Inductive heating with metamaterial susceptors for chemical reactor systems

A chemical reactor for inductive heating, the chemical reactor comprising:

• a reactor wall defining an interior of the reactor, wherein the reactor wall is composed substantially of a non-conductive material;
• a susceptor composed of a conductive electromagnetic metamaterial;
• wherein the susceptor has interconnected conductive elements in an open cell 3D structure;
• wherein the susceptor is distributed throughout a volumetric region within the interior of the reactor;
• electromagnetic coils surrounding the susceptor and adapted to produce an electromagnetic field that inductively couples to the susceptor;
• a power supply connected to the electromagnetic coils and adapted to produce AC electrical power at a predetermined operating frequency, thereby generating the electromagnetic field having a predetermined wavelength causing inductive heating of the susceptor;
• wherein susceptor has a predetermined effective AC conductivity response as a predetermined function of position within the volumetric region at the predetermined operating frequency.