# US 8,187,549 B2 · Chemical reactors with annularly positioned delivery and removal devices, and associated systems and methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,187,549 B2 - Document ID: US8187549B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/026,990 - Filed: 2011-02-14 - Published: 2011-09-01 - Granted: 2012-05-29 - Earliest claimed: 2010-02-13 - Assignees: McAlister Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Roy Edward McAlister - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8187549B2 ## CPC - C01B 3/24: of hydrocarbons - B01J 19/127: {Sunlight; Visible light} - B01J 19/1812: {Tubular reactors} - B01J 19/20: in the form of helices, e.g. screw reactors - C10B 23/00: Other methods of heating coke ovens - C10B 53/00: Destructive distillation, specially adapted for particular solid raw materials or solid raw materials in special form (wet carbonising of peat C10F) - C10B 53/02: of cellulose-containing material (production of pyroligneous acid C10C5/00) - C10B 53/07: {of solid raw materials consisting} of synthetic polymeric materials, e.g. tyres (recovery or working-up of waste materials of organic macromolecular compounds or compositions based thereon by dry-heat treatment for obtaining partially depolymerised materials C08J11/10; production of liquid hydrocarbon mixtures from rubber or rubber waste C10G1/10) - C10J 3/007: {Screw type gasifiers} - F24S 20/20: Solar heat collectors for receiving concentrated solar energy, e.g. receivers for solar power plants - G01N 35/00871: {Communications between instruments or with remote terminals} - B01J 2219/00085: Plates; Jackets; Cylinders - B01J 2219/00135: Electric resistance heaters - B01J 2219/00159: controlling multiple zones along the direction of flow, e.g. pre-heating and after-cooling - B01J 2219/187: inclined at an angle to the horizontal or to the vertical plane - C01B 2203/0266: containing a decomposition step - C01B 2203/04: containing a purification step for the hydrogen or the synthesis gas - C01B 2203/0465: Composition of the impurity - C01B 2203/0485: the impurity being a sulfur compound - C01B 2203/0811: by combustion of fuel - C01B 2203/0822: the fuel containing hydrogen - C01B 2203/0872: Methods of cooling - C01B 2203/0883: by indirect heat exchange - C10J 2300/0916: Biomass - C10J 2300/1292: mSolar energy - G01N 1/405: {by adsorption or absorption} - G01N 35/00613: {Quality control} - G01N 2001/021: {Correlating sampling sites with geographical information, e.g. GPS} - Y02B 10/20: Solar thermal - Y02E 10/40: Solar thermal energy, e.g. solar towers - Y02E 50/10: Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel - Y02E 60/32: Hydrogen storage - Y02P 20/10: Process efficiency - Y02P 20/133: Renewable energy sources, e.g. sunlight - Y02P 20/143: the feedstock being recycled material, e.g. plastics - C01B: NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; {METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C} - B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS - C10B: DESTRUCTIVE DISTILLATION OF CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS FOR PRODUCTION OF GAS, COKE, TAR, OR SIMILAR MATERIALS (cracking oils C10G; underground gasification of minerals E21B43/295) - C10J: PRODUCTION OF PRODUCER GAS, WATER-GAS, SYNTHESIS GAS FROM SOLID CARBONACEOUS MATERIAL, OR MIXTURES CONTAINING THESE GASES (synthesis gas from liquid or gaseous hydrocarbons C01B; underground gasification of minerals E21B43/295); CARBURETTING AIR OR OTHER GASES - F24S: SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS (for producing mechanical power from solar energy F03G6/00) - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## Abstract Chemical reactors with annularly positioned delivery and removal devices, and associated systems and methods. A reactor in accordance with a particular embodiment includes a reactor vessel having a light-transmissible surface proximate to a reaction zone, and a movable reactant delivery system positioned within the reactor vessel. The reactor can further include a product removal system positioned within the reactor vessel and positioned annularly inwardly or outwardly from the delivery system. A solar concentrator is positioned to direct solar radiation through the light-transmissible surface to the reaction zone. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A chemical reactor, comprising: a reactor vessel having a light-transmissible surface proximate to a reaction zone; a movable reactant delivery system positioned within the reactor vessel; a product removal system positioned within the reactor vessel and positioned annularly inwardly or outwardly from the delivery system, wherein the product removal system includes a rotatable screw having an outwardly-extending helical thread positioned to convey products from the reaction zone; and a solar concentrator positioned to direct solar radiation through the light transmissible surface to the reaction zone. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The reactor of claim 1 wherein the product removal system is positioned in close thermal communication with the reactant delivery system to transfer heat to the reactant delivery system. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The reactor of claim 1 wherein the screw is extended along and rotatable about a rotation axis, and wherein a pitch of the helical thread varies as a function of position along the rotation axis. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The reactor of claim 1 wherein the screw is extended along and rotatable about a rotation axis, and wherein a radial width of the helical thread varies as a function of position along the rotation axis. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The reactor of claim 1 wherein the product removal system includes a rotatable screw having an outwardly-extending helical thread positioned to convey products from the reaction zone. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The reactor of claim 1 wherein the reactant delivery system includes a piston that is incrementally movable toward the reaction zone. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising: a combustor operatively coupled to the reaction zone to direct heat to the reaction zone; a sensor positioned to detect incident solar radiation; and a controller operatively coupled to the combustor and the sensor to activate the combustor when the incident solar radiation falls below a threshold level. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a source of solid reactants, and wherein the product delivery system extends between the source and the reaction zone. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a source of gaseous reactants, and wherein the product delivery system extends between the source and the reaction zone. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a source of hydrocarbon reactants, and wherein the product delivery system extends between the source and the reaction zone. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a source of reactants, and wherein the source includes nitrogen. ### Claim 12 A chemical reactor, comprising: a cylindrical reactor vessel having a light-transmissible surface proximate to and bounding a reaction zone positioned within the vessel; a reactant delivery system positioned within the reactor vessel, the reactant delivery system including a first screw shaft having an outwardly extending first spiral thread and being rotatable about a rotation axis, the first screw shaft extending to the reaction zone and having a first axial opening extending along the rotation axis; a product removal system positioned within the reactor vessel, the product removal system including a second screw shaft positioned concentrically within the first axial opening of the first screw shaft in close thermal communication with the first screw shaft, the second screw shaft having an outwardly extending second spiral thread and being rotatable about the rotation axis, the second screw shaft extending to the reaction zone and having a second axial opening extending along the rotation axis; and a solar concentrator positioned to direct solar radiation through the light transmissible surface to the reaction zone. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The reactor of claim 12 wherein a radial width of the first spiral thread decreases as a function of position along the rotation axis. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The reactor of claim 12 wherein a pitch of the first spiral thread decreases as a function of position along the rotation axis. ### Claim 15 A chemical reactor, comprising: a reactor vessel having a light-transmissible surface proximate to a reaction zone; a movable reactant delivery system positioned within the reactor vessel, wherein the reactant delivery system includes a piston that is incrementally movable toward the reaction zone; a product removal system positioned within the reactor vessel and positioned annularly inwardly or outwardly from the delivery system; and a solar concentrator positioned to direct solar radiation through the light transmissible surface to the reaction zone. ### Claim 16 A chemical reactor, comprising: a reactor vessel having a light-transmissible surface proximate to a reaction zone; a movable reactant delivery system positioned within the reactor vessel; a product removal system positioned within the reactor vessel and positioned annularly inwardly or outwardly from the delivery system; a solar concentrator positioned to direct solar radiation through the light transmissible surface to the reaction zone; a combustor operatively coupled to the reaction zone to direct heat to the reaction zone; a sensor positioned to detect incident solar radiation; and a controller operatively coupled to the combustor and the sensor to activate the combustor when the incident solar radiation falls below a threshold level. ### Claim 17 A chemical reactor, comprising: a reactor vessel having a light-transmissible surface proximate to a reaction zone; a movable reactant delivery system positioned within the reactor vessel and actuatable to move a reactant along an axis, wherein the reaction zone is rotationally fixed relative to the axis; a product removal system positioned within the reactor vessel and positioned annularly inwardly or outwardly from the delivery system; and a solar concentrator positioned to direct solar radiation through the light transmissible surface to the reaction zone. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The reactor of claim 17 wherein the reactant delivery system includes a rotatable screw having an outwardly-extending helical thread positioned to convey the reactant to the reaction zone. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The reactor of claim 18 wherein the screw is extended along and rotatable about a rotation axis, and wherein a pitch of the helical thread varies as a function of position along the rotation axis. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The reactor of claim 18 wherein the screw is extended along and rotatable about a rotation axis, and wherein a radial width of the helical thread varies as a function of position along the rotation axis.