Patent ID: 8303916

Claim:
A reactor system capable of withstanding high temperatures and high pressures comprising: a. a first bath vessel capable of containing a bath having a bath temperature, T 1 , and a bath vessel pressure, P 1 , and b. a reactor housing characterized by a housing temperature, T 10 , wherein the first bath vessel is contained within the housing and having a gas zone having a gas zone pressure, P 10 , disposed therebetween and wherein P 10 is approximately the same as P 1 and T 10 is less than T 1 ; c. a second bath vessel within the reactor housing and disposed above the first bath vessel, wherein the bath vessel pressure in the second bath vessel, P 2 , is lower than P 1 ; d. a first conduit in fluid communication with the second bath vessel and first bath vessel, whereby the pressure difference between P 1 and P 2 causes transfer of a molten metal residing in said first bath vessel to said second bath vessel; e. a second conduit in fluid communication with the second bath vessel and first bath vessel, whereby gravity causes transfer of a molten metal bath residing in said second bath vessel to said first bath vessel; f. a third bath vessel capable of containing a molten metal bath having a bath temperature, T 3 and a bath pressure, P 3 ; g. a fourth bath vessel capable of containing a molten metal bath having a bath temperature, T 4 , and a bath vessel pressure, P 4 , disposed above said third bath vessel; h. a second reactor housing characterized by a housing temperature, T 11 , wherein the third bath vessel is contained within the second reactor housing and having a gas zone having a gas zone pressure, P 11 , disposed therebetween and wherein P 11 is approximately the same as P 3 and T 11 is less than T 3 ; i. a third conduit in fluid communication with the third bath vessel and fourth bath vessel, whereby the pressure difference between P 3 and P 4 causes transfer of a molten metal residing in said third bath vessel to said fourth bath vessel and wherein the third conduit comprises an inlet disposed in the lower half of the third bath vessel and an outlet disposed in the upper half of the fourth bath vessel; j. a fourth conduit in fluid communication with the third bath vessel and fourth bath vessel, whereby gravity causes transfer of a molten metal bath residing in said fourth bath vessel to said third bath vessel; wherein the fourth conduit comprises an inlet disposed in the lower half of the fourth bath vessel and an outlet disposed in the upper half of the third bath vessel; wherein each bath vessel contains a molten metal bath, and wherein each bath vessel is characterized by a head space, and wherein the head space of the first bath vessel is in fluid communication with the molten metal bath of the third bath vessel, and wherein the head space of the fourth bath vessel is in fluid communication with the second bath vessel.