Abstract:
The invention provides processes and apparatus for producing hydrogen from water, including the steps of heating water to a water dissociating temperature to form a dissociated water reaction mixture comprising hydrogen gas and oxygen gas. A vortex is formed of the reaction mixture to subject the reaction mixture to a centrifugal force about a longitudinal axis of an interior space of a vortex tube reactor, so that there is radial stratification of the hydrogen gas and the oxygen gas in the interior space of the vortex tube reactor. Hydrogen or oxygen is preferentially extracted from the reaction mixture at spaced apart points along the length of the interior space of the vortex tube reactor.
Abstract:
A water treatment arrangement (1) is provided in which water is given a reduced pH by a first catalyst comprising a primary catatalyst unit (18) and is then caused to flow over a second catalyst comprising a secondary catalyst unit (24). The second catalyst changes nitrates, nitrites, phosphates, salts and other contaminants from reactive to nonreactive form. The first catalyst may be palladium and the second catalyst an alloy containing copper, tin, nickel and zinc. The first catalyst prevents precipitants from coating the second catalyst and also increases the supply of oxygen in the water. Preferably, a third catalyst, also palladium, is included in a catalyst unit (41) downstream of the second catalyst. The first and third catalysts include longitudinal vanes having louvers to present a large surface area and create turbulence. The second catalyst is a tubular assembly with ribs and grooves also to create turbulence and removal of the stagnant boundary layer from the catalyst's surface. The catalysts are in an end-to-end abutting relationship within a housing (13) of corrosion-resistant material.
Abstract:
A method of preparing a porous article is provided. The method includes: contacting a porous substrate with a first reactant that enters pores of the substrate; and contacting the porous substrate bearing the first reactant with a second reactant that is capable of reacting with the first reactant in an interfacial polymerization reaction; the amounts of first and second reactant being selected such that there occurs no, or substantially no, closing of pores of the substrate by the formed polymer. The invention also provides a porous article bearing a compound which is photochemically reactive and capable of undergoing a substantially non-reversible chemical transformation upon exposure to ultraviolet, visible or near infrared irradiation. The photochemically reactive compound can be derivatized by irradiation and further reaction to provide a wide variety of useful membranes, for example, for microfiltration or for biochemical reactions and separations.
Abstract:
PFRs for running multiphasic processes are disclosed. The PFRs are sing!e or multi- chamber devices having at ieast three types of regions (a liquid-contacting region, a gas- contacting region and a Ssquid-coSiection region), and a porous substrate providing fluid communication at Ieast between the liquid-contacting and gas-contacting regions. Removal of Iiquid from the porous substrate, such as by collecting the Iiquid as it flows off the bottom of the porous substrate in the Siquid-coSSection region or such as by evaporation of the Iiquid from the porous substrate in the evaporation region supports a continuous flow process. Methods of using the PFRs are also disclosed, for example methods of using the PFRs as photobioreactors for cultivating photosynthetic microorganisms, for producing fermentable sugars, for producing ethanoi, for fermenting synthesis gas and producing single celi protein from natural gas.
Abstract:
Die Erfindung betrifft eine Wärmeerzeugungseinheit (1) oder Heizung mit einem Reaktor (2), in dem Wasserstoffperoxid (H 2 O 2 ) durch katalytische Dissoziation in Wasser und Sauerstoff gespalten und dabei Wärme produziert wird. Ausführungsbeispiele betreffen u. a. : Betrieb des Reaktors (2) mit flüssiger und dampfförmiger Phase (41, 42) des Katalysatorfluids; Betrieb des Reaktors (2) mit Rezirkulationsmitteln (8, 15; 15'; 410) für das Katalysatorfluid (40, 41); ein integriertes Katalysator-Wärmetauscher-Modul (11'); ein Vorwärmetauscher (171) zur Wärmeübertragung von einem Restfluid (170) auf das Katalysatorfluid (40, 41); und Kombination mit einer Brennstoffzelle oder einer Sauerstoff-Wasserstoff-Verbrennung. Vorteile sind u. a.: abgasfreie Wärmeproduktion und optional Stromproduktion.
Abstract:
A novel catalytic reactor is provided for controlling the contact of a limiting reactant with a catalyst surface. A first flow vessel defines an interior surface and an exterior surface, and the interior surface has a catalyst deposited on at least a portion thereof. A second flow vessel is positioned within the first flow vessel and the second flow vessel defines a porous surface designed to deliver a fluid uniformly to at least a portion of the interior surface of the first flow vessel.
Abstract:
Un dispositif pour la séparation thermique de l'eau en l'hydrogène et l'oxygène, comprend une chambre de réaction (1 ) fermée contenant de l'eau et, dans ladite chambre de réaction : - un système de chauffage comprenant un ou plusieurs éléments de source(s) de chaleur (4, 11 ), - une ou plusieurs membranes (3), essentiellement étanches aux gaz, pour passer sélectivement de l'oxygène, - une ou plusieurs membranes (2), essentiellement étanches aux gaz, pour passer sélectivement de l'hydrogène et - un mécanisme (5) pour passer de l'eau dans ladite chambre de réaction. Selon l'invention, - ladite (lesdites) source(s) de chaleur (4, 11 ) est (sont) placée(s) dans l'eau à l'intérieure de ladite chambre de réaction (1 ), et , - lesdites membranes (3) sélectives pour l'oxygène sont placées dans lesdites zones à températures élevées, - lesdites membranes (2) sélectives pour l'hydrogène sont placées dans lesdites zones à températures inférieures. De préférence, le système de chauffage est constitué d'un ou plusieurs concentrateurs (8, 9) de rayonnement solaire focalisant les rayons dans l'intérieur du réacteur (1 ).
Abstract:
A method of preparing a material surface, such as palladium, to facilitate desirable reactions, especially exothermic reactions in a liquid medium, involves placing the material whose surface is to be treated into an electrolytic cell as at least one of the electrodes and then concurrently stimulating the material electrically, vibrationally and photonically. The electrolytic cell includes a solution in water of an electrolyte, a siliceous surfactant and a pH-adjusting agent, all heated and maintained at or just below its boiling point. A series of voltage pulses are applied to the electrodes over an extended time period while also being illuminated with intensity-modulated light pulses. The material surface thus treated exhibits crater sites and silica coatings, evidencing a change in bonding of the palladium surface, as well as a sustained exothermic reaction.
Abstract:
A reactor including a rotatable disc (3) having a region (13) in an upper surface (5) thereof. Reactant (15) is supplied to the region (13) by way of a feed (4), the disc (3) is rotated at high speed, and the reactant (15) moves from the region (13) so as to form a film (17) on the surface (5). As the reactant (15) traverses the surface (5) of the disc (3), it undergoes chemical or physical processes before being thrown from the periphery of the disc (3) into collector means (7).