Patent ID: 6017460
Filing Date: 2000-01-25
Classification: B01J,C02F,Y02P

Abstract:
A method for heating an input stream below the supercritical temperature for water to a temperature above the supercritical temperature of water, the method comprising;introducing the input stream into a recycle reactor comprising a first substantially vertically aligned conduit having a top end and a bottom end, a second substantially vertically aligned conduit having a top end and a bottom end, a top conduit coupling the top end of the first conduit to the top end of the second conduit, and a bottom conduit coupling the bottom end of the first conduit to the bottom end of the second conduit;flowing the inputted stream through the bottom end of the first conduit and then into a bottom end of the second conduit;introducing oxidant at a location downstream of the first conduit but upstream of the top conduit;reacting oxidizable matter with an oxidant in the second conduit, the reaction producing a reaction products stream that is hotter and less dense than the input stream;flowing the reaction products stream upwardly through the second conduit during use;flowing at least a portion of the reaction products stream into an effluent conduit at a location downstream of the location that oxidant is introduced into the recycle reactor;flowing at least a portion of the reaction products stream from the second conduit to the top conduit; andrecycling at least a portion of the reaction products stream from the top conduit to the first conduit, wherein the recycled reaction products stream mixes with and heats the input stream to form a mixture above the supercritical temperature for water, all without substantial heat exchange with an external source of heat, and wherein the recycle reactor is configured such that density differences between the inputted stream in the first conduit and the reaction products stream in the second conduit create a recycling stream driving force, and wherein the recycling stream driving force facilitates a recycling flow of the reaction products stream from the first conduit to the bottom conduit, from the bottom conduit to the second conduit, from the second conduit to the top conduit, and from the top conduit to the first conduit.