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US 8,357,873 B2Granted
Plasma whirl reactor apparatus and methods of use
AssigneeForet Plasma Labs, LLC
InventorTodd Foret
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for synergistically combining a plasma with a comminution means such as a fluid kinetic energy mill (jet mill), preferably in a single reactor and/or in a single process step is provided by the present invention. Within the apparatus of the invention potential energy is converted into kinetic energy and subsequently into angular momentum by means of wave energy, for comminuting, reacting and separation of feed materials. Methods of use of the apparatus in the practice of various processes are also provided by the present invention.
Claims44
An apparatus comprising:
- a vessel having an interior defined by a cylindrical portion disposed between a first end and a closed second end, an outlet in said first end that is aligned with a longitudinal axis of said cylindrical portion, and at least one inlet in said first end to receive a material;
- a set of radio frequency coils disposed around or within said cylindrical portion to generate a plasma from an atomized fluid or gas within said interior;
- and
- two or more jets or slits mounted tangentially in said cylindrical portion to atomize a fluid or gas and direct said atomized fluid or a gas into said interior to feed said plasma and create angular momentum in said plasma to form a plasma vortex that circulates around said longitudinal axis and with said material.
1 more element
An apparatus comprising:
- a vessel having an interior defined by a cylindrical portion disposed proximate to a first end and a cone shaped portion disposed proximate to said cylindrical portion that forms a second outlet at a second end that is aligned with said longitudinal axis of said cylindrical portion and said cone shaped portion, a first outlet in said first end that is aligned with a longitudinal axis of said cylindrical portion and said cone shaped portion, and at least one inlet in said first end to receive a material;
- a set of radio frequency coils disposed around or within said cylindrical portion and said cone shaped portion to generate a plasma from an atomized fluid or gas within said interior;
- and
- two or more jets or slits mounted tangentially in said cylindrical portion to atomize a fluid or gas and direct said atomized fluid or a gas into said interior to feed said plasma and create angular momentum in said plasma to form a plasma vortex that circulates around said longitudinal axis and with said material.
1 more element
An apparatus comprising:
- a vessel having an interior defined by a cylindrical portion disposed proximate to a first end and a cone shaped portion disposed proximate to said cylindrical portion that forms an outlet at a second end that is aligned with a longitudinal axis of said cylindrical portion and said cone shaped portion, and one or more inlets in said first end to receive a material;
- a first plasma source comprising a plasma torch connected to said first end and aligned with said longitudinal axis of said cylindrical portion and said cone shaped portion to introduce a plasma into said interior;
- a second plasma source comprising a set of radio frequency coils disposed around or within said cylindrical portion to add energy to said plasma;
- and
- two or more jets or slits within said cylindrical portion to direct a fluid or a gas into said interior to create angular momentum in said plasma to form a plasma vortex that circulates around said longitudinal axis and reacts with said material.
2 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a vessel having a vertical longitudinal axis, a cylindrical middle portion aligned with said vertical longitudinal axis, a top portion, a bottom portion, one or more inlets disposed in said top portion to receive a material, and an outlet aligned with said vertical longitudinal axis and disposed in either said top portion or said bottom portion;
- three or more plasma torches mounted tangentially in said cylindrical middle portion such that said plasma torches are substantially aligned with one another in a horizontal plane with respect to said vertical longitudinal axis;
- and
- wherein said plasma from said plasma torches combine together to create sufficient angular momentum to form a plasma vortex that circulates around said vertical longitudinal axis within said vessel and reacts with said material.
1 more element
An apparatus comprising:
- a vessel having a vertical longitudinal axis, a cylindrical middle portion aligned with said vertical longitudinal axis, a top portion, a bottom portion, one or more inlets disposed in said top portion to receive a material, and an outlet aligned with said vertical longitudinal axis and disposed in either said top portion or said bottom portion;
- three or more jet nozzles mounted tangentially in said cylindrical middle portion such that said jet nozzles are substantially aligned with one another in a horizontal plane with respect to said vertical longitudinal axis, wherein said jet nozzles are fed by a fluid or gas, atomize said fluid or gas and direct said atomized fluid or gas into an interior of said vessel;
- a radio frequency source proximate to said plasma jet nozzles to generate a plasma from said atomized fluid or gas within said vessel;
- and
- wherein said plasma from said atomized fluid or gas from said jet nozzles combines together to create sufficient angular momentum to form a plasma vortex that circulates around said vertical longitudinal axis within said vessel and reacts with said material.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.