Patent ID: 8027574

Claim:
A vaporizing system for vaporizing particulate material, comprising: (a) a source of particulate material; (b) a heater having a reticulated material structure composed of ligands that define voids adapted to receive particulate materials, wherein the voids comprise greater than 85% of the volume of the reticulated material structure so that delivery of particulate material into the voids and conduction of vaporized material from the voids is facilitated; (c) a manifold positioned to receive vaporized material produced by the heater; (d) means for delivering the particulate material to the heater by gravity for causing such material to be disposed in the voids; and (e) means for causing heat to be produced or conducted by the ligands to cause the particulate material in the voids to vaporize and be delivered to the manifold; wherein the heater is set at an angle of 30 to 70 degrees relative to horizontal.