Patent EA-001232-B1 (EA)
Title: System for separating constituents from a base material
Inventor: BIRKEN STEPHEN M
IPC: B01J19/12
Filed: 1997-02-11
Abstract: 1. An apparatus for separating constituents from a base material, comprising:  a source for generating electromagnetic radiation; a resonator forming a resonating cavity, wherein said resonating cavity is coupled to said electromagnetic radiation source; a reactor defining a reaction chamber, said reactor at least partially disposed within said resonating cavity, wherein said reaction chamber is hermetically sealed from said resonating cavity. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said resonator is fabricated from materials selected from the group consisting of copper or stainless steel. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said reactor is formed from boron nitride. 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said reactor, formed from boron nitride, is fashioned in the shape of a circular cylinder. 5. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a heat exchanger coupled to said reactor. 6. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said heat exchanger includes an inner chamber for channeling the flow of a dielectric cooling medium (fluid or gas) disposed therein. 7. The apparatus of claim 1, further including an off gas pump connected to said reaction chamber. 8. An apparatus for separating constituents from a base material, comprising:  a first source for generating a first electromagnetic wave; a second source for generating a second electromagnetic wave; a first resonator forming a first resonating cavity, wherein said first resonating cavity is coupled to said first magnetic wave source; a second resonator forming a second resonating cavity, wherein said second resonating cavity is coupled to said second electromagnetic wave source, a reactor defining a reaction chamber, said reactor at least partially disposed within said first and second resonating cavities, wherein said first and second resonating cavities are hermetically sealed from said reaction chamber. 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein at least one of said first and second sources includes a gyrotron. 10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein at least one of said first and second resonators is fabricated from materials selected from the group of copper or stainless steel. 11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said reactor is formed from boron nitride. 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said reactor, formed from boron nitride, is fashioned in the shape of a circular cylinder. 13. The apparatus of claim 8, further including a heat exchanger coupled to said reactor. 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said heat exchanger includes an inner chamber for channeling the flow of a dielectric cooling medium (fluid or gas) disposed therein. 15. The apparatus of claim 8, further including an off gas pump connected to said reaction chamber. 16. An apparatus for separating constituents from a base material using electromagnetic radiation, comprising: a resonator forming a resonating cavity, wherein said resonating cavity is adapt ed to be coupled to an electromagnetic radiation source; a reactor defining a reaction chamber, said reactor at least partially disposed within said resonating cavity, wherein said reaction chamber is hermetically sealed from said resonating cavity. 17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said reactor, formed from boron nitride, is fashioned in the shape of a circular cylinder. 18. The apparatus of claim 16, further including a heat exchanger coupled to said reactor. 19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said heat exchanger includes an inner chamber for channeling the flow of a dielectric cooling medium (fluid or gas) disposed therein. 20. The apparatus of claim 16, further including an off gas pump connected to said reaction chamber.