Gas phase chemical reactor

A process for conducting a chemical reaction between reacting species which enter and leave the reaction in a mobile and compressible fluid phase, the process including the steps of:

• (a) providing the reacting species which include a first component which is preferentially transformed under increase of pressure to a less mobile phase, and a second component which substantially remains in the mobile fluid phase under the same increase of pressure,
• (b) providing a flow path which connects first and second variable volume spaces,
• (c) conducting the reaction within a reaction space to form a mobile and compressible fluid mixture of the reacting species including the first and second components,
• (d) introducing the fluid mixture into the flow path connecting first and second variable volume spaces,
• (e) cyclically varying volumes of the first and second variable volume spaces at equal periodic frequencies and with a different phase relative to each other to impose flow of the fluid mixture in the flow path with cyclic reversals of flow direction,
• (f) maintaining the temperature of the first variable volume space approximately at a first temperature, and the temperature of the second variable volume space approximately at a second temperature,
• (g) cyclically exchanging heat between the fluid mixture in the flow path and a material with heat capacity disposed along the flow path,
• (h) cyclically varying total pressure of the fluid mixture in the flow path, at the same periodic frequency as said cyclic volume variations and with a phase coordinated with the cyclic reversals of flow direction in the flow path such that the first component is preferentially transformed to its relatively less mobile phase by increased pressure when the fluid mixture is flowing along the flow path in the direction toward the first variable volume space, and is transformed back to its mobile phase in the fluid mixture by decreased pressure when the fluid mixture is flowing along the flow path in the reverse direction toward the second variable volume space,
• (i) separating the fluid mixture by relatively concentrating the first component toward the second variable volume space and relatively concentrating the second component toward the first variable volume space, so that the desired productivity of the reaction is enhanced,
• (j) converting and transporting thermal energy according to a regenerative thermodynamic cycle by using the fluid mixture as working fluid and coupled to external mechanical energy through the cyclic variations of pressure and of the volumes associated with variable volume spaces, such that over each cycle net heat of expansion is taken up by the fluid in the first variable volume space, and net heat of compression is delivered by the fluid in the second variable volume space.

An apparatus for conducting a chemical reaction between reacting species of gases having a pair of gas phase components which include a reactant and a product which have different selectivities of adsorption on an adsorbent material, such that one of the reactant and product pair is a more readily adsorbed component and the other is a less readily adsorbed component, the apparatus comprising:

• (a) a first volume displacement means cooperating with a first variable volume space and means to change volume of the first space cyclically at a periodic frequency,
• (b) a second volume displacement means cooperating with a second variable volume space and means to change volume of the second space cyclically at the same periodic frequency as the first volume displacement means,
• (c) means to maintain the first variable volume space approximately at a first temperature, and means to maintain the second variable volume space approximately at a second temperature,
• (d) an adsorbent loaded regenerator connected at one end thereof to the first variable volume space and at a second end thereof to the second variable volume space, so that the regenerator provides a flow path between the first and second spaces, the adsorbent material and a material with heat capacity being associated with the flow path,
• (e) a reaction space in which the reaction is conducted, the reaction space communicating with the adsorbent loaded regenerator,
• (f) means to introduce a feed gas including the reactant into the reaction space,
• (g) means to convey a gas mixture including the reactant and the product from the reaction space to the flow path through the adsorbent loaded regenerator,
• (h) means to coordinate relative phase of displacement of the first and second volume displacement means, in order to impose cyclic variations of total pressure within the apparatus, and also to impose cyclically reversing flow of the gas mixture in the flow path through the adsorbent loaded regenerator, so that preferential adsorption and desorption of the more readily adsorbed component in response to pressure variations is substantially in phase with the reversing flow of the gas mixture in the flow path, in order to achieve enrichment of the gas mixture in the reactant when the flow in directed toward the first variable volume space, and to achieve enrichment of the gas mixture in the product when the flow is directed toward the second variable volume space,
• (i) means to withdraw a concentrated product from the apparatus.