Gas: heating and illuminating – Generators – Retort
Reexamination Certificate
1997-02-06
2002-08-13
Knode, Marian C. (Department: 1764)
Gas: heating and illuminating
Generators
Retort
C048S061000, C202S219000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06432149
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the general field of molten baths for the disassociation of material containing carbon, and preferably hydrogen as well, generally classified in U.S. Patent Office, Class/Subclass: 60/39.12, 48/195, and 23/230A.
2. Description of the Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 4,187,672 and 4,244,180 to Rasor teach feeding a mass of carbonaceous fuel; e.g., coal, into a high temperature liquid; e.g., molten iron, at a temperature high enough to carbonize the feed; e.g., near 2850° F. (1565° C.) and introduces air or other oxygen source into the reactor to react with carbon dissolved in the liquid and uses the hot fuel gas to produce useful energy. At least one baffle is employed to separate the reactor chamber into two distinct zones.
WO 9Z/01492 to Nagel teaches two immiscible zones (layers) of different molten metal temperatures.
Hayes U.S. 4,338,096 teaches methods for controlling the flow of a molten-mass reaction medium into a reaction zone by utilizing a gas-lift effect on the molten medium and apportioning the flow of control gas to the desired flow of molten medium. Hayes is not directed to the introduction of a high velocity stream of soot by combusting a fuel and air mixture plus pitch in a burner to create the high velocity of stream of soot and in which H
2
O may be added to the high velocity stream impacting the molten metal within a pressure vessel, with the soot being driven downwardly into the molten medium.
Bach U.S. Pat. No. 4,574,714 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,602,574 do not suggest the plural zones of the present invention with soot feed introduced into one zone by discharge at high velocity from a burner and an oxidizer introduced into a second zone, and with the vapor phases and liquid phases of the two zones being separated by barriers as in the present invention.
Tryer U.S. Pat. No. 1,803,221 teaches production of hydrogen from methane in a two-zone unit, but fails to suggest the utilization of a burner combusting a fuel and air mixture plus pitch and discharge through a restriction or nozzle as a stream of soot penetrating beneath of level of the molten metal within the underlying pressure vessel or reactor.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to an improved molten metal hydrogen generation bath in which a closed pressure vessel is provided with one or more baffles separating the vessel vapor space near the center of the bath into a burner feed chamber and a generated gas outlet chamber. one or more top mounted burners on the pressure vessel opening into the top of the vessel are provided with an oxidant feed such as O
2
or air, fuel gas and pitch, or other low-valued hydrocarbon for recycling, plus H
2
O. The burner or burners discharge soot under high pressure through a venturi nozzle as a high velocity stream which impinges against the surface of the molten metal bath to drive the soot down into the molten metal. The soot dissolves in the molten metal and the high velocity stream includes CO
2
and H
2
O which dissolves in the metal. Circulation of the molten metal under the baffle(s) into the gas outlet chamber produces H
2
and CO
2
recoverable for fuel gas or synthetic purposes.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2031987 (1936-02-01), Sullivan, Jr.
patent: 3690808 (1972-09-01), St. Pierre
patent: 4388084 (1983-06-01), Okane et al.
patent: 4527997 (1985-07-01), Espedal
patent: 4565551 (1986-01-01), Okane et al.
patent: 4681599 (1987-07-01), Obkircher
patent: 5069715 (1991-12-01), Reid
patent: 5435814 (1995-07-01), Miller et al.
patent: 2521080 (1975-11-01), None
patent: 2189504 (1987-10-01), None
Doroshenk Alexa A.
Knode Marian C.
Marathon Ashland Petroleum LLC
Stone Richard D.
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