Compartmented High-Pressure Reactor for Faster Slurry Heating

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing high-pressure reactors suffer from long heating times for mineral slurry and low material mixing uniformity due to uneven distribution and traditional stirring structures, leading to inefficient reaction processes.

Innovation Solution

A high-pressure reactor design featuring partition plates dividing the reactor into compartments with dual-layer stirring paddles, sequential inlets for slurry, steam, and acid, turbulence plates, and wear-resistant titanium alloy components to enhance mixing and heating efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If traditional stirring structures are used in horizontal high-pressure reactors, then the reactor structure is simple, but material mixing uniformity is poor and heating time is long

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereaction efficiencyVSAvoidstirring device structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The reactor is divided into multiple compartments by partition plates, with each compartment containing a localized stirring device. This segmentation allows independent mixing control in each compartment while maintaining overall reactor functionality, resolving the contradiction between improved mixing efficiency and structural simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The stirring device incorporates both horizontal propeller blades and vertical disc disperser blades, adding a vertical dimension to the traditionally horizontal stirring action. This multi-dimensional stirring approach improves material distribution and heating uniformity without significantly complicating the overall device structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Stability of the object's composition

If traditional single-layer stirring paddles are used, then the device is simple, but material distribution uniformity is poor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial distribution uniformityVSAvoidstirring paddle structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The stirring paddle is segmented into two functional layers: propeller blades for horizontal movement and disc disperser blades for vertical dispersion. This segmentation of stirring functions within a single integrated paddle structure achieves superior material distribution while maintaining relative structural simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The stirring paddle combines two different blade types (propeller and disc disperser) into a composite structure, where each blade type contributes its unique mixing capability. This composite design achieves comprehensive material distribution uniformity without requiring multiple separate stirring devices

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Temperature

If steam is introduced to heat mineral slurry, then the reaction temperature can be achieved, but heating time is excessively long

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveslurry heating speedVSAvoidheating time
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Steam is introduced at multiple locations including near the stirring devices, allowing preheating to occur concurrently with the mixing action. This preliminary heating action begins before the slurry completes its circulation, reducing the overall heating time required to reach reaction temperature

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The stirring devices operate continuously to circulate and mix the slurry throughout the reactor, ensuring continuous exposure to heat sources. This continuous useful action of stirring combined with continuous steam heating eliminates idle heating time and maintains efficient heat transfer throughout the process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The design accelerates slurry heating, improves mixing uniformity, and reduces material settlement, resulting in faster reaction times and increased processing capacity.

Implementation Method 1

the propeller stirring paddle is used to disturb and mix the materials and promote their upward movement

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical agitation: Stirring

Implementation Method 2

the disc disperser stirring paddle is used to tangentially disperse the upward-moving materials

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTangential dispersion: Vortex Ring

Implementation Method 3

steam needs to be introduced to heat the newly injected mineral slurry to the required reaction temperature

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSteam heating: Heating

Implementation Method 4

a turbulence plate is installed within the compartment to disturb the flow trajectory of the internal fluid

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFlow disturbance: Turbulence

Data Source

PatentEP4516390B1High-pressure reactor
Publication Date: 2026.04.08 PT ESG NEW ENERGY MATERIAL
  • EP4516390B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4516390B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4516390B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Disclosed is a high-pressure reactor comprising a reactor with one end as a feed inlet and the other end as a discharge outlet. Inside the reactor, a plurality of partition plates are arranged along the material flow direction, dividing the interior cavity of the reactor into multiple compartments, each compartment is equipped with a mixing device; the upper parts of any two adjacent compartments are connected; on the compartment for feeding material, an ore pulp inlet, a steam inlet, and an acid inlet are sequentially arranged circumferentially along the stirring direction with the mixing device in the compartment as the axis. In this disclosure, after the ore pulp enters the reactor vessel, under the stirring action of the mixing device, the ore pulp first comes into contact with steam to continue heating up, and then it contacts the acid to react with it. The reaction with the acid is exothermic, and the heat generated by the reaction is utilized to heat the newly incoming ore pulp.