Method and apparatus for producing nitride products

An apparatus comprising:

• a reactor having a chamber defined therein which has a longitudinal axis and longitudinally separated upstream and downstream ends, wherein the chamber comprises a combustion zone and a reaction zone such that the combustion zone longitudinally extends from said upstream end to a surface boundary between the zones and such that the reaction zone longitudinally extends from said surface boundary to said downstream end;
• means for injecting a combustible mixture of fuel and oxidant into said combustion zone which comprises a source of the fuel and oxidant and which further comprises a plurality of combustion nozzles, each combustion nozzle having a corresponding outlet which communicates with the combustion zone and which is adapted to release combustible mixture into the combustion zone in a direction generally toward the reaction zone;
• and
• means for injecting at least one reactant into the reaction zone which comprises a source of said at least one reactant and which further comprises at least one reactant nozzle connected thereto and having at least one outlet which communicates with said chamber at said surface boundary and which is adapted to release said at least one reactant in a direction generally parallel to said longitudinal axis, wherein said at least one reactant is capable of reacting in said chamber to form a nitride product, and further wherein said plurality of combustion nozzle outlets define at least one linear boundary whose projection in a direction generally parallel to said longitudinal axis and onto said surface boundary generally surrounds said at least one reactant nozzle outlet.