US 11,673,111 B2
Multi-tubular chemical reactor with igniter for initiation of gas phase exothermic reactions
Caine M. Finnerty, Mount Pleasant, PA (US); and Paul Dewald, Scottdale, PA (US)
Assigned to WATT Fuel Cell Corp., Mount Pleasant, PA (US)
Appl. No. 17/635,503
Filed by WATT FUEL CELL CORP., Mount Pleasant, PA (US)
PCT Filed Aug. 29, 2019, PCT No. PCT/US2019/048822
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Feb. 15, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/040720, PCT Pub. Date Mar. 4, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0288553 A1, Sep. 15, 2022
Int. Cl. B01J 19/24 (2006.01); B01J 8/06 (2006.01); H01M 8/0612 (2016.01); H01M 8/10 (2016.01)
CPC B01J 19/2425 (2013.01) [B01J 8/06 (2013.01); H01M 8/0618 (2013.01); B01J 2208/00504 (2013.01); B01J 2208/00716 (2013.01); B01J 2208/00849 (2013.01); H01M 2008/1095 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A multi-tubular chemical reactor comprising:
a plurality of spaced-apart reactor units aligned in a single row or parallel rows of essentially identical configuration aligned along a common longitudinal axis corresponding to line L of length X, line L extending from the first to the last reactor disposed within a row, each reactor unit in a row comprising an elongate tube having a wall with internal and external surfaces, an inlet at one end and an outlet at the opposing end, the wall enclosing a gaseous flow passageway at least a portion of which defines a gas phase reaction zone; and
at least one igniter for the initiation of a plurality of gas phase exothermic reactions within the gas phase reaction zones of the reactor units, the igniter including a radiant heat-producing element positioned in proximity to, but in physical isolation from, exposed sections of reactor units, the length of such heat-producing element extending from at least about 30 percent up to about 100 percent of length X of line L.