| 摘要 |
208J.114 In accordance with the present invention there is provided a reaction apparatus having an externalized heat exchange mechanism by which heat may be added to or withdrawn from a reactant mixture. In one aspect, the present invention includes a cased well which extends approximately 5000 feet vertically into the earth in which at least one reaction vessel is suspended from a support plate at substantially ground level surface. The reaction vessel comprises an outer closed-end tube in which an inner open-end tube is disposed in a concentric manner to define an annulus which is in flow communication with the bore of the inner tube. Substantially parallel to the reaction vessel and also suspended from the ground level support plate, is a conduit which extends into the chamber defined by the well-casing. In the method of the present invention, a mixture of reactants, preferably diluted municipal waste, is injected into the annulus of the reaction vessel to form a hydrostatic column which exerts substantial fluid pressure at a reaction zone in the lower part of the reaction vessel. A heat-transfer medium, such as oil, is heated to an elevated temperature and then flowed through the conduit into the chamber where the hot heat-transfer medium envelopes the reaction vessel. Heat is transferred from the heattransfer medium to the reactant mixture through the wall of the outer closedend tube. In the case of an exothermic reaction, when the temperature of the reactants reaches a selected level, the reaction process gives off heat which is withdrawn by the heat exchange medium. As the reactants form reaction products, the reaction products are flowed from the annulus through the bore of the inner tube back up to ground surface level. In another aspect more than one reaction vessel is suspended in a single chamber in a single subterranean shaft. In still another aspect of the present invention, a reaction apparatus is provided in which each reaction vessel comprises an inner open-end tube concentrically 2086.114 arranged inside at larger intermediate closed-end tube which is then surrounded by a larger tube to form a heat exchange annulus. Also suspended in the chamber with the reaction vessel is a conduit through which heat-transfer medium is pumped into the chamber during operation. The chamber is partitioned into an upper portion and a lower portion by packing assemblies or by pressurizing the upper portion with an inert gas. As heattransfer medium flows into the chamber it is confined to the lower portion of the chamber and forced upwardly through the heat exchange annulus which is in heat-transfer relation to a hydrostatic column of reaction products in the inner reaction vessel annulus. |
