Patent ID: 6264844
Filing Date: 2001-07-24
Classification: B01D,B01J,C02F,Y02P,Y10S

Abstract:
Apparatus for oxidizing organic material in the presence of inorganic material and water, comprising:a) a substantially straight elongate tubular reactor having a substantially constant internal diameter from an inlet, of an inlet end of the elongate tubular reactor, to an outlet, of an outlet end of the elongate tubular reactor;b) means for forming a pressurized reaction mixture of organic material, inorganic material, water and a source of oxygen, said pressurized reaction mixture having a pressure which is supercritical for water;c) means for passing said pressurized reaction mixture through said elongate tubular reactor at a velocity sufficient to prevent settling of a substantial portion of solid particles from the reaction mixture within the elongate tubular reactor;d) means for introducing sufficient heat to the pressurized reaction mixture in the elongate tubular reactor to cause at least a substantial portion of the organic material in the reaction mixture to oxidize, the temperature of the reaction mixture being elevated to at least supercritical temperature for water;e) means for cooling the reaction mixture within the elongate tubular reactor, but at the outlet end of said elongate tubular reactor, to a temperature sufficient to cause formation of gas and liquid phases in the reaction mixture, the liquid phase including solid particles; andan external heat transfer means for transfer of heat from the reaction mixture at the outlet end of the elongate tubular reactor and for transferring heat removed therefrom to the reaction mixture at the inlet end of said elongate tubular reactor, thereby heating the reaction mixture at the inlet end of the elongate tubular reactor wherein the means for heating and cooling the reaction mixture include,i) a tube-in-tube heat exchanger disposed at the inlet end,ii) a tube-in-tube heat exchanger at the outlet end,iii) a heat-transfer fluid disposed in the tube-in-tube heat exchangers, andiv) means for recirculating the heat-transfer fluid between said tube-in-tube heat exchangers.