Abstract: A multi-inlet gas distributor for a fluidized bed chemical vapor deposition reactor that may include a distributor body having an inlet surface, an exit surface opposed to the inlet surface, and a side perimeter surface. The distributor body may also include multiple-inlets evenly spaced from each other, wherein the multiple-inlets penetrate the distributor body from the inlet surface to a first depth. The distributor body may additionally include cone-shaped apertures connecting to corresponding ones of the multiple-inlets at the first depth and extend from the first depth toward the exit surface. An apex may be formed on the exit surface at the intersection of the cone-shaped apertures.

Abstract: A multi-inlet gas distributor for a fluidized bed chemical vapor deposition reactor that may include a distributor body having an inlet surface, an exit surface opposed to the inlet surface, and a side perimeter surface. The distributor body may also include multiple-inlets evenly spaced from each other, wherein the multiple-inlets penetrate the distributor body from the inlet surface to a first depth. The distributor body may additionally include cone-shaped apertures connecting to corresponding ones of the multiple-inlets at the first depth and extend from the first depth toward the exit surface. An apex may be formed on the exit surface at the intersection of the cone-shaped apertures.

Abstract: A method for producing graphite spheres from graphite fines by charging a quantity of spherical media into a rotatable cylindrical overcoater, charging a quantity of graphite fines into the overcoater thereby forming a first mixture of spherical media and graphite fines, rotating the overcoater at a speed such that the first mixture climbs the wall of the overcoater before rolling back down to the bottom thereby forming a second mixture of spherical media, graphite fines, and graphite spheres, removing the second mixture from the overcoater, sieving the second mixture to separate graphite spheres, charging the first mixture back into the overcoater, charging an additional quantity of graphite fines into the overcoater, adjusting processing parameters like overcoater dimensions, graphite fines charge, overcoater rotation speed, overcoater angle of rotation, and overcoater time of rotation, before repeating the steps until graphite fines are converted to graphite spheres.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for producing a carbon fiber-pitch binder composition, the method comprising combining surface-modified carbon fibers with a molten pitch binder such that the surface-modified carbon fibers are substantially homogeneously dispersed throughout said molten pitch binder, wherein said surface-modified carbon fibers possess a surface that has been modified in a manner that increases the dispersability of the carbon fibers into said molten pitch binder. The invention is also directed to a method for producing a toughened graphite electrode and a method for processing metal in an electric arc furnace. The invention is also directed to carbon fiber-pitch binder compositions prepared by the inventive method in which carbon fibers are substantially homogeneously dispersed in the composition.

Abstract: A method for producing graphite spheres from graphite fines by charging a quantity of spherical media into a rotatable cylindrical overcoater, charging a quantity of graphite fines into the overcoater thereby forming a first mixture of spherical media and graphite fines, rotating the overcoater at a speed such that the first mixture climbs the wall of the overcoater before rolling back down to the bottom thereby forming a second mixture of spherical media, graphite fines, and graphite spheres, removing the second mixture from the overcoater, sieving the second mixture to separate graphite spheres, charging the first mixture back into the overcoater, charging an additional quantity of graphite fines into the overcoater, adjusting processing parameters like overcoater dimensions, graphite fines charge, overcoater rotation speed, overcoater angle of rotation, and overcoater time of rotation, before repeating the steps until graphite fines are converted to graphite spheres.