Reactor assemblies and methods of performing reactions

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12017196-B2
Application number	US-202217834673-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 7, 2022
Priority date	Mar 20, 2019
Publication date	Jun 25, 2024
Grant date	Jun 25, 2024

Abstract

Reactors are provided that can include a first set of fluid channels and a second set of fluid channels oriented in thermal contact with the first set of fluid channels. The reactor assemblies can also provide where the channels of either one or both of the first of the set of fluid channels are non-linear. Other implementations provide for at least one of the first set of fluid channels being in thermal contact with a plurality of other channels of the second set of fluid channels. Reactor assemblies are also provided that can include a first set of fluid channels defining at least one non-linear channel having a positive function, and a second set of fluid channels defining at least another non-linear channel having a negative function in relation to the positive function of the one non-linear channel of the first set of fluid channels. Processes for distributing energy across a reactor are provided. The processes can include transporting reactants via a first set of fluid channels to a second set of fluid channels, and thermally engaging at least one of the first set of fluid channels with at least two of the second set of fluid channels.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A process for distributing energy across a reactor, the process comprising:
transporting reactants via a first set of fluid channels to a second set of fluid channels; and
thermally engaging at least one of the first set of fluid channels with at least two of the second set of fluid channels;
further comprising performing an endothermic reaction within one of the sets of fluid channels; and
further comprising facilitating the endothermic reaction with solar energy.

2. The process of claim 1 further comprising facilitating the endothermic reaction with a catalyst.

3. The process of claim 1 wherein the first and second set of fluid channels are configured as counter spirals.

4. The process of claim 1 wherein the first and second set of fluid channels are metallic.

5. The process of claim 4 wherein the first and second set of fluid channels are constructed from a metal selected from the group consisting of: Ni, Cu, stainless steel, Ti, Ti alloys, and superalloys.

6. The process of claim 2 wherein the first set of fluid channels have a channel height of greater than 5 mm.

7. The process of claim 2 wherein the catalyst is in the form of a foam.

8. The process of claim 2 wherein the catalyst is in the form of particles.

9. The process of claim 1 wherein the first set of fluid channels have at least one dimension of 1 micrometer to 1 mm.

10. The process of claim 1 wherein the first set of fluid channels have at least one dimension of 1 mm to 1 cm.

11. The process of claim 9 wherein the first and second set of fluid channels are configured as counter spirals.

12. The process of claim 1 wherein the reactants comprise methane.

13. The process of claim 1 wherein the reactants comprise methane and steam.

14. The process of claim 2 wherein the reactants comprise methane and steam.

15. The process of claim 1 having a solar-to-chemical energy efficiency of 60 to 90%.

16. The process of claim 14 having a solar-to-chemical energy efficiency of 60 to 90%.

17. The process of claim 1 having a solar-to-chemical energy efficiency of 60 to 85%.

18. The process of claim 14 having a solar-to-chemical energy efficiency of 60 to 85%.

Assignees

• Battelle Memorial Institute

Inventors

• Zheng Richard F
• Wegeng Robert S
• Humble Paul H
• Caldwell Dustin D
• Diver Richard B

Classifications

• B01J19/0013

  Controlling the temperature of the process · CPC title

• C01B2203/063

  Refinery processes · CPC title

• C01B2203/1241

  Natural gas or methane · CPC title

• C01B2203/0833

  Heating by indirect heat exchange with hot fluids, other than combustion gases, product gases or non-combustive exothermic reaction product gases · CPC title

• C01B2203/0283

  containing a CO-shift step, i.e. a water gas shift step · CPC title