Aqueous fluid reactor and method for oxidation and / or gasification of water

Abstract

Preferred embodiments of the present invention relate to an aqueous fluid oxidation reactor adapted to contain, inside the reactor, an aqueous fluid at elevated pressure and temperature during which oxidation occurs, said fluid comprising organic and / or inorganic materials. The reactor preferably comprises a housing dividing the cavity inside the reactor cavity into an inner cavity 5 inside the housing and an outer cavity outside the housing. Preferred embodiments also relate to water oxidation by using a reactor according to the invention.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Preferred embodiments of the present invention relate to an aqueous fluid oxidation reactor adapted to contain an aqueous fluid at elevated pressure and temperature within the reactor, during which oxidation occurs, the fluid comprising organic and / or inorganic materials. The reactor preferably includes a housing that divides a cavity within the reactor cavity into an inner cavity within the housing and an outer cavity outside the housing. Preferred embodiments also relate to water oxidation using a reactor according to the present invention. Background Art

[0002] Some wastewater contains undesirable pollutants in terms of organic and / or inorganic materials that could be harmful to the environment if released into the environment. Such materials can be rendered less harmful or destroyed entirely if oxidized.

[0003] Oxidation of organic and / or inorganic materials in aqueous fluids at elevated pressures and temperatures has been shown to be an effective method for performing such oxidations. In such processes, an aqueous fluid containing the material to be oxidized is typically introduced into a cavity along with an oxidant, where the prevailing elevated pressures and temperatures accelerate the oxidation process.

[0004] While such processes represent an efficient means of oxidation, there are a number of technical problems associated with providing a reactor that can be produced and used at an economically attractive cost and that is easy to maintain and operate.

[0005] Some of the problems associated with providing a reactor suitable for oxidation are that the pressure and / or temperature inside the reactor may be at supercritical conditions (water), and the fluids during oxidation or the oxidation by-products are often highly corrosive, requiring special attention to the selection of materials used to manufacture the reactor.

[0006] Purpose of the Invention

[0007] It may be an object of the present invention to provide a reactor that reduces production or maintenance costs.Another object of the present invention relates to providing an online monitoring of the corrosion level of the reactor wall.

[0008] It may be an object of the present invention to provide a reactor for which problems associated with maintaining the reactor are at least alleviated. Summary of the Invention

[0009] The present invention relates in a first aspect to an aqueous fluid reactor, preferably an aqueous fluid oxidation reactor and / or an aqueous fluid gasification reactor, adapted to contain an aqueous fluid at elevated pressure and temperature inside the reactor, preferably during which oxidation and / or gasification occurs, said fluid comprising organic and / or inorganic material, wherein the reactor preferably comprises:

[0010] a reactor body in the form of an elongated tubular element, the longitudinal extension of which is parallel or substantially parallel to the direction of gravity during use, the reactor body being closed at its upper and lower ends so as to define a reactor cavity inside the reactor body;

[0011] a shell extending from the lower end toward the upper end, the shell dividing the reactor cavity into an inner cavity inside the shell and an outer cavity outside the shell;

[0012] a flushing fluid connection extending from the exterior cavity and from a location at the upper end of the housing into the interior cavity and extending to a first vertical height, the vertical height being greater than zero;

[0013] an irrigation fluid inlet arranged to supply irrigation fluid into the outer cavity;

[0014] a treated fluid outlet connection having an inlet arranged inside the internal cavity at a second vertical height, preferably greater than the first vertical height, and having an outlet arranged outside the reactor body, and extending from its inlet downwardly towards the lower end of the reactor;

[0015] • An aqueous fluid inlet connection, arranged at the lower end of the reactor body, for introducing an aqueous fluid, preferably an oxidant, into the internal cavity to bring it to elevated pressure and temperature.

[0016] In another aspect, the present invention relates to an aqueous fluid reactor, preferably an aqueous fluid oxidation and / or aqueous fluid gasification reactor, adapted to contain an aqueous fluid at elevated pressure and temperature inside the reactor, preferably during which oxidation and / or gasification occurs, said fluid comprising organic and / or inorganic material, wherein the reactor comprises:

[0017] a reactor body in the form of an elongated tubular element, the longitudinal extension of which is parallel or substantially parallel to the direction of gravity during use, the reactor body being closed at its upper and lower ends so as to define a reactor cavity inside the reactor body;

[0018] a shell extending from the lower end toward the upper end, the shell dividing the reactor cavity into an inner cavity inside the shell and an outer cavity outside the shell;

[0019] a flushing fluid inlet arranged to supply flushing fluid into the outer cavity,

[0020] Flush fluid connections,

[0021] o extending downwardly from the outer cavity and from a position at the upper end of the housing into the inner cavity and to a first vertical height, the vertical height being greater than zero, and / or

[0022] o extending upwardly from the bottom of the reactor and into the interior cavity and fluidly connected to the flushing fluid inlet to supply flushing fluid into the flushing fluid connection;

[0023] a processed fluid outlet connection having an inlet arranged at a second vertical height inside the internal cavity and having an outlet arranged outside the reactor body, the second vertical height being greater than the first vertical height and extending downwardly from its inlet towards the lower end of the reactor;

[0024] • An aqueous fluid inlet connection, arranged at the lower end of the reactor body, for introducing an aqueous fluid, preferably an oxidant, into the internal cavity (5) to bring it to elevated pressure and temperature.

[0025] In a preferred embodiment, internal fluid communication between the inner cavity and the outer cavity, if present, is provided through the irrigation fluid connection, and preferably only through the irrigation fluid connection.

[0026] The terms used herein are used in a manner common to those skilled in the art. Some of the terms used are detailed here below:

[0027] As used herein, treated fluid is used broadly to include treated fluids produced by a water oxidation process, wherein the resulting fluid of the oxidation process is performed in accordance with the present invention.

[0028] "Water oxidation" or "water oxidation process" is preferably used to refer to one or more chemical oxidation processes occurring in an aqueous fluid introduced into a reactor, eg, generally to the oxidation of organic pollutants and / or inorganic components.

[0029] In a second aspect, the present invention relates to a method for performing water oxidation, the method utilizing a reactor according to claim 1, and the method may comprise:

[0030] introducing an aqueous fluid containing the organic and / or inorganic material to be oxidized, preferably mixed with an oxidizing agent, into the inner cavity via an aqueous fluid inlet connection,

[0031] preferably introducing a flushing fluid, preferably water, such as demineralized water, into the outer cavity via a flushing fluid inlet,

[0032] Maintaining a pressure and temperature within the internal cavity sufficient to promote at least some oxidation of said organic and / or inorganic material, wherein said maintenance of said pressure is provided by controlling the flow rate of the aqueous fluid in combination with controlling back pressure at the treated fluid outlet connection. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] The present invention, in particular its preferred embodiments, will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate ways of implementing the invention and are not to be construed as limiting to other possible embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

[0034] Figure 1 A first embodiment of an aqueous fluid oxidation reactor is schematically shown in cross-sectional view;

[0035] Figure 2 The reactor of the first embodiment is schematically shown in a three-dimensional exploded and simplified view, with some features omitted for clarity and the top and bottom members shown separated from the elongated tubular wall segments. Note that Figure 2 The drawing does not disclose the thickness of the various parts;

[0036] Figure 3 Another embodiment of an aqueous fluid oxidation reactor is schematically shown in cross-sectional view;

[0037] Figure 4 Another embodiment of an aqueous fluid oxidation reactor is schematically shown in cross-sectional view. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] refer to Figure 1 , which schematically shows an aqueous fluid oxidation reactor 1 in a cross-sectional view. The reactor 1 is used to oxidize organic pollutants in an aqueous fluid, which in many cases is water containing one or more pollutants that can be oxidized to clean the water. However, the reactor can also be used to oxidize other aqueous fluids. The oxidation is carried out at pressure levels and temperature levels that are elevated relative to atmospheric conditions (1 bar and 20° C.). In some embodiments, the oxidation is carried out in a subcritical phase and / or a supercritical phase, although typically at supercritical pressure. Embodiments in which the lower section of the reactor is in subcritical conditions and the upper section of the reactor is in supercritical conditions are also considered to be within the scope of the present invention.

[0039] Thus, the reactor 1 is adapted to contain an aqueous fluid at elevated pressure and temperature inside the reactor 1 during which oxidation occurs, and the aqueous fluid may comprise organic and / or inorganic material to be oxidized.

[0040] In other embodiments, the reactor is used to gasify an aqueous fluid comprising organic and / or inorganic materials, and in such embodiments, the reactor 1 is adapted to contain an aqueous liquid at elevated pressure and temperature inside the reactor 1 during which gasification occurs.

[0041] like Figure 1 As shown, the reactor comprises a reactor body 2 in the form of an elongated tubular element 2 (for more details see Figure 2 ). It is emphasized that a tubular element does not imply a cylindrical shape, although this shape may be preferred, since other shapes than a cylindrical shape may be chosen as the shape of the tubular element 2 .

[0042] During use of the reactor 1, the tubular element 2 is arranged with its longitudinal extension parallel or substantially parallel to the direction of gravity, and the reactor body 2 is closed at its upper and lower ends, thereby defining a reactor cavity 3 inside the reactor body 2. Figure 2 As shown, the reactor body 2 may be closed by specific closing members 18 and 22, but the reactor body may not need to be composed of such separate elements.

[0043] The reactor further comprises a housing 4 extending from the lower end towards the upper end. The housing 4 is a physical element generally made of a material having a thickness. The housing is a tubular element which may be cylindrical, but other shapes are also considered within the scope of the present invention. Figure 1 As shown, the shell 4 divides the reactor cavity 3 into an inner cavity 5 inside the shell 4 and an outer cavity 6 outside the shell 4. Figure 1 As can also be seen in Figure 1 , the shell 4 is shaped so that a fluid can flow between the outer cavity 6 and the inner cavity 5 through an opening provided at the upper end of the shell. Thus, the shell 4 can also be disclosed as a tubular element that is closed at the lower end (typically by being sealed internally to the lower end of the reactor body 2) and includes an upper wall member including an opening.

[0044] Preferred embodiments of the present invention aim to ensure that water oxidation will occur primarily, e.g., substantially exclusively, within the interior cavity 5. In a preferred embodiment, this is achieved by providing a flushing water flow into the cavity 5 through the flushing fluid connection 7. The flushing water flow into the interior cavity 5 substantially prevents salts and / or other compounds from being transported from the interior cavity 5 to the exterior cavity 6. This will be described in further detail below.

[0045] Therefore, a flushing fluid connection 7 is provided, extending from the external cavity 6 and generally from a position at the upper end of the housing 4 into the internal cavity 5, extending to a first vertical height h1 (greater than zero). The flushing connection 7 is used to introduce fluid into the internal cavity 5 at a lower region thereof to prevent salt and / or other debris, sediment, etc. that may accumulate in the internal cavity during oxidation of the aqueous fluid from coming into direct contact with the reactor body 2. The first vertical height h1 is configured to provide a flow gap between the lower end of the flushing fluid connection 7 and the interior bottom of the reactor body 2. As will be described in further detail below, the internal volume of the flushing fluid connection 7 can be considered a buffer volume that, under the pressure conditions within the reactor, will provide for water flow from the internal cavity 6 toward the external cavity 5. If this occurs, the fluid flowing into the external cavity 6 will, at least for a period of time, be pure flushing fluid contained in the flushing fluid connection 7, thereby reducing the risk of fluid in the internal cavity 5 coming into contact with the inner walls of the reactor body 2. The buffer volume also helps to delay and prevent the diffusion of unwanted contaminants from the inner cavity 5 into the outer cavity 6. The volume of the flushing fluid connection 7 can be selected so that a rapid equalization of the pressure of the inner cavity 5 and the pressure of the outer cavity 6 can be achieved. A long flushing fluid connection 7 with a narrow cross-section is generally preferred because it provides more effective flushing of the fluid connection 7 and minimizes the unnecessary diffusion of contaminants, but the present invention is not limited to such configurations of the flushing fluid connection 7.

[0046] It is emphasized that although the figures and description relate only to a single flushing fluid connection 7, a plurality of flushing fluid connections 7 may be provided. Similarly, a plurality of the various inlets and outlets may be included.

[0047] like Figure 1 As shown, the flushing fluid enters the outer cavity 6, flows through the outer cavity 6, and flows into the inner cavity 5 via the flushing fluid connection 7. A flushing fluid inlet 8 is arranged to supply the flushing fluid into the outer cavity 6, and the flushing fluid inlet 8 is preferably arranged at a lower position of the reactor body 2.

[0048] During oxidation, flushing fluid is fed into the outer cavity 6 at a pressure level which is only slightly elevated relative to the pressure in the inner cavity 5. This significantly reduces the pressure acting on the housing, thereby lowering the requirements on the mechanical strength of the housing 4.

[0049] Furthermore, since the inner surface of the reactor body 2 does not come into contact with the contaminated aqueous fluid to be treated, the material of the reactor body 2 can be selected substantially without regard to typical aqueous fluids or the relatively harsh chemical conditions present during oxidation.

[0050] On the other hand, the inner surface of the shell 4 is exposed to the chemical conditions of the oxidation reaction and the aqueous fluid, but since a high mechanical strength of the shell is not necessary, the amount of material that must withstand the chemical and oxidative conditions, at least for a period of time, can be reduced.

[0051] By shaping the connector into a shape similar to Figure 1 It may also be advantageous to enhance the heat transfer capability of the flushing fluid connection 7 by adding a tubular spiral to the treated fluid outlet connection 9 as shown, or by simply adding heat-conducting fins to the outer surface of the flushing fluid connection 7. Similarly, the heat transfer capability of the housing 4 may be enhanced by adding more heat transfer area to the outer and / or inner surface of the tubular wall section 16 of the housing, for example in the form of heat-conducting fins.

[0052] As described in detail above, oxidation occurs within the interior of the internal cavity 5, and in order to allow the treated fluid to leave the reactor, a treated fluid outlet connection 9 is provided. The treated fluid outlet connection has an inlet 10 arranged at a second vertical height h2 within the interior of the internal cavity 3 and an outlet 11 arranged outside the reactor body 2. It should be noted that the second vertical height h2 is preferably greater than the first vertical height h1, and the treated fluid outlet connection 9 extends downward from its inlet 10 toward the lower end of the reactor. Therefore, the treated fluid enters the treated fluid outlet connection 9 at a position elevated from the bottom of the reactor and flows downward toward the outlet 11, and exits through the outlet.

[0053] An aqueous fluid is introduced into the internal cavity 5 through an aqueous fluid inlet connection 12 arranged at the lower end of the reactor body for introducing aqueous fluid into the internal cavity 5 so as to bring it to elevated pressure and temperature.

[0054] According to a preferred embodiment, the oxidation may include the following.

[0055] Initially, the outer cavity 6 and the inner cavity 5 are filled with flushing water by introducing flushing water into the outer cavity through the flushing fluid inlet 8. When the inner cavity 5 and the outer cavity 6 are filled with water, a pump 19 (or another pump) increases the pressure to a preselected pressure level. Pressurization can be provided by a pressure regulator valve 21 arranged at the outlet 11. Such a pressure regulator can be set to close until a preselected back pressure is obtained, after which the regulator valve 21 is opened for flow. If the pressure drops below the preselected pressure, the regulator valve 21 is closed. During this filling period or when the pressure regulator 21 is opened, before the aqueous fluid to be treated is introduced into the inner cavity 5, the temperature inside the reactor 2 can be increased to the desired operating temperature.

[0056] It should be noted that while oxidation is most often an exothermic process that provides sufficient energy to heat the incoming aqueous fluid so that the oxidation process is self-sustaining, heat during the startup phase is most often provided by transferring heat to the fluid contained in the reactor. Furthermore, as the temperature increases while the pressure regulator valve 21 is closed, the pressure may also increase, although the primary means for increasing the pressure in the reactor (one or more pumps) is achieved by using one or more pumps in combination with increasing the set pressure of the pressure regulating valve 21.

[0057] When the pressure and temperature have reached levels sufficient for oxidation, the start-up phase is said to have ended and a feed of aqueous fluid is provided through the inlet connection 12, whereupon oxidation begins.

[0058] During oxidation, an aqueous fluid is typically continuously introduced into the interior cavity 5, and a flushing fluid is continuously introduced into the exterior cavity 6. The flushing fluid is introduced at a slightly higher pressure to provide flushing fluid flow into the interior cavity 5. Non-limiting examples of a slightly higher pressure could be 0.1 bar or 1.0 bar higher than the pressure within the interior cavity 5 to prevent "backflow" of the aqueous fluid into the exterior cavity 6 through the flushing fluid connection 7 and to ensure that the flushing fluid actually enters the interior cavity 6. Furthermore, the pressure differential level between the interior cavity 5 and the exterior cavity 6 is typically selected to minimize the pressure acting on the housing 4 while still preventing backflow of fluid from the interior cavity 5 and into the exterior cavity 6, and this pressure differential can typically be determined experimentally and in conjunction with calculations of the stresses induced in the housing 4 to avoid damage. It should be noted that even if the pressure differential is zero, backflow will not occur, and such a zero pressure differential is considered within the scope of the present invention.

[0059] By having such a flushing fluid flow flowing from the outer cavity 6 and into the inner cavity 5, the risk of aqueous fluid entering the outer cavity 6 is significantly reduced or even avoided, thereby avoiding or at least reducing the likelihood that any corrosive substances contained in the inner cavity 5 will come into contact with the inner surfaces of the reactor 2.

[0060] The flushing fluid connection 7 is intentionally provided with a certain length to provide what can be considered a buffer volume of flushing fluid, i.e., the amount of flushing fluid contained in the flushing fluid connection 7. Such a buffer volume can serve, for example, to account for pressure fluctuations, where the pressure in the outer cavity 6 should occasionally be lower than the pressure in the inner cavity 5, which would drive flow from the inner cavity 5 toward the outer cavity 6. If this occurs, the fluid flowing through the flushing fluid connection 7 acts as a buffer volume, thereby buffering the risk of corrosive fluid contained in the inner cavity 5 being introduced into the outer cavity 6. The presence of the buffer volume is also intended to reduce the risk of contaminants generally diffusing from the inner cavity 5 into the outer cavity 6.

[0061] During oxidation, salts and / or other debris, sediments may be present or produced, and these elements may settle at the bottom of the reactor. However, the diverter element 13 acts as an extension of the flushing fluid connector 7 and increases the buffer volume of the flushing water, further reducing the risk of contaminants entering the external cavity 6. Due to the flushing action of the flushing water, any contaminants that may enter the diverter element 13 may be carried along with the flushing fluid, at least to some extent, due to the flushing action. However, in the case where the outlet of the diverter element 13 is positioned at the top of the reactor running with supercritical water, the amount of salts and contaminants that may enter the flushing fluid connector 7 is greatly minimized. The flushing water mixes with the aqueous fluid in or at the outlet of the diverter element 13, and this mixture of aqueous fluid, flushing water and oxidation products and other elements leaves the reactor through the treated fluid outlet connector 9.

[0062] Since the inlet 10 of the treated fluid outlet connector is positioned at a higher position than the aqueous fluid inlet connector, when considered as a piston flow, the aqueous fluid flow will flow from the bottom towards the upper end of the reactor, and the outflow from the reactor will be from the upper end towards the lower end. A vertical temperature gradient is typically present in the fluid inside the internal cavity 5, with the lowest temperature at the bottom of the reactor. Therefore, the oxidation zone where oxidation occurs can be vertically present above the heating zone that heats the aqueous fluid. The heating of the aqueous fluid can be assisted at least by the downward flow of the aqueous fluid inside the treated fluid outlet connector 10, which is achieved by heat conduction from the treated fluid outlet connector 10 to the aqueous fluid around the connector 10. Alternatively or in combination, a heating element can be provided to heat the fluid inside the reactor 1.

[0063] In some preferred embodiments, the height of the reactor 1 can be between 10 meters and 2 meters, such as between 8 meters and 4 meters. In some preferred embodiments, the reactor has a height of about 6 meters. Preferably, the reactor is configured to process 100-700 liters per hour, such as 200 to 500 liters per hour.

[0064] The organic matter to be oxidized can be essentially any oxidizable substance, and preferred organic matter include pesticides, oils, PFAS, etc.

[0065] As described herein, an advantage of the preferred embodiment is that the relatively corrosive fluid contained in the internal cavity 5 is prevented from contacting the inner surface of the reactor body 2. As a result, the reactor body 2 can be made of relatively inexpensive materials that do not have to withstand chemical corrosion. However, the shell 4, which is contacted by the fluid in the internal cavity 5, should be made of a material that can withstand, for example, corrosion for at least a certain period of time before the corrosion completely penetrates the shell 4. Such a period of time may be several months or even years. In addition, because the pressure difference across the shell is relatively small, the wall thickness of the shell can be relatively small, thereby requiring less material to manufacture the shell, which may make the shell 4 a relatively inexpensive component to replace. Non-limiting examples of the wall thickness of the shell are between 0.5 mm and 7.0 mm, such as between 1.0 mm and 5.0 mm.

[0066] While it is within the scope of the present invention to provide the housing 4 with a certain permeability (which would provide for the flow of irrigation fluid into the interior cavity 5 through, for example, the pores), in a preferred embodiment, the housing 4 is made of a fluid-impermeable material (such as a metal alloy). Such impermeability will generally allow for greater control of the flow of irrigation fluid into the interior cavity through the irrigation fluid connection and create a buffer volume.

[0067] In many preferred embodiments, the housing 4 is releasably disposed within the reactor body 2. This generally refers to a situation in which the reactor can be disassembled to access the housing 4, thereby removing the housing 4 from the reactor 1. Such removal depends on how the housing is mounted in the reactor 1, and in some preferred embodiments, the bottom of the housing 4 is locked into place by a suitable locking mechanism. Alternatively, the housing 4 can be fixedly mounted, such as by welding, thereby requiring a material removal process to remove the housing 4.

[0068] refer to Figure 2 , which shows a reactor according to a preferred embodiment in an exploded three-dimensional view. To make the figure clearer, Figure 1 and Figure 3 Some elements present in are omitted and the thickness is shown as zero.

[0069] like Figure 2 As shown, the housing comprises an elongated tubular wall section 16, the longitudinal direction of which extends parallel or substantially parallel to the direction of gravity. The tubular shape is not limited to a cylindrical shape, although this shape is preferred in some embodiments. Figure 2 In the case of gravity, the direction of gravity points downward, and Figure 2 The orientation shown is a typical orientation of the reactor 1 during use.

[0070] The elongated tubular wall section 16 is closed at its upper end by a top member 17 from which the irrigation fluid connection 7 extends downwardly. The top member 17 may be a separate member welded to the tubular wall 16 or otherwise connected thereto. Alternatively, the top member 17 may be formed during manufacture of the housing, for example by deep drawing (in the case of metal) to form the top member 17.

[0071] In some embodiments, the tubular wall 16 has an open end that is fluidly sealed against the reactor body 2 at the lower end of the reactor body 2. In addition to the above, the connection can be a weld or other connection that can provide a fluid seal between the tubular wall 16 and the bottom of the reactor 2. The fluid seal generally allows for a pressure differential between the interior cavity 5 and the exterior cavity 6 and ensures that all flow between the cavities passes through the flush fluid connection 7.

[0072] As an alternative to sealing the tubular wall 16 against the reactor body, the housing 4 may be provided with a bottom member that closes the elongated tubular wall section 16 at its lower end. In such an embodiment, it may be necessary to seal the various connections into and out of the interior cavity 5 to prevent, for example, flushing fluid from leaking along the bottom member of the housing 4 into the interior cavity 5.

[0073] refer to Figure 3 , which shows another embodiment according to the present invention. Figure 3 The embodiment includes a tubular fluid diverting element 13, but Figure 3 The embodiment shown is Figure 1 The embodiments shown have some similarities. A fluid diverting element 13 is arranged inside the interior cavity 5, and the irrigation fluid connection 7 extends at least partially inside the tubular fluid diverting element 13. The irrigation fluid connection 7 and the fluid diverting element 13 can be arranged coaxially, although other arrangements can also be used.

[0074] The inner dimensions of the tubular fluid diverting element 13 are larger than the outer dimensions of the flushing fluid connector 7 to accommodate at least a portion of the flushing fluid connector 7 and provide a flow channel between at least a portion of the outer surface of the flushing fluid connector 7 and at least a portion of the inner surface of the fluid diverting element 13.

[0075] The lower end 14 of the tubular fluid diverting element 13 is positioned at the lower end of the reactor body 2. Fluid sealing of the fluid diverting element 13 can be provided by closing the lower end of the tubular fluid diverting element 13 or sealing the fluid diverting element 13 to the bottom of the reactor or to the bottom element of the housing 4 when the housing includes a bottom element.

[0076] The upper end of the tubular fluid diverting element 13 is arranged at a distance from the inner upper end of the housing to provide a fluid passage between the upper end of the tubular fluid diverting member 13 and the inner upper end.

[0077] By using such a fluid diverting element 13, the incoming flushing fluid leaving the flushing fluid connection 7 at its lower end is forced to flow upwards in the flow channel between the flushing fluid connection 7 and the fluid diverting element 13, as shown in FIG. Figure 3 As shown. The fluid diverting element 13, in particular, increases the buffer volume disclosed above with respect to the flushing fluid connection by an amount at least equivalent to the volume between the inner surface of the fluid diverting element and the outer surface of the flushing fluid connection. The fluid diverting element 13 also increases the tortuosity of the connection between the inner cavity 5 and the outer cavity 6, which can further reduce the risk of a relatively corrosive fluid diffusing into the outer cavity 6. Furthermore, the fluid diverting element 13 provides a heat exchange means between the flushing fluid and the incoming aqueous fluid.

[0078] The tubular fluid diverting element may be provided with a certain permeability. However, in other preferred embodiments, the tubular fluid diverting element is made of a fluid-impermeable material, preferably a metal alloy.

[0079] In order to enhance the heat transfer capability, the deflection element 13 may be formed, for example, similar to Figure 1 The heat transfer area can be increased by the tubular spiral of the treated fluid outlet connection 9 shown, or by adding heat conducting fins on the outer and / or inner surface of the deflection element 13 .

[0080] As mentioned, a temperature gradient between the top and bottom of the reactor typically exists within the reactor body, with the highest temperatures typically occurring in the upper region of the reactor. Transferring heat from the fluid in the upper region of the reactor to the cooler fluid in the lower region of the reactor is typically energy efficient because it can eliminate or at least reduce the need for external heating. Figure 1 and Figure 3 In the embodiment shown, this is provided by at least one section of the outlet connection 9 of the treated fluid being provided with a heat exchanger 15. It should be noted that in this connection, a heat exchanger preferably refers to a device that increases the heat flux relative to the heat flux provided by the straight pipe extending downwards inside the internal cavity 5.

[0081] exist Figure 1 and Figure 3In a preferred embodiment, the heat exchanger 15 is provided by at least a portion of the treated fluid outlet connection 9 that is coiled (e.g., helically coiled). The spacing between adjacent coils is preferably greater than the outer dimensions of the coils to allow fluid passage between the coils. Alternatively, or in combination, the treated fluid outlet connection 9 may be provided with heat dissipation fins or the like to increase the area over which the heat flux occurs.

[0082] The coil of the coiled section preferably surrounds at least a portion of the flushing fluid connection 7. In embodiments including a tubular fluid diverting element, the coil preferably surrounds at least a portion of the fluid diverting element 13. However, deviations from such coiling around the flushing fluid connection 7 or the tubular fluid diverting element 13 are considered within the scope of the present invention. The coil is primarily configured to heat the incoming aqueous fluid with the outgoing treated fluid, although it may also heat the incoming flushing fluid.

[0083] As described in detail herein, it may be advantageous to be able to heat the fluid contained in the internal cavity 5, typically during start-up of the oxidation process or in situations where the oxidation reaction does not generate sufficient heat to fuel the oxidation. To this end, the reactor may include one or more heating elements, such as electric heating elements, arranged to provide heat to the fluid inside the reactor cavity 3. There are different options for where to locate such heating elements, and in preferred embodiments, the heating elements may be arranged on an outer surface of the reactor body 2 and / or internally within the internal cavity 5. In some embodiments, a temperature sensor is provided to measure the temperature profile of the reactor and provide temperature feedback to the heating elements.

[0084] To introduce the flushing fluid, the reactor typically includes a pump 19 configured to supply the flushing fluid through the flushing fluid inlet 8. It should be noted that the pump 19 is typically a separate component located at a distance from the reactor 2 and connected to the flushing water inlet 8 by a pipe. During the use of the reactor for water oxidation, the pressure provided by the pump 19 is greater than the pressure in the internal cavity 5. The greater pressure takes into account the flow resistance in the passage from the flushing fluid inlet 8 to the internal cavity 5 and provides for the flow of the flushing fluid into the internal cavity 5. Although such pressure can be determined empirically or experimentally, it can also be controlled by a flow measurement device that measures whether the flow is in the direction toward the internal cavity 5 and controls the pressure to control the flow of the flushing fluid.

[0085] It is generally desirable to be able to control the pressure inside the reactor, for example, so that it is greater than a preselected pressure. The preselected pressure is generally determined based on the expected oxidation process. It should be noted that it is primarily the temperature that triggers the oxidation reaction, and increased pressure accelerates the reaction. To achieve this, the reactor 1 can be equipped with a pressure regulating valve 21 that is arranged to control the flow of the treated fluid out of the reactor through the outlet 11. The pressure regulating valve is configured to allow flow when the preselected pressure difference across the pressure regulating valve 21 exceeds a preselected threshold. Thus, the pressure inside the reactor can be kept substantially constant.

[0086] For some oxidation processes, sufficient oxygen is present in the aqueous fluid to allow the oxidation reaction to proceed. However, other oxidation processes may require an excess of oxygen relative to the amount present in the aqueous fluid. To provide such excess oxygen, a preferred embodiment of the reactor has an oxidant inlet 23 configured to introduce an oxidant (such as atmospheric air, hydrogen peroxide, nitric acid, and / or oxygen) into the interior cavity 5. In conjunction with this or as an alternative, the oxidant can be mixed into the aqueous fluid, typically before the aqueous fluid is introduced into the reactor.

[0087] It may be advantageous to be able to remove a sample of the fluid contained in the interior cavity 5, for example for chemical analysis. To this end, a preferred embodiment comprises a sample outlet 20 arranged and configured to remove a fluid sample from the interior cavity 5 and / or the exterior cavity 6, such as to sample flushing fluid entering the interior cavity 5 and / or aqueous fluid in the interior cavity 5. Figure 3 In the embodiment shown, the sample outlet 20 is located directly below the outlet of the flushing fluid connection 7. Figure 3 In the embodiment of FIG. 5 , if no backflow of flushing water is established, the sample will generally contain essentially only flushing water. If contaminants are detected in the sample, this may indicate backflow or contamination of the outer cavity 6 . If additional sampling of the process fluid is to be obtained, a sample outlet is arranged at the location to be monitored. As shown in the figure, the sample outlet 20 includes a closable valve mechanism.

[0088] Although the description herein focuses on disclosing the housing 4 as a replaceable part, one or more, and all, other parts housed within the interior cavity 5 may preferably be considered replaceable parts. That is, in a preferred embodiment, the flushing fluid connection 7, the tubular fluid diverting element 13, the treated fluid outlet connection 9, and / or the heat exchanger 15 may be replaceable parts.

[0089] Oxidation using the reactor generally comprises the following actions: introducing an aqueous fluid containing the organic and / or inorganic material to be oxidized into the internal cavity through the aqueous fluid inlet connection 12, introducing an oxidant through the aqueous fluid inlet connection 12 and / or a dedicated oxidant inlet connection 23, introducing a flushing fluid (preferably water, such as demineralized water) into the external cavity 6 through the flushing fluid inlet 8, and maintaining a pressure and temperature within the internal cavity 5 sufficient to provide at least some oxidation of the organic and / or inorganic material. Maintenance of pressure and temperature can be provided in a variety of ways, and in some embodiments, this maintenance can be summarized by controlling the flow rate of the treated fluid in combination with controlling the back pressure at the treated fluid outlet connection 11. It should be noted that if the aqueous fluid contains an amount of oxidant sufficient to carry out the oxidation process, it may not be necessary to introduce the oxidant separately.

[0090] refer to Figure 4 , which schematically shows another embodiment according to the present invention. Figure 4 The illustrated embodiment shares many similarities with other embodiments disclosed herein, although the flush fluid connection 7 is implemented differently. As shown, the flush fluid connection 7 extends upward from the bottom of the reactor 1 and into the internal cavity 5. In the illustrated embodiment, the flush fluid connection 7 is fluidically connected to a flush fluid inlet 8 for supplying flush fluid to the flush fluid connection 7. It should be noted that the term "fluidically connected to a flush fluid connection" should be broadly interpreted as meaning that a fluid connection exists that supplies flush fluid to the external cavity 6 and to the flush fluid connection 7, and that the pressure of the flush fluid supplied to the external cavity is substantially the same as the pressure of the fluid supplied to the flush connection. This can be achieved through a direct fluid connection from the flush fluid inlet 8 to the flush fluid connection 7, or through a separate connection that branches off at a location between the pump 19 and the inlet of the flush fluid connection 7.

[0091] Figure 4 The embodiment has the advantage, inter alia, that during stable operation there will generally be no flow or at least limited flow in the outer cavity 6, which in particular enhances heat transfer. Furthermore, if a crack in the housing 4 would result in a continuous positive flow through the flushing fluid inlet connection 8, this continuous positive flow can be immediately detected by the flow transmitter. Furthermore, Figure 4 Embodiments may be relatively cheaper to manufacture and easier to install.

[0092] While maintaining pressure and temperature, an oxidant can be introduced in a controlled manner in terms of amount. Because the amount of oxidant determines, at least in part, the amount of heat generated by oxidation, temperature and pressure can be at least partially controlled by controlling the amount of oxidant. Furthermore, some embodiments include a heating element, and such a heating element can also be used to at least assist in controlling temperature and pressure by controlling the heat flux from the heating element.

[0093] In some embodiments, the oxidation occurs under subcritical and / or supercritical conditions. This includes that the reactor can be operated under pure subcritical conditions or a combination of subcritical and supercritical conditions.

[0094] In some embodiments, the oxidation and / or gasification occurs under subcritical and / or supercritical conditions. This includes that the reactor can be operated under purely subcritical conditions, purely supercritical conditions, or a combination of subcritical and supercritical conditions.

[0095] Although the present invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments, it should not be interpreted as being limited in any way to the examples presented. The scope of the invention is set forth by the appended claims. In the context of the claims, the terms "comprise" or "comprising" do not exclude other possible elements or steps. Furthermore, references such as "a" or "an" should not be interpreted as excluding a plurality. The use of reference signs in the claims with respect to elements shown in the figures should also not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the invention. Furthermore, the individual features mentioned in different claims may potentially be advantageously combined, and the mention of these features in different claims does not exclude that a combination of features is not possible and advantageous.

[0096] Itemized List of Preferred Embodiments

[0097] Item 1. An aqueous fluid oxidation reactor (1) adapted to contain an aqueous fluid at elevated pressure and temperature inside the reactor (1), during which oxidation occurs, the fluid comprising organic and / or inorganic material, wherein the reactor (1) comprises:

[0098] a reactor body (2) in the form of an elongated tubular element, the longitudinal extension of which is parallel or substantially parallel to the direction of gravity during use, said reactor body (2) being closed at its upper and lower ends so as to define a reactor cavity (3) inside said reactor body (2);

[0099] a shell (4) extending from the lower end toward the upper end, the shell (4) dividing the reactor cavity (3) into an inner cavity (5) inside the shell (4) and an outer cavity (6) outside the shell (4);

[0100] A flushing fluid inlet (8) arranged to supply flushing fluid into the outer cavity (6); a flushing fluid connection (7)

[0101] o extends downwardly from the outer cavity (6) and from a position at the upper end of the housing (4) into the inner cavity (5) and extends to a first vertical height (h1), the vertical height being greater than zero, and / or

[0102] o extending upwardly from the bottom of the reactor (1) and extending into the internal cavity (5) and being fluidly connected to the flushing fluid inlet (8) to supply flushing fluid into the flushing fluid connection;

[0103] a treated fluid outlet connection (9) having an inlet (10) arranged at a second vertical height (h2) inside the internal cavity (3) and having an outlet (11) arranged outside the reactor body (2), the second vertical height (h2) being greater than the first vertical height (h1), and the treated fluid outlet connection (9) extending downwardly from its inlet (10) towards the lower end of the reactor;

[0104] • An aqueous fluid inlet connection (12) arranged at the lower end of the reactor body for introducing aqueous fluid and oxidant into the internal cavity (5) to bring them to elevated pressure and temperature.

[0105] Item 2. A reactor according to Item 1, wherein the wall thickness of the shell (4) is between 0.5 mm and 7.0 mm, such as between 1.0 mm and 5.0 mm.

[0106] Item 3. The reactor according to item 1 or 2, wherein the housing (4) is made of a fluid-impermeable material, preferably a metal alloy.

[0107] Item 4. The reactor according to any one of the preceding items, wherein the housing (4) is releasably arranged within the reactor body (2).

[0108] Item 5. The reactor according to any one of the preceding items, wherein the housing comprises:

[0109] an elongated tubular wall section (16) whose longitudinal direction extends parallel or substantially parallel to the direction of gravity,

[0110] The elongated tubular wall section (16) is closed at its upper end by a top member (17), the flushing fluid connection (7) extending downwardly from the top member, and the elongated tubular wall section (16) is

[0111] o having an open end that is fluidly sealed against the reactor body (2) at the lower end of the reactor body (2), or

[0112] o having a bottom member that closes the elongated tubular wall section (16) at its lower end.

[0113] Item 6. The reactor according to any one of items 1 to 5, further comprising a tubular fluid diverting element (13) arranged inside the internal cavity (5), the flushing fluid connection (7) extending at least partially inside the tubular fluid diverting element (13), wherein

[0114] the inner dimensions of the tubular fluid diverting element (13) are larger than the outer dimensions of the flushing fluid connector (7) to provide a flow passage between at least a portion of the outer surface of the flushing fluid connector (7) and at least a portion of the inner surface of the fluid diverting element (13),

[0115] the lower end (14) of the tubular fluid diverting element (13) is positioned at and fluidically sealed at the lower end of the reactor body (2), and

[0116] The upper end of the tubular fluid diverting element (13) is arranged at a distance from the inner upper end of the housing to provide a fluid passage between the upper end of the tubular fluid diverting member (13) and the inner upper end.

[0117] Item 7. The reactor according to any one of items 1-5 further comprises a tubular fluid diverting element (13) arranged inside the internal cavity (5), the flushing fluid connection (7) extending at least partially internally in the tubular fluid diverting element (13), wherein the tubular fluid diverting element (13) is a direct extension or continuation of the flushing fluid connection (7).

[0118] Item 8. The reactor according to item, wherein the tubular fluid diverting element (13) is made of a fluid-impermeable material, preferably a metal alloy material.

[0119] Item 9. A reactor according to any one of the preceding items, wherein at least a section of the treated fluid outlet connection (9) is provided with a heat exchanger (15), and / or wherein at least a section of the flushing fluid connection (7) is configured as a heat exchanger, and / or wherein at least a section of the fluid diverting element (13) is configured as a heat exchanger.

[0120] Item 10. A reactor according to Item 9, wherein the heat exchanger (15) is provided by at least a section of the treated fluid outlet connection (9) that is wound, such as spirally wound, preferably with the spacing between adjacent coils being greater than the outer dimensions of the coils to allow fluid passage between the coils.

[0121] Item 11. A reactor according to Item 10, wherein the coils of the coiled section surround at least a portion of the flushing fluid connection (7), and when dependent on claim 6 or 7, the coils of the coiled section surround at least a portion of the fluid diverting element (13).

[0122] Item 12. The reactor according to any of the preceding items further comprises one or more heating elements, such as electric heating elements, which are arranged to provide heat to the fluid inside the reactor cavity (3), such as being arranged on the outer surface of the reactor body (2) and / or internally arranged inside the internal cavity (5).

[0123] Item 13. The reactor according to any of the preceding items, further comprising a pump (19) configured to supply flushing fluid through the flushing fluid inlet (8) at a pressure greater than the pressure in the internal cavity during water oxidation using the reactor.

[0124] Item 14. A reactor according to any one of the preceding items, further comprising a pressure regulating valve (21) arranged to control the flow of treated fluid out of the reactor through the outlet (11), wherein the pressure regulating valve is configured to allow flow when a preselected pressure difference across the pressure regulating valve (21) exceeds a preselected threshold.

[0125] Item 15. The reactor according to any one of the preceding items, further comprising an oxidant inlet (23) configured to introduce an oxidant such as atmospheric air, hydrogen peroxide, nitric acid and / or oxygen into the internal cavity (5).

[0126] Item 16. The reactor according to any one of the preceding items, further comprising an oxidant inlet for introducing and mixing an oxidant such as atmospheric air and / or oxygen into the aqueous fluid before the aqueous fluid is fed into the reactor.

[0127] Item 17. The reactor according to any one of the preceding items, further comprising a sample outlet (20) arranged and configured to remove a fluid sample from the inner cavity (5) and / or the outer cavity (6).

[0128] Item 18. A method for water oxidation, the method utilizing the reactor according to any one of the preceding claims, and the method comprising:

[0129] introducing an aqueous fluid containing the organic and / or inorganic material to be oxidized into the inner cavity through said aqueous fluid inlet connection (12),

[0130] Preferably, the oxidant is introduced through a separate inlet and / or mixed into the aqueous fluid;

[0131] introducing a flushing fluid, preferably water, such as demineralized water, into the outer cavity (6) via the flushing fluid inlet (8),

[0132] maintaining a pressure and temperature within the internal cavity (6) sufficient to promote at least some oxidation of the organic and / or inorganic material, wherein said maintenance of said pressure and temperature is provided by controlling the flow rate of the aqueous fluid in combination with controlling the back pressure at the treated fluid outlet connection (9).

[0133] Item 19. A method according to Item 18, wherein during the maintenance of the pressure and temperature, the oxidant is introduced in a controlled manner in terms of dosage, and if a heating element is present, the heat flux from the heating element is also controlled.

[0134] Item 20. The method according to Item 18 or Item 19, wherein the oxidation occurs under subcritical and / or supercritical conditions.

[0135] List of reference numerals used

[0136] 1 reactor

[0137] 2 Reactor body

[0138] 3 Reactor cavity

[0139] 4 Housing

[0140] 5 Internal cavity

[0141] 6 External cavity

[0142] 7 Flush the fluid connections

[0143] 8 Flush fluid inlet

[0144] 9 Processed fluid outlet connection

[0145] 10 Inlet (of the treated fluid outlet connection)

[0146] 11 Outlet (of the treated fluid outlet connector)

[0147] 12 Aqueous fluid inlet connection

[0148] 13 Tubular fluid diverting element

[0149] 14 (lower end of tubular fluid diverting element)

[0150] 15Heat exchanger

[0151] 16 (housing) elongated tubular wall section

[0152] 17 (shell) top member

[0153] 18 bottom member (of the reactor body)

[0154] 19 Pump

[0155] 20 Sample outlet

[0156] 21 Pressure regulating valve

[0157] 22 (reactor body) top member

[0158] 23 Oxidant inlet

[0159] h1 first vertical height

[0160] h2 second vertical height

Claims

1. An aqueous fluid reactor (1) adapted to contain an aqueous fluid at elevated pressure and temperature inside the reactor (1), the fluid comprising organic and / or inorganic material, wherein: The reactor (1) comprises: a reactor body (2) in the form of an elongated tubular element, the longitudinal extension of which is parallel or substantially parallel to the direction of gravity during use, the reactor body (2) being closed at its upper and lower ends so as to define a reactor cavity (3) inside the reactor body (2); a shell (4) extending from the lower end toward the upper end, the shell (4) dividing the reactor cavity (3) into an inner cavity (5) inside the shell (4) and an outer cavity (6) outside the shell (4); a flushing fluid inlet (8) arranged to supply flushing fluid into the outer cavity (6), Flushing fluid connection (7), which Extending downwardly from the outer cavity (6) and extending from a position at the upper end of the housing (4) into the inner cavity (5) and extending to a first vertical height (h1), the vertical height being greater than zero, and / or extending upwardly from the bottom of the reactor (1) and into the internal cavity (5), and being fluidly connected to the flushing fluid inlet (8) to supply flushing fluid into the flushing fluid connection; a treated fluid outlet connection (9) having an inlet (10) arranged at a second vertical height (h2) inside the internal cavity (3) and having an outlet (11) arranged outside the reactor body (2), the second vertical height (h2) being greater than the first vertical height (h1), and the treated fluid outlet connection (9) extending downwardly from its inlet (10) towards the lower end of the reactor; An aqueous fluid inlet connection (12) arranged at the lower end of the reactor body is used to introduce an aqueous fluid into the internal cavity (5) to bring it to elevated pressure and temperature.

2. The reactor according to claim 1, wherein The aqueous fluid inlet connection (12) is further used to introduce an oxidant into the inner cavity (5) to bring it to an elevated pressure and temperature.

3. The reactor according to claim 1 or 2, wherein The reactor is adapted to contain the aqueous fluid at elevated pressure and temperature inside the reactor, during which oxidation occurs.

4. A reactor according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein The reactor is adapted to contain the aqueous fluid at elevated pressure and temperature inside the reactor, during which gasification occurs.

5. A reactor according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein The wall thickness of the housing (4) is between 0.5 mm and 7.0 mm, for example, between 1.0 mm and 5.0 mm.

6. A reactor according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein The housing (4) is made of a fluid-impermeable material, preferably a metal alloy.

7. A reactor according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein The housing (4) is releasably arranged within the reactor body (2).

8. A reactor according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein The housing comprises: An elongated tubular wall section (16) whose longitudinal direction extends parallel to or substantially parallel to the direction of gravity, the elongated tubular wall section (16) being closed at the upper end by a top member (17), the flushing fluid connection piece (7) extending downwardly from the top member, the elongated tubular wall section (16) having an open end which is fluidly sealed against the reactor body (2) at the lower end of the reactor body (2), or A bottom member is provided which closes the elongated tubular wall section (16) at its lower end.

9. The reactor according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a tubular fluid diverting element (13) arranged inside the inner cavity (5), the flushing fluid connection (7) extending at least partially inside the tubular fluid diverting element (13), wherein The inner dimensions of the tubular fluid diverting element (13) are larger than the outer dimensions of the flushing fluid connector (7) to provide a flow passage between at least a portion of the outer surface of the flushing fluid connector (7) and at least a portion of the inner surface of the fluid diverting element (13), The lower end (14) of the tubular fluid diverting element (13) is positioned at the lower end of the reactor body (2) and is fluidically sealed at the lower end, and The upper end of the tubular fluid diverting member (13) is arranged at a distance from the inner upper end of the housing to provide a fluid passage between the upper end of the tubular fluid diverting member (13) and the inner upper end.

10. The reactor according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a tubular fluid diverting element (13) arranged inside the inner cavity (5), the flushing fluid connection (7) extending at least partially inside the tubular fluid diverting element (13), wherein The tubular fluid diverting element (13) is a direct extension or continuation of the flushing fluid connection (7).

11. The reactor according to claim 9 or 10, wherein The tubular fluid diverting element (13) is made of a fluid-impermeable material, preferably a metal alloy material.

12. A reactor according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein At least a section of the treated fluid outlet connection (9) is provided with a heat exchanger (15), and / or wherein at least a section of the flushing fluid connection (7) is configured as a heat exchanger, and / or wherein at least a section of the fluid diverting element (13) is configured as a heat exchanger.

13. The reactor according to claim 12, wherein The heat exchanger (15) is provided by at least a section of the treated fluid outlet connection (9) being coiled, such as helically coiled, preferably with spacing between adjacent coils greater than the outer dimensions of the coils to allow fluid passage between the coils.

14. The reactor according to claim 13, wherein The coils of the coiled section surround at least a section of the flushing fluid connection (7) and, when dependent on claim 6 or 7, the coils of the coiled section surround at least a section of the fluid diverting element (13).

15. The reactor according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising one or more heating elements, such as electric heating elements, which are arranged to provide heat to the fluid inside the reactor cavity (3), such as being arranged on the outer surface of the reactor body (2) and / or internally inside the internal cavity (5).

16. A reactor according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a pump (19) configured to supply flushing fluid through the flushing fluid inlet (8) at a pressure greater than the pressure in the internal cavity during use of the reactor for water oxidation.

17. A reactor according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a pressure regulating valve (21) arranged to control the flow of treated fluid out of the reactor through the outlet (11), wherein The pressure regulating valve is configured to allow flow when a preselected pressure differential across the pressure regulating valve (21) exceeds a preselected threshold.

18. The reactor according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising an oxidant inlet (23) configured to introduce an oxidant, such as atmospheric air, hydrogen peroxide, nitric acid and / or oxygen, into the inner cavity (5).

19. A reactor according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising an oxidant inlet for introducing and mixing an oxidant, such as atmospheric air and / or oxygen, into the aqueous fluid before the aqueous fluid is fed into the reactor.

20. The reactor according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a sample outlet (20) arranged and configured to take out a fluid sample from the inner cavity (5) and / or the outer cavity (6).

21. A method of performing water oxidation and / or gasification, the method utilizing a reactor according to any one of the preceding claims, and the method comprising: introducing an aqueous fluid containing organic and / or inorganic material to be oxidized into the interior cavity through an aqueous fluid inlet connection (12); Preferably, the oxidant is introduced through a separate inlet and / or mixed into the aqueous fluid; introducing a flushing fluid, preferably water, such as demineralized water, into the outer cavity (6) via a flushing fluid inlet (8); Maintaining a pressure and temperature within the internal cavity (6) sufficient to promote at least some oxidation and / or gasification of the organic and / or inorganic material, wherein the maintenance of the pressure and temperature is provided by controlling the flow rate of the aqueous fluid in combination with controlling the back pressure at the treated fluid outlet connection (9).

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein: During the maintenance of said pressure and temperature, said oxidant is introduced in a controlled manner in terms of amount and, if a heating element is present, the heat flux from said heating element is also controlled.

23. The method according to claim 21 or 22, wherein: The oxidation occurs under subcritical and / or supercritical conditions.

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