Method, apparatus, and computer-readable media for vortex arc reactor

Abstract

Vortex arc reactor apparatus and method provide a nozzle with converging, throat, and diverging portions. Input structure inputs a reactant and an oxidant into the converging portion. Ignition structure ignites the input reactant and oxidant. A vortex-creating structure creates a vortex of the ignited reactant and oxidant in the converging portion. The input structure, the vortex-creating structure, and the nozzle converging and throat portions are configured to provide a throat-portion-vortex of ignited reactant and oxidant that has an angular velocity which provides (i) negatively-charged particles in an exterior portion of the throat-portion-vortex, (ii) positively-charged particles in an interior portion of the throat-portion-vortex, and (iii) at least one arcing reaction between the positively-charged particles and the negatively-charged particles, to form syngas and at least one aromatic liquid in the nozzle diverging portion. Gas/liquid separation structure is preferably configured to separate the formed syngas from the at least one aromatic liquid.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . Apparatus for producing a syngas and at least one aromatic liquid, comprising:
 a nozzle having a converging portion, a throat portion, and a diverging portion;   input structure configured to input a reactant and an oxidant into the converging portion of the nozzle;   ignition structure configured to ignite the input reactant and oxidant;   vortex-creating structure configured to create a vortex of the ignited reactant and the oxidant in the converging portion of the nozzle; and   the input structure, the vortex-creating structure, and the nozzle converging and throat portions being configured to provide a throat-portion-vortex of ignited reactant and oxidant that has an angular velocity which provides (i) negatively-charged particles in an exterior portion of the throat-portion-vortex, (ii) positively-charged particles in an interior portion of the throat-portion-vortex, and (iii) at least one reaction between the positively-charged particles and the negatively-charged particles, to form syngas and the at least one aromatic liquid in the nozzle diverging portion.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising output structure, disposed downstream from the nozzle diverging portion, and configured to output the formed syngas and at least one aromatic liquid. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 gas/liquid separation structure, downstream from the nozzle diverging portion and configured to separate the formed syngas from the at least one aromatic liquid;   a syn gas output; and   an aromatic liquid output.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the input structure, the vortex-creating structure, and the nozzle converging and throat portions are configured to cause at least one reaction which includes arcing. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the vortex-creating structure comprises a fixed mechanism disposed in the input structure. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the fixed mechanism comprises a multi-bladed structure. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the vortex-creating structure comprises an induction mechanism disposed in the nozzle converging portion. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the induction mechanism comprises a grooved frusto-conical mechanism. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the vortex-creating structure, and the nozzle converging and throat portions are configured to increase the angular velocity of the ignited reactant and oxidant in the throat-portion-vortex. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the vortex-creating structure, and the nozzle converging and throat portions are configured to form, in the throat-portion-vortex, at least (i) an outer layer, (ii) a separation layer, and (iii) an inner layer. 
     
     
         11 . A method for producing a syngas and at least one aromatic liquid, comprising:
 disposing a nozzle having a converging portion, a throat portion, and a diverging portion;   inputting a reactant and an oxidant into the converging portion of the nozzle through an input section;   igniting the input reactant and oxidant;   creating a vortex of the ignited reactant and the oxidant in the converging portion of the nozzle with a vortex-creating structure; and   disposing the input structure, the vortex-creating structure, and the nozzle converging and throat portions so as to provide a throat-portion-vortex of ignited reactant and oxidant that has an angular velocity which provides (i) negatively-charged particles in an exterior portion of the throat-portion-vortex, (ii) positively-charged particles in an interior portion of the throat-portion-vortex, and (iii) at least one reaction between the positively-charged particles and the negatively-charged particles, to form the syngas and the at least one aromatic liquid in the nozzle diverging portion.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising disposing output structure downstream from the nozzle diverging portion, and configured to output the formed syngas and at least one aromatic liquid. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 separating the formed syngas from the at least one aromatic liquid;   outputting the syn gas; and   outputting the at least one aromatic liquid.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising causing at least one reaction in the nozzle throat portion that includes arcing. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein disposing the vortex-creating structure includes disposing a fixed mechanism disposed in the input structure. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein disposing the vortex-creating structure includes disposing an induction mechanism disposed in the nozzle converging portion. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the vortex-creating structure, and the nozzle converging and throat portions are disposed so as to increase the angular velocity of the ignited reactant and oxidant in the throat-portion-vortex. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the vortex-creating structure, and the nozzle converging and throat portions are disposed so as to form, in the throat-portion-vortex, at least (i) an outer layer, (ii) a separation layer, and (iii) an inner layer. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising controlling the inputting of the reactant and the oxidant using at least one processor. 
     
     
         20 . At least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium which stores one or more computer programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by one or more processors perform a method for producing a syngas and at least one aromatic liquid using structure having: (i) a nozzle having a converging portion, a throat portion, and a diverging portion; (ii) a vortex-creating structure disposed in or near the nozzle; (iii) input structure for inputting a reactant and an oxidant into the converging portion of the nozzle through an input section; (iv) an igniter for igniting the input reactant and oxidant;
 the method comprising:   controlling the input structure and the igniter so as to:
 create a vortex of the ignited reactant and the oxidant in the converging portion of the nozzle; and 
 create a throat-portion-vortex of ignited reactant and oxidant that has an angular velocity which provides (i) negatively-charged particles in an exterior portion of the throat-portion-vortex, (ii) positively-charged particles in an interior portion of the throat-portion-vortex, and (iii) at least one reaction between the positively-charged particles and the negatively-charged particles, to form the syngas and the at least one aromatic liquid in the nozzle diverging portion.