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US 4,627,418 AGranted
Apparatus for the carbothermic reduction of metal oxides using solar energy
AssigneeGeruldine Gibson
InventorsJames O. Gibson, Mark G. Gibson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and process are disclosed for utilizing solar radiation and the energy contained therein for the carbothermic reduction of a metal oxide to a metal carbide. The apparatus comprises a reflective surface which collects and focuses solar radiation onto a focal mirror which consequentially reflects and focuses the solar light rays into a reaction chamber through a Fresnel lens and a transparent window provided on the chamber. The solar light rays are focused by the reflective surface focal mirror and Fresnel lens such that the energy absorbed by reactants in the reaction chamber is sufficient for the carbothermic reduction of the metal oxide.
Claims10
Apparatus for the carbothermic reduction of a metal oxide to produce a metal carbide utilizing solar energy comprising:
- (a) at least one reflective surface for collecting, reflecting and focusing collected solar radiation;
- (b) a focal mirror in spaced relation to said reflective surface having a reflective face facing the reflective surface for receiving focused and reflected solar radiation from the reflective surface and for focusing such solar radiation received;
- (c) a reaction chamber in spaced relation to said focal mirror for receiving focused solar radiation from said focal mirror;
- (d) a transparent window on said reaction chamber through which the focused solar radiation can pass into the reaction chamber;
- (e) a target area within said reaction chamber toward which the solar energy rays from the focal mirror are focused, said target area located beyond the focal point of the focused energy rays and positioned at a point where the rays diverge;
- (f) means within the reaction chamber for delivering a homogeneous mixture of metal oxide and carbon to the target area;
- (g) a Fresnel lens positioned in front of said transparent window of said reaction chamber along the focal pathway of solar radiation reflected from said focal mirror, for further focusing and concentrating the solar radiation, the Fresnel lens being isolated by the transparent window from the reaction taking place in the reaction chamber;
- (h) means for providing a cooling fluid flow between the transparent window and the Fresnel lens;
- and
- (i) means for revolving said transparent window so that a different portion of said transparent window is positioned to transmit focused solar radiation to the reaction chamber.
7 more elements
Apparatus for the carbothermic reduction of a metal oxide to produce a metal carbide utilizing solar energy comprising:
- (a) at least one reflective surface for collecting, reflecting and focusing collected solar radiation;
- (b) a focal mirror in spaced relation to said reflective surface having a reflective face facing the reflective surface for receiving focused and reflected solar radiation from the reflective surface and for focusing such solar radaiation received;
- (c) a reaction chamber in spaced relation to said focal mirror for receiving focused solar radiation from said focal mirror;
- (d) a transparent window on said reaction chamber having a surface facing outward thereof and through which the focused solar radiation can pass into the reaction chamber;
- (e) a target area within said reaction chamber toward which the solar energy rays from the focal mirror are focused, said target area located beyond the focal point of the focused energy rays and positioned at a point where the rays diverge;
- (f) means within the reaction chamber for delivering a homogeneous mixture of metal oxide and carbon to the target area;
- (g) a Fresnel lens positioned in front of said transparent window of said reaction chamber along the focal pathway of solar radiation reflected from said focal mirror, for further focusing and concentrating the solar radiation;
- (h) means for providing a cooling fluid flow directed to the surface of the transparent window facing outward of the reaction chamber and to the inside surface of said Fresnel lens;
- (i) seal means between the spaced apart Fresnel lens and transparent window, providing a fluid flow passage communicating with the means for providing said cooling fluid flow;
- (j) means forming an aperture in the center of said Fresnel lens communicating with said fluid flow passage, said cooling fluid exiting through said apertures;
- and
- (k) means for revolving said transparent window so that a different portion of said transparent window is positioned to transmit focused solar radiation to the reaction chamber.
9 more elements
Apparatus for the carbothermic reduction of a metal oxide to produce a metal carbide utilizing solar energy comprising:
- (a) at least one reflective surface for collecting, reflecting and focusing collected solar radiation;
- (b) a focal mirror in spaced relation to said reflective surface having a reflective face facing the reflective surface for receiving focused and reflected solar radiation from the reflective surface and for focusing such solar radiation received;
- (c) a reaction chamber in spaced relation to said focal mirror for receiving focused solar radiation from said focal mirror;
- (d) a transparent window on said reaction chamber through which the focused solar radiation can pass into the reaction chamber;
- (e) a target area within said reaction chamber toward which the solar energy rays from the focal mirror are focused and then directed on the target area by divergence of the solar rays beyond the focal point thereof;
- (f) means within the reaction chamber for delivering a homogeneous mixture of metal oxide and carbon to the target area;
- and
- (g) means for revolving said transparent window so that a different portion of said transparent window is positioned to transmit focused solar radiation to the reaction chamber.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.