Carbon nanotube synthesis process apparatus

A carbon nanotube synthesis process apparatus for producing a carbon nanotube by using a gas-phase method, the apparatus comprising:

• a reaction tube;
• a supply unit which supplies a carbon-containing raw material from an upstream side of the reaction tube;
• a heating unit which heats the reaction tube to thereby generate within the reaction tube a reaction field which thermally decomposes the carbon-containing raw material to produce a carbon nanotube;
• a discharge pipe located directly downstream of the reaction tube and directly coupled to an edge portion on a downstream side of the reaction tube for directing the carbon nanotube produced within the reaction tube to outside;
• and
• a swirl flow generation unit comprising a plurality of nozzles arranged at the inner side surface of the discharge pipe and configured to emit gas in a direction that is deflected from the center of the discharge pipe, and which generates a swirl flow that flows from an inner side surface of the discharge pipe along the inner side surface thereof and that isolates the carbon nanotubes passing through the discharge pipe from the inner side surface of the discharge pipe, prevents the carbon nanotubes from moving to the inner side surface of the discharge pipe, and converges the carbon nanotubes near a center of the discharge pipe;
• wherein the discharge pipe is at least one of (i) oriented in substantially the same direction as the reaction tube;
• (ii) substantially aligned with the reaction tube;
• and (iii) oriented such that the carbon nanotubes flow through the discharge pipe in substantially the same direction as they flow through or out of the reaction tube.