Patent ID: 7651331

Claim:
A process system, comprising: a fuel tube having a fuel tube length and a fuel tube wall that define a fuel introduction zone, wherein said fuel tube includes a distal end and a fuel inlet end for introducing a fuel into said fuel introduction zone, and wherein along said fuel tube length and through said tube wall is a plurality of spaced apart apertures; a reaction tube having a reaction tube length and that is positioned external to and surrounding said fuel tube so as to thereby define a combustion zone along said fuel tube length, wherein said reaction tube has a reaction tube inlet end for receiving a preheated oxidant into said combustion zone and an exhaust end for discharging a combustion exhaust from said combustion zone, and wherein said plurality of spaced apart apertures provide for fluid communication between said fuel introduction zone and said combustion zone; an oxidant introduction tube having an oxidant introduction tube length and that is positioned external to and surrounding said reaction tube so as to thereby define an oxidant introduction zone along said reaction tube length, wherein said oxidant introduction tube has an oxidant introduction tube inlet end for introducing an oxidant into said oxidant introduction zone and an oxidant introduction tube outlet end for discharging said preheated oxidant from said oxidant introduction zone into said combustion zone through said oxidant introduction tube outlet end which is in fluid communication with said reaction tube inlet end, and wherein said oxidant introduction zone is in heat exchange relationship with said combustion zone; and a process tube that is positioned external to and surrounding said oxidant introduction tube so as to thereby define a process fluid zone along said oxidant introduction tube length of said oxidant introduction tube, wherein said process tube has a process fluid inlet end for introducing a process fluid into said process fluid zone and a process fluid outlet end for discharging a heated process fluid from said process fluid zone, and wherein said process fluid zone is in heat exchange relationship with said combustion zone.