PULSE FLOW REACTORS AND SYSTEMS OR USES THEREOF
A pulse flow reactor including an air plenum configured to receive an oxidant, an aerovalve configured to receive the oxidant from the air plenum, a combustion chamber configured to receive the oxidant from the aerovalve and to receive a target material to be combusted, an injector coupled to the combustion chamber and configured to provide the target material to the combustion chamber, and a tailpipe through which combustion products from the combustion chamber exit the pulse flow reactor. The oxidant is in the form of a gas, and the target material comprises a liquid or slurry or vapor. Destroying or combusting a target material includes providing the target material to the pulse flow reactor, providing an oxidant to the combustion chamber, and thermally or thermochemically treating the target material in the combustion chamber to combust the target material, thereby yielding combustion products.
1 . A pulse flow reactor comprising:
an air plenum configured to receive an oxidant, wherein the oxidant is in the form of a gas;
an aerovalve configured to receive the oxidant from the air plenum;
a combustion chamber configured to receive the oxidant from the aerovalve and to receive a target material to be combusted;
an injector coupled to the combustion chamber and configured to provide the target material to the combustion chamber, wherein the target material comprises a liquid or slurry or vapor; and
a tailpipe through which combustion products from the combustion chamber exit the pulse flow reactor.
2 . The pulse flow reactor of claim 1 , further comprising an atomizer in fluidic communication with the air plenum, the aerovalve, or the combustion chamber, wherein the atomizer is configured to receive the target material and to provide a plurality of droplets comprising the target material to the air plenum, the aerovalve, or the combustion chamber, respectively.
3 . The pulse flow reactor of claim 2 , wherein the atomizer is coupled to an exterior of the air plenum, the aerovalve, or the combustion chamber.
4 . The pulse flow reactor of claim 2 , wherein the atomizer positioned at least partially within the air plenum, the aerovalve, or the combustion chamber.
5 . The pulse flow reactor of claim 1 , further comprising a fuel inlet configured to accept auxiliary or startup fuel and fluidly coupled to the combustion chamber.
6 . The pulse flow reactor of claim 1 , further comprising a vaporizer in heat transfer communication with the tailpipe, wherein the vaporizer is configured to generate a vapor from the target material.
7 . The pulse flow reactor of claim 6 , wherein the vaporizer is electrically heated or heated by process heat.
8 . The pulse flow reactor of claim 1 , wherein the at least one aerovalve comprises a headpiece, and the headpiece comprises a chamber defining:
a first portion comprising a spraying zone for the target material; and
a second portion comprising a mixing and vaporizing zone configured to mix and vaporize the spray.
9 . The pulse flow reactor of claim 8 , further comprising an air transfer conduit or an aerovalve disposed between the first portion and the second portion of the chamber.
10 . The pulse flow reactor of claim 9 , wherein the second portion of the chamber is configured to be positioned around or in proximity to the combustion chamber.
11 . The pulse flow reactor of claim 10 , wherein the second portion of the chamber is a portion of the combustion chamber.
12 . The pulse flow reactor of claim 1 , further comprising one or more atomizers coupled to the air plenum and configured to receive the target material, wherein each atomizer comprises a nozzle configured to provide a plurality of droplets comprising the target material to the air plenum.
13 . The pulse flow reactor of claim 1 , further comprising one or more inlets configured to deliver a fuel, an oxidant, or both to the combustion chamber.
14 . The pulse flow reactor of claim 1 , further comprising one or more injectors configured to deliver a fuel, an oxidant, or both to the combustion chamber.
15 . The pulse flow reactor of claim 1 , further comprising one or more ignitors configured to provide a spark to the combustion chamber.
16 . The pulse flow reactor of claim 1 , wherein the combustion chamber defines a mixing and vaporizing zone and a combusting zone.
17 . The pulse flow reactor of claim 1 , wherein the pulse flow reactor defines a spraying zone, a mixing and vaporizing zone, and a combusting zone.
18 . The pulse flow reactor of claim 1 , wherein the tailpipe comprises a conical, diverging section.
19 . The pulse flow reactor of claim 18 , wherein the tailpipe further comprises a straight tubular section.
20 . The pulse flow reactor of claim 18 , wherein the tailpipe further comprises a curved tubular section.
21 . The pulse flow reactor of claim 1 , further comprising one or more additional air plenums, aerovalves, injectors, or tailpipes.
22 . A method of destroying or combusting a target material, the method comprising:
providing the target material to a pulse flow reactor comprising a combustion chamber, wherein the target material comprises a liquid;
providing an oxidant to the combustion chamber; and
thermally or thermochemically treating the target material in the combustion chamber to combust the target material, thereby yielding combustion products.
23 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the target material is in the form of a vapor or droplets.
24 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the oxidant comprises air, enriched air, oxygen, steam and carbon dioxide, or a mixture thereof.
25 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the target material comprises a toxicant, a toxic waste, a chemical warfare agent (CWA), a biological warfare agent (BWA), a per- and/or polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS), a refrigerant, a halogenated liquid or vapor, or any combination thereof.
26 . The method of claim 22 , wherein a destruction and removal efficiency of the target material is at least 99%.