Method And System For Production Of A Chemical Commodity Using A Fiber Conduit Reactor

Abstract

An apparatus includes a conduit with two process fluid inlets at one end of the conduit, one process fluid outlet at an opposing end, a heat exchange medium inlet, and a heat exchange medium outlet. One of the fluid inlets includes a tube extending into the conduit and a perforated node at the end of the tube, and the other of the fluid inlets is arranged up stream of the perforated node. The apparatus further includes hollow tubes positioned longitudinally within the conduit between the two process fluid inlets, the process fluid outlet, the heat exchange medium inlet and the heat exchange medium outlet. In addition, the apparatus includes a collection vessel positioned proximate the fluid outlet and fibers extending through each of the hollow tubes, wherein one end of the fibers is secured to the perforated node and the other end of the fibers extends into the collection vessel.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for conducting chemical reactions and chemical extractions, the apparatus comprising:
 a conduit comprising:
 two process fluid inlets at one end of the conduit, wherein one of the two fluid inlets comprises a tube extending into the conduit and a perforated node at the end of the tube, and wherein the other of the two fluid inlets is arranged up stream of the perforated node; 
 one process fluid outlet at an opposing end of the conduit; 
 a heat exchange medium inlet; and 
 a heat exchange medium outlet; 
   a collection vessel positioned proximate the fluid outlet, wherein the collection vessel comprises two fluid outlets respectively arranged along upper and lower portions of the collection vessel;   a plurality of hollow tubes positioned longitudinally within the conduit between the two process fluid inlets, the process fluid outlet, the heat exchange medium inlet and the heat exchange medium outlet; and   a plurality of fibers extending through each of the plurality of hollow tubes, wherein one end of the plurality of fibers is secured to the perforated node, wherein the other end of the plurality of fibers extends into the collection vessel.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchange medium inlet is proximate the process fluid outlet, and wherein the heat exchange medium outlet is proximate the two process fluid inlets. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchange medium inlet is proximate the two process fluid inlets, and wherein the heat exchange medium outlet is proximate the process fluid outlet. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fibers are hydrophilic fibers comprising materials selected from the group consisting of treated or untreated minerals, metals, metal alloys, treated and untreated carbon, polymers, and polymer blends. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the hydrophilic fibers comprise treated or untreated minerals comprising materials selected from the group consisting of glass, basalt, asbestos, ceramic, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the hydrophilic fibers comprise metals comprising materials selected from the group consisting of iron, steel, nickel, copper, brass, lead, tin, zinc, cobalt, titanium, tungsten, nichrome, silver, aluminum, magnesium, and combinations and alloys thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the hydrophilic fibers comprise polymers comprising materials selected from the group consisting of hydrophilic polymers, polar polymers, hydrophilic copolymers, polar copolymers, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the polymers comprise materials selected from the group consisting of polysaccharides, polypeptides, polyacrylic acid, polymethacrylic acid, polyhydroxyalkylesters of polyacids, functionalized polystyrene, polyphenolics, polynovolacs, nylon, polybenzimidazole, polyvinylidenedinitrile, polyvinylidene chloride, polyvinyl alcohols, polyethers, polyvinyl methyl ether, polyethyleneoxides, polyacids, polyamines, polyallylamines, polydiallyamines, polyethylenimine, polyoxazolines, polyphenylene sulfide, polymelamine, polyvinyl chloride, co-polyethylene-acrylic acid, and ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymers. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fibers comprises functionalized fibers. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fibers comprises solid fibers. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fibers comprises hollow fibers.