| 摘要 |
The invention provides an apparatus for heating a heatable liquid, which apparatus comprises: (i) a first storage vessel containing (a) a slurry or suspension of a metal powder in water; (ii) a second storage vessel containing (b) a solution of an alkali metal hydroxide; (iii) a reaction vessel in fluid communication with (i) and (ii) and having at least one inlet through which (a) and (b) can be introduced into the reaction vessel so that they react to form reaction products, a first outlet for removal of a liquid reaction product stream containing reaction products of (a) and (b) and a second outlet for removal of gaseous materials generated by reaction of (a) and (b); (iv) a first heat exchanger disposed in or on the reaction vessel, the heatable liquid being arranged to flow through the first heat exchanger so that heat produced by reaction between (a) and (b) in the reaction vessel is transferred to the heatable liquid; (v) at least one ancillary heat exchanger disposed downstream of the first outlet for extracting heat from the liquid reaction product stream, wherein the ancillary heat exchanger is arranged to transfer heat to the heatable liquid or is arranged to pre-heat one or both of (a) and (b) prior to introduction into the reaction vessel; (vi) a separator, linked to the second outlet, for collecting hydrogen gas formed by the reaction of (a) with (b); (vii) a burner for the hydrogen gas; and (viii) a further heat exchanger associated with the burner for transferring heat obtained from combustion of the hydrogen gas to the heatable liquid. |
