Vortex Arc Reactor Nozzle for Syngas Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for converting flammable products into synthesis gas and aromatic liquids require external energy sources or catalysts, which is inefficient and costly.
Innovation Solution
A converging/diverging nozzle system with an igniter is used to combust a reactant and oxidant mixture, creating a vortex that separates positively and negatively charged particles, facilitating a chemical reaction to produce synthesis gas and aromatic liquids without external energy or catalysts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If external energy sources or catalysts are used to convert flammable products into synthesis gas and aromatic liquids, then the conversion reaction can be produced, but energy consumption increases and process efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses the reactant mixture itself as the energy source to sustain the reaction. The combustible reactants provide the necessary energy through their own combustion, eliminating the need for external energy sources. This self-sustaining mechanism resolves the contradiction by making the system energy-autonomous while maintaining high conversion efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention converts the potentially harmful uncontrolled combustion into a beneficial self-sustaining reaction. By utilizing the inherent combustibility of the reactants and controlling it through the nozzle design, the system transforms what could be waste energy or hazard into the driving force for efficient conversion to synthesis gas and aromatic liquids.
2Reliability
If external energy sources or catalysts are used to produce the chemical reaction, then the reaction can proceed, but process cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system eliminates the need for expensive external energy sources and catalysts by using the reactants themselves to drive the reaction. This self-sustaining approach reduces operational costs while maintaining reliable reaction production, directly addressing the cost-reliability contradiction.
3Temperature
If process heat is used for heating rather than product conversion, then temperature maintenance is achieved, but product yield decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The reactants themselves provide the heat necessary for both temperature maintenance and product conversion through their combustion. This eliminates the need to divert process heat away from conversion, allowing the system to simultaneously maintain temperature and maximize product yield.
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
This approach efficiently converts flammable products into synthesis gas and liquids, reducing energy consumption and process heat loss, enabling the conversion of stranded natural gas and heavy hydrocarbons into valuable products without the need for additional fuels.
Implementation Method 1
A vortex-creating structure is configured to create a vortex of the ignited reactant and the oxidant in the converging portion of the nozzle
Implementation Method 2
vortex arc reactor apparatus and method for the conversion of any flammable product into synthesis gas
Implementation Method 3
Ignition structure is configured to ignite the input reactant and oxidant
Data Source
AI summary
Vortex arc reactor apparatus and method provide a nozzle with converging, throat, and diverging portions. Input structure inputs a reactant and an oxidant into the converging portion. Ignition structure ignites the input reactant and oxidant. A vortex-creating structure creates a vortex of the ignited reactant and oxidant in the converging portion. The input structure, the vortex-creating structure, and the nozzle converging and throat portions are configured to provide a throat-portion-vortex of ignited reactant and oxidant that has an angular velocity which provides (i) negatively-charged particles in an exterior portion of the throat-portion-vortex, (ii) positively-charged particles in an interior portion of the throat-portion-vortex, and (iii) at least one arcing reaction between the positively-charged particles and the negatively-charged particles, to form syngas and at least one aromatic liquid in the nozzle diverging portion. Gas/liquid separation structure is preferably configured to separate the formed syngas from the at least one aromatic liquid.