Process for production of a carbide by-product with microwave energy and aluminum by electrolysis

In apparatus having therein two or more reactants and means for subjecting said reactants to at least one of elevated temperatures and electrolysis for causing said reactants to react chemically to produce carbide, the improvement resulting in greatly reduced energy demand wherein said means for subjecting said reactants to an elevated temperature comprises:

• a reaction vessel having input means coupled to a source of carbon and material comprising at least one of a metal and boron and silicon;
• a microwave energy source having an output coupled to said reaction vessel for radiating carbon and said material therein for raising the temperature of said carbon by absorption of microwave energy to a temperature to cause a chemical reaction of said carbon with said material producing a carbide as a by-product;
• and
• gas generation means coupled to said reaction vessel for accepting at least a portion of the carbide by-product of said chemical reaction and generating combustible gas fuel therefrom when the carbide produced is susceptible to such gas production.

A method for conserving energy required to raise the temperature of two or more reactants to a sufficient temperature to cause said reactants to react chemically to produce at least one desired reaction by-product, comprising the steps of:

• injecting two or more reactant materials into a reaction vessel, this step further comprising the step of injecting carbon and an element of at least one of a metal, and boron and silicon in at least one of its elemental, and oxide and hydride forms to produce a carbide by-product;
• radiating said two or more reactants with electromagnetic energy other than heat waves to raise the temperature of at least one of said two or more reactants to a sufficient temperature to elevate the temperature of all said reactants sufficiently to cause said reactants to react chemically to produce a carbide by-product;
• inhibiting radiation of electromagnetic energy while removing the reaction by-product from the reaction vessel;
• and
• generating a gaseous fuel from a reaction by-product for use in providing supplementary energy requirements of practicing said method.

A method for conserving energy required to raise the temperature of two or more reactants, one or more of which reactants is non-susceptible to heating by electromagnetic radiation other than heat waves, to a sufficient temperature to cause said reactants to react chemically to produce at least one desired reaction by-product, comprising the steps of:

• injecting two or more reactant materials into a reaction vessel;
• wherein the injecting two or more reactant materials into a reaction vessel comprises the steps of injecting carbon, alumina and cryolite, forming said carbon to provide a fluid retaining vessel and an electrolysis electrode pair within said reaction vessel;
• radiating said two or more reactants with electromagnetic energy other than heat waves to raise the temperature of at least a selected one of said two or more reactants to a sufficient temperature to cause said at least said selected one of said reactants to conduct heat to all of said reactants so as to thereby elevate the temperature of all said reactants sufficiently to cause said reactants to react chemically to produce a desired reaction by-product;
• and inhibiting radiation of electromagnetic energy while removing the reaction by-product from the reaction vessel.