of the first inner vessel a distance away from the longitudinal axis and removing mineral-poor water from the first inner vessel through a second port having an opening in the interior of the first inner vessel along the longitudinal axis.

### Claim 23

A method comprising:
combusting fuel mixed in water in a reactor having an internal operating pressure greater than 3200 psi and having an internal operating temperature of greater than 374° C., wherein the combustion of the fuel is exothermic;
pressurizing air for introduction into the reactor to a pressure greater than the internal operating pressure using energy generated from the combustion of the fuel;
injecting the pressurized air into the reactor;
pressurizing fuel for introduction into the reactor to a pressure greater than the internal operating pressure using energy generated from the combustion of the fuel;
injecting the pressurized fuel into the reactor;
injecting pressurized water from the reactor into a drive water column that is partially filled with water to increase a pressure of the drive water column;
injecting water at a temperature less than 100° C. into the reactor to replace water from the reactor that is injected into the drive water column; and
using pressurized water from the drive water column to drive a hydroelectric drive system to produce electrical power.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The method of claim 23, further comprising controlling an internal pressure of the drive water column, such that the internal pressure of the drive water column when the pressurized water from the reactor is injected into the drive water column causes the injected water to vaporize and for oxide byproducts of combustion of the fuel in the reactor to precipitate in the water in the drive water column.

### Claim 25 (depends on 23)

The method of claim 23, further comprising:
expelling steam from the drive water column into a condenser; and
condensing the steam to water.

### Claim 26 (depends on 24)

The method of claim 24, wherein expelling steam from the drive water column includes refilling the drive water column with water received from the hydroelectric drive system to replace water from the drive water column that was used to drive the hydroelectric drive system.

### Claim 27 (depends on 23)

The method of claim 23,
wherein the reactor includes an outer pressure vessel that includes metal and an inner pressure vessel that includes glass and that is located within the outer pressure vessel, and
wherein injecting water into the reactor includes injecting the water into a water jacket space around the inner vessel and between the inner vessel and the outer pressure vessel,
wherein the injected water enters an interior of the inner vessel from the water jacket space though an open end of the inner vessel.

### Claim 28 (depends on 27)

The method of claim 27,
wherein injecting the pressurized air into the reactor includes injecting the pressurized air into the inner vessel in a direction to cause a cyclonic rotation of the water in the interior of the inner vessel, and
wherein injecting the pressurized fuel into the reactor includes injecting the pressurized fuel into the inner vessel in a direction to cause the cyclonic rotation of the water in the interior of the inner vessel.