# US 5,705,132 A · Combustion synthesis continuous flow reactor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,705,132 A - Document ID: US5705132A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/366,941 - Filed: 1994-12-30 - Granted: 1998-01-06 - Earliest claimed: 1994-12-30 - Assignees: Battelle Memorial Institute - Inventors: Gary D. Maupin; Lawrence A. Chick; Randal P. Kurosky - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5705132A ## CPC - B01J 19/28: Moving reactors, e.g. rotary drums (B01J19/08 takes precedence) - B01J 12/02: for obtaining at least one reaction product which, at normal temperature, is in the solid state - B22F 9/24: starting from liquid metal compounds, e.g. solutions - C01B 13/18: by thermal decomposition of compounds, e.g. of salts or hydroxides - C01G 37/006: {Compounds containing chromium, with or without oxygen or hydrogen, and containing two or more other elements} - C22B 4/08: Apparatus ({C22B4/005 takes precedence; } electric heating elements H05B) - F28F 13/06: by affecting the pattern of flow of the heat-exchange media {(F28F13/003 takes precedence; static flow control means in header boxes F28F9/026)} - B01J 2219/00063: of the reactants - B01J 2219/00076: with heat exchange elements inside the reactor - B01J 2219/00087: with heat exchange elements outside the reactor - B01J 2219/00108: involving reactant vapours - B01J 2219/0011: involving reactant liquids - B01J 2219/00166: controlling the residence time inside the reactor vessel - C01P 2002/72: by d-values or two theta-values, e.g. as X-ray diagram - B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS - B22F: WORKING METALLIC POWDER; MANUFACTURE OF ARTICLES FROM METALLIC POWDER; MAKING METALLIC POWDER (making alloys by powder metallurgy C22C); APPARATUS OR DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR METALLIC POWDER - C01B: NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; {METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C} - C01G: COMPOUNDS CONTAINING METALS NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C01D OR C01F (metal hydrides {monoborane, diborane or addition complexes thereof} C01B6/00; salts of oxyacids of halogens C01B11/00; peroxides, salts or peroxyacids C01B15/00; thiosulfates, dithionites, polythionates C01B17/64; compounds containing selenium, or tellurium C01B19/00; binary compounds of nitrogen with metals C01B21/06; azides C01B21/08; {compounds containing nitrogen, other non-metals and metal C01B21/082}; metal amides C01B21/092; nitrites C01B21/50; {compounds of noble gases C01B23/0005}; phosphides C01B25/08; salts of oxyacids of phosphorus C01B25/16; carbides C01B32/90; compounds containing silicon C01B33/00; compounds containing boron C01B35/00; compounds having molecular sieve properties but not having base-exchange properties C01B37/00; compounds having molecular sieve and base-exchange properties, e.g. crystalline zeolites, C01B39/00; cyanides C01C3/08; salts of cyanamide C01C3/16; thiocyanates C01C3/20) - C22B: PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS (electrolytic C25); PRETREATMENT OF RAW MATERIALS - F28F: DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION (water and air traps, air venting F16) - C01P: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO STRUCTURAL AND PHYSICAL ASPECTS OF SOLID INORGANIC COMPOUNDS ## Abstract The present invention is a reactor for combustion synthesis of inorganic powders. The reactor includes a reaction vessel having a length and a first end and a second end. The reaction vessel further has a solution inlet and a carrier gas inlet. The reactor further has a heater for heating both the solution and the carrier gas. In a preferred embodiment, the reaction vessel is heated and the solution is in contact with the heated reaction vessel. It is further preferred that the reaction vessel be cylindrical and that the carrier gas is introduced tangentially into the reaction vessel so that the solution flows helically along the interior wall of the reaction vessel. As the solution evaporates and combustion produces inorganic material powder, the carrier gas entrains the powder and carries it out of the reactor. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A reactor for combustion synthesis of inorganic powders, comprising: (a) a reaction vessel having a length, inner surface, and a first end and a second end; (b) a solution inlet into the reaction vessel said solution inlet in relationship with respect to said inner surface wherein said solution admitted through said solution inlet initially flows in contact with said inner surface; (c) a carrier gas inlet into the reaction vessel; (d) a heater for heating both the solution and the carrier gas; and (e) a drive for rotating the reaction vessel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The reactor as recited in claim 1, wherein the solution inlet is a plurality of solution inlets. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The reactor as recited in claim 1, wherein the carrier gas inlet has a longitudinal axis oriented substantially perpendicular to a reaction vessel longitudinal axis and said carrier gas inlet is tangential to said reaction vessel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The reactor as recited in claim 1, wherein the solution flows helically along the inner surface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The reactor as recited in claim 1, further comprising: a powder collection system. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The reactor as recited in claim 5, wherein the powder collection system comprises: (a) a separator for separating inorganic material powder from the carrier gas; (b) a collection reaction tube for receiving inorganic material powder from the separator; and (c) a collection vessel receiving the inorganic material powder from the collection reaction tube. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The reactor as recited in claim 1, wherein the heater heats both a carrier gas upstream of the carrier gas inlet and the reaction vessel. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The reactor as recited in claim 1, wherein the reactor vessel is cylindrical. ### Claim 9 A reactor for combustion synthesis of inorganic powders, comprising: (a) a reaction vessel having a length, inner surface, and a first end and a second end; (b) a solution inlet into the reaction vessel said solution inlet in relationship with respect to said inner surface wherein said solution admitted through said solution inlet initially flows in contact with said inner surface; (c) a carrier gas inlet into the reaction vessel, said carrier gas inlet having a longitudinal axis oriented substantially perpendicular to a reaction vessel longitudinal axis and a carrier gas flows in a vortex through the reactor vessel; (d) a heater for heating both the solution and the carrier gas; and (e) a drive for rotating the reaction vessel. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The reactor as recited in claim 9, wherein said heater further comprises: a heater located outside the reaction vessel; and a second heater located upstream of the carrier gas inlet. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The reactor as recited in claim 10, further comprising: a powder collection system having a separator and a collection reaction tube. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The reactor as recited in claim 10, wherein the reaction vessel is cylindrical.