Molten metal reactors
AssigneeBattelle Energy Alliance, LLC
InventorsDennis N. Bingham, Kerry M. Klingler, Terry D. Turner, Bruce M. Wilding
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A molten metal reactor for converting a carbon material and steam into a gas comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide is disclosed. The reactor includes an interior crucible having a portion contained within an exterior crucible. The interior crucible includes an inlet and an outlet; the outlet leads to the exterior crucible and may comprise a diffuser. The exterior crucible may contain a molten alkaline metal compound. Contained between the exterior crucible and the interior crucible is at least one baffle.
Claims19
A molten metal reactor, comprising:
- an exterior crucible member having a vent;
- an interior crucible member having a portion contained within the exterior crucible member, the interior crucible member having an inlet and an outlet, the outlet comprising a diffuser;
- and
- a plurality of screen baffles contained between the interior crucible member and the exterior crucible member, at least one of the plurality of screen baffles exhibiting a different screen size than at least one other of the plurality of screen baffles.
A reactor for converting a material containing carbon and steam into a gas comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, the reactor comprising:
- an interior crucible member for accepting a feed stream comprising a carbon material and steam, the interior crucible member having an inlet and an outlet;
- a diffuser positioned at the outlet of the interior crucible member for diffusing the feed stream into a molten alkaline metal compound;
- an exterior crucible member positioned around the interior crucible member for containing the molten alkaline metal compound between the interior crucible member and the exterior crucible member;
- baffles located within the molten alkaline metal compound contained between the interior crucible member and the exterior crucible member for increasing the residence time of the feed stream within the molten alkaline metal compound, and comprising:
- a first screen baffle extending from the interior crucible member toward the exterior crucible member;
- a second screen baffle extending from the exterior crucible member toward the interior crucible member and having a smaller screen size than the first screen baffle;
- a third screen baffle extending from the interior crucible member toward the exterior crucible member and having a smaller screen size than the second screen baffle, the second screen baffle positioned between the first screen baffle and the third screen baffle to form a substantially serpentine path within the molten alkaline metal compound;
- and
- a vent for venting the gas from the exterior crucible member.
A molten metal reactor, comprising:
- an outer chamber comprising:
- a first zone having a molten alkaline metal compound therein, a plurality of screen baffles within the molten alkaline metal compound;
- a second zone adjacent the first zone and having a filter therein;
- and
- a third zone adjacent the second zone and in communication with a vent;
- and
- an inner chamber within the outer chamber and in fluid communication with the first zone of the outer chamber by way of an outlet, at least one of the plurality of screen baffles exhibiting a different screen size than at least one other of the plurality of screen baffles.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.