Patent ID: 6540975
Filing Date: 2003-04-01
Classification: B01J,C01B,F28D,Y02P

Abstract:
A method for obtaining an enhanced production rate per reaction chamber volume of a reaction chamber having an inlet and an outlet for a thermal chemical reaction, the method comprising the steps of;(a) placing a porous insert within said reaction chamber volume, wherein a reactant flow substantially completely passes through said porous insert wherein said reaction chamber volume with said porous insert has a mean porosity less than 1 and a transport distance no greater than 3 mm; (b) sizing said reaction chamber volume with a length parallel to a bulk reactant flow, said length less than or equal to 6 inches, and with a height less than or equal to 2 inches, thereby transferring reaction heat at an enhanced heat transfer rate through said porous insert; and (c) providing a heat transfer chamber in thermal contact with the reaction chamber volume, said heat transfer chamber transferring heat at said enhanced heat transfer rate across a wall between the heat transfer chamber and the reaction chamber, thereby obtaining the enhanced production rate per reaction chamber volume for the thermal chemical reaction wherein a ratio of said enhanced production rate per reaction chamber volume to a conventional production rate per conventional reaction chamber volume for the thermal chemical reaction is at least 2.