Combustion Of Electropositive Metal In A Liquid

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to reactions with an electropositive metal. Specific embodiments may include reactions of electropositive metals with a liquid, undergoing at least partial reaction in the liquid, e.g., a method comprising: atomizing or jetting the electropositive metal; introducing the electropositive metal into the liquid below a surface of the liquid; and producing at least partial reaction of the electropositive metal in the liquid.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for reacting an electropositive metal selected from the group consisting of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, aluminum, zinc, mixtures, and alloys thereof, with a liquid, the method comprising:
 atomizing or jetting the electropositive metal;   introducing the electropositive metal into the liquid below a surface of the liquid; and   producing at least partial reaction of the electropositive metal in the liquid.   
     
     
         2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the electropositive metal is supplied as liquid. 
     
     
         3 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , the liquid selected from the group consisting of water and supercritical liquids. 
     
     
         4 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein atomizing or jetting the electropositive metal includes using a pore burner or a nozzle. 
     
     
         5 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least partial reaction including at least partial vaporization; and
 the method further comprises replacing vaporized liquid by a supply of liquid.   
     
     
         6 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising using at least part of the vaporized liquid and/or gaseous products formed in the reaction of electropositive metal and liquid to produce chemical products. 
     
     
         7 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 removing at least part of the liquid during or after the reaction as solution or suspension; and   at least partially converting the energy of the solution or suspension.   
     
     
         8 . An apparatus for reacting an electropositive metal with a liquid, the electropositive metal selected from the group consisting of: alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, aluminum, and zinc, alloys and/or mixtures thereof, the apparatus comprising:
 a reactor;   a pore burner or a means for jetting or atomizing the electropositive metal into the liquid on or in the reactor;   a first supply means feeding the electropositive metal to the pore burner or to the means for jetting or atomizing the electropositive metal;   a second supply means feeding the liquid to the reactor,   a first removal means for the solution or suspension formed during the reaction of the electropositive metal with the liquid;   a second removal means for at least partially vaporized liquid or gaseous products formed in the reaction of the electropositive metal and the liquid; and   a control means to supply the liquid to the reactor in such a way that the pore burner or the means for jetting or atomizing the electropositive metal are located below a surface of the liquid in the reactor.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 8 , further comprising a heating apparatus liquefying the electropositive metal before or during feeding the electropositive metal to the reactor. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the pore burner or the means for jetting or atomizing the electropositive metal consists of material selected from the group consisting of: iron, chromium, nickel, niobium, tantalum, molybdenum, tungsten, Zircaloy, alloys of these metals, or steels. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 8 , further comprising at least one first means for converting energy connected to the first removal means and at least partially converting the removed energy of the solution or suspension. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 8 , further comprising second means for converting energy connected to the second removal means and at least partially converting the energy of the vaporized liquid or the gaseous products formed in the reaction of electropositive metal and liquid. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a third removal means removing the solution or suspension from the first removal means to the means for conversion of energy;   a first separating means separating the liquid from the solution or suspension removed by the third removal means; and   a first return means for liquid from the first separating means, returning the liquid from the first separating means to the second supply means or to the reactor.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a second separating means at least partially separating the liquid or the vaporized liquid from the vaporized liquid removed or the gaseous products formed in the reaction of electropositive metal and liquid; and   a second return means returning the liquid or the vaporized liquid from the second separating means to the second supply means or to the reactor.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 8 , further comprising at least one detecting means located on or in the reactor detecting an amount of liquid in the reactor and communicating the amount to the control means. 
     
     
         16 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising converting at least part of energy of the vaporized liquid or of gaseous products formed in the reaction. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 8 , further comprising a means for producing chemical products and converting the vaporized liquid or the gaseous products formed in the reaction of electropositive metal and liquid into further chemical products.