Feed nozzle assembly and burner apparatus for gas/liquid reactions

Abstract

A feed nozzle assembly suitable for use in synthesis and combustion reactions involving gas/liquid reaction systems comprises a plurality of nozzles positioned such that their sprays impinge upon one another to obtain improved, or maintain acceptable, drop size, measured as Sauter mean diameter, by suitably balancing impact destruction and coalescence of drops. This feed nozzle assembly can be incorporated into a burner apparatus combining annular areas with stepped extended barriers for feeding oxygen and moderator gas, e.g., steam, all preferably within an exterior annular cooling means such as a water jacket.

1 . In a feed means for a gas/liquid reaction system, an improvement comprising a feed nozzle assembly having a plurality of feed nozzles suitable to atomize at least one liquid feed stream to form sprays, the feed nozzles being positioned such that the sprays impinge upon one another, provided that the Sauter mean diameter of the drops of the impinged sprays is substantially less than, or equal to, the Sauter mean diameter of the drops prior to impingement.  
   
   
       2 . The feed nozzle assembly of  claim 1  wherein the plurality is from 2 to about 100.  
   
   
       3 . The feed nozzle assembly of  claim 2  wherein at least some of the feed nozzles are arrayed annularly around a central feed nozzle or a central gaseous stream.  
   
   
       4 . The feed nozzle assembly of  claim 1  wherein the feed nozzles are angled toward or away from each other.  
   
   
       5 . The feed nozzle assembly of  claim 1  wherein the Sauter mean diameter of the drops of the impinged sprays is less than or equal to about 500 microns.  
   
   
       6 . In a method for reaction of a gas/liquid reaction system, an improvement comprising atomizing at least one liquid feed stream through a feed nozzle assembly having a plurality of feed nozzles to form sprays, the feed nozzles being positioned such that the sprays impinge upon one another within a reactor vessel, provided that the Sauter mean diameter of the drops of the impinged sprays is substantially less than, or equal to, the Sauter mean diameter of the drops prior to impingement.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the liquid feed stream is selected from the group consisting of halogenated and non-halogenated hydrocarbons.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the plurality is from 2 to about 100.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the sprays impinge upon on another to form drops having a Sauter mean diameter of less than or equal to about 500 microns.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein there are at least two liquid feed streams and at least two of such streams are incompatible.  
   
   
       11 . In a burner apparatus for reaction of a gas/liquid reaction system, an improvement comprising (1) a feed nozzle assembly located along a central axis, employing a plurality of feed nozzles suitable to atomize at least one liquid feed stream to form sprays, the feed nozzles being positioned such that the sprays impinge upon one another, provided that the Sauter mean diameter of the drops of the impinged sprays is substantially less than, or equal to, the Sauter mean diameter of the drops prior to impingement, wherein the feed nozzle assembly is centrally-located; (2) a moderator gas feed area, an oxygen feed area, a mixed moderator gas/oxygen feed area, or a combination thereof, located annular to the feed nozzle assembly, the exterior barrier of each annular feed area extending beyond the exterior barrier of the proximate enclosed annular area; provided that the innermost annular area has an exterior barrier extending beyond the centrally-located feed nozzle assembly.  
   
   
       12 . The burner apparatus of  claim 11  further comprising one or more additional annular moderator gas feed or oxygen feed areas.  
   
   
       13 . The burner apparatus of  claim 11  further comprising an annular cooling means exterior to all moderator gas feed areas, mixed moderator gas/oxygen feed areas and oxygen feed areas.  
   
   
       14 . The burner apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the annular cooling means is a water jacket.  
   
   
       15 . In a method to gasify a liquid waste stream, an improvement comprising feeding at least one liquid waste stream through a burner apparatus to atomize it in a feed nozzle assembly employing a plurality of feed nozzles to form sprays, the feed nozzles being positioned such that the sprays impinge upon one another, provided that the Sauter mean diameter of the drops of the impinged sprays is substantially less than, or equal to, the Sauter mean diameter of the drops prior to impingement; wherein the feed nozzle assembly is located along a central axis; and wherein are located, annular to the feed nozzle assembly, a moderator gas feed area, an oxygen feed area, a mixed moderator gas/oxygen feed area, or a combination thereof, provided that the exterior barrier of each annular feed area extends beyond the exterior barrier of the proximate enclosed annular area, and further provided that the innermost annular area has an exterior barrier extending beyond the centrally-located feed nozzle assembly, such that the sprays emitted by the feed nozzles pass first through a cap environment created by the innermost annular feed area.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the liquid waste stream is a halogenated or non-halogenated hydrocarbon.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the sprays impinge upon one another to form drops having a Sauter mean diameter of less than or equal to about 500 microns.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the moderator gas is steam or carbon dioxide.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15  where there are at least two liquid feed streams and at least two of such streams are incompatible.