Abstract: Carbonaceous-containing material including biomass, municipal solid waste, and/or coal and/or contaminated soil, and/or other carbonaceous materials may be gasified at low temperatures utilizing a reactor designed to generate shockwaves in a supersonic gaseous vortex. Preprocessed waste may be introduced into the reactor. A gas stream may be introduced substantially tangentially to an inner surface of a chamber of the reactor to generate a gaseous vortex rotating about a longitudinal axis within the chamber. The gas stream may be introduced using a nozzle that accelerates the gas stream to a supersonic velocity, and may impinge on an impactor positioned within the reactor chamber. A frequency of shockwaves emitted from the nozzle into the gaseous vortex may be controlled. The processed waste discharged from the reactor, which may include a gas component and at least a solid component, can be subjected to separation, and at least some of the gas component and at least one solid component (i.e.

Abstract: Carbonaceous-containing material including biomass, municipal solid waste, and/or coal and/or contaminated soil, and/or other carbonaceous materials may be gasified at low temperatures utilizing a reactor designed to generate shockwaves in a supersonic gaseous vortex. Preprocessed waste may be introduced into the reactor. A gas stream may be introduced substantially tangentially to an inner surface of a chamber of the reactor to generate a gaseous vortex rotating about a longitudinal axis within the chamber. The gas stream may be introduced using a nozzle that accelerates the gas stream to a supersonic velocity, and may impinge on an impactor positioned within the reactor chamber. A frequency of shockwaves emitted from the nozzle into the gaseous vortex may be controlled. The processed waste discharged from the reactor, which may include a gas component and at least a solid component, can be subjected to separation, and at least some of the gas component and at least one solid component (i.e.

Abstract: Various wear resistance designs may be applied to a reactor configured to facilitate chemical reactions, and/or comminution using shockwaves created in a supersonic gaseous vortex. The reactor may include a rigid chamber having a substantially circular cross-section. A first gas inlet may be configured to introduce a high-velocity gas stream into the chamber. A first replaceable wear part may be disposed in the chamber to absorb wear impact caused by the gas stream. In some implementations, the first replaceable wear part may be a cylindrical rod continuously fed into the chamber. In some implementations, the first replaceable wear part may be coated with, or composed of, a catalytic material, and/or may be electrically isolated from the rest of the reactor. In some implementations, a second gas inlet may be disposed to steer the gas stream to a desired area within the chamber to even out the wear impact.

Abstract: Steam may be generated using an apparatus that creates shockwaves in a supersonic gaseous vortex. The apparatus includes a chamber configured to receive, pressurize, and heat fuel gas and/or oxygen containing gas. One or more inlets positioned at a first end of the chamber and arranged to emit fuel gas, oxygen containing gas, or water as one or more jet streams tangentially to an internal surface of the chamber may create a gaseous vortex rotating about a longitudinal axis within the chamber. The inlet(s) may include one or more inlet nozzles structured to accelerate the one or more fuel gas, oxygen-containing gas, or water to a supersonic velocity and adjustably control frequency of shockwaves emitted into the gaseous vortex. Water can be injected into the chamber to stabilize internal chamber temperature where it may be converted into steam. An outlet may be configured to emit product gases and/or steam from the chamber.

Abstract: Methane may be dissociated at low temperatures and/or pressures utilizing a reactor designed to generate shockwaves in a supersonic gaseous vortex. Within a preprocessing chamber, the methane may be pressurized to a pressure of 700 kPa or more, and heated to a temperature below a dissociation temperature of methane. The methane may be introduced as a gas stream substantially tangentially to an inner surface of a chamber of the reactor to effectuate a gaseous vortex rotating about a longitudinal axis within the chamber. The gas stream may be introduced using a nozzle that accelerates the gas stream to a supersonic velocity. A frequency of shockwaves emitted from the nozzle into the gaseous vortex may be controlled. Product gas and carbon byproduct may be emitted from the chamber of the reactor. The carbon byproduct may be separated out from the product gas using a gas/solid separator.

Abstract: A gas reactor system may be configured for facilitating chemical reactions of gases using shockwaves produced in a supersonic gaseous vortex. The system may include a gas source to provide a gas to a heater and/or a reactor. The reactor may be configured to facilitate chemical reactions of gases using shockwaves created in a supersonic gaseous vortex. The reactor may be arranged with a gas inlet to introduce a high-velocity steam of gas into a chamber of the reactor. The gas inlet may effectuate a vortex of supersonic circulating gas within the chamber. The vortex may rotate at supersonic speed about the longitudinal axis of the chamber. The system may be configured to store an output product of the reactor in a storage tank in fluid communication with the reactor.

Abstract: Various wear resistance designs may be applied to a reactor configured to facilitate chemical reactions, and/or comminution using shockwaves created in a supersonic gaseous vortex. The reactor may include a rigid chamber having a substantially circular cross-section. A first gas inlet may be configured to introduce a high-velocity gas stream into the chamber. A first replaceable wear part may be disposed in the chamber to absorb wear impact caused by the gas stream. In some implementations, the first replaceable wear part may be a cylindrical rod continuously fed into the chamber. In some implementations, the first replaceable wear part may be coated with, or composed of, a catalytic material, and/or may be electrically isolated from the rest of the reactor. In some implementations, a second gas inlet may be disposed to steer the gas stream to a desired area within the chamber to even out the wear impact.

Abstract: A reactor may be configured to facilitate chemical reactions and/or comminution of solid feed materials. The reactor may be configured to make use of shockwaves created in a supersonic gaseous vortex. The reactor may include a rigid chamber having a substantially circular cross-section. A gas inlet may be configured to introduce a high-velocity stream of gas into the chamber. The gas inlet may be disposed and arranged so as to effectuate a vortex of the stream of gas circulating within the chamber. The vortex may rotate at a supersonic speed about a longitudinal axis of the chamber. A material inlet may be configured to introduce a material to be processed into the chamber. The material may be processed within the chamber by nonabrasive mechanisms facilitated by shockwaves within the chamber. An outlet may be configured to emit the gas and processed material from the chamber.

Abstract: Carbonaceous-containing material including biomass, municipal solid waste, and/or coal and/or contaminated soil, and/or other carbonaceous materials may be gasified at low temperatures utilizing a reactor designed to generate shockwaves in a supersonic gaseous vortex. Preprocessed waste may be introduced into the reactor. A gas stream may be introduced substantially tangentially to an inner surface of a chamber of the reactor to generate a gaseous vortex rotating about a longitudinal axis within the chamber. The gas stream may be introduced using a nozzle that accelerates the gas stream to a supersonic velocity, and may impinge on an impactor positioned within the reactor chamber. A frequency of shockwaves emitted from the nozzle into the gaseous vortex may be controlled. The processed waste discharged from the reactor, which may include a gas component and at least a solid component, can be subjected to separation, and at least some of the gas component and at least one solid component (i.e.

Abstract: Steam may be generated using an apparatus that creates shockwaves in a supersonic gaseous vortex. The apparatus includes a chamber configured to receive, pressurize, and heat fuel gas and/or oxygen containing gas. One or more inlets positioned at a first end of the chamber and arranged to emit fuel gas, oxygen containing gas, or water as one or more jet streams tangentially to an internal surface of the chamber may create a gaseous vortex rotating about a longitudinal axis within the chamber. The inlet(s) may include one or more inlet nozzles structured to accelerate the one or more fuel gas, oxygen-containing gas, or water to a supersonic velocity and adjustably control frequency of shockwaves emitted into the gaseous vortex. Water can be injected into the chamber to stabilize internal chamber temperature where it may be converted into steam. An outlet may be configured to emit product gases and/or steam from the chamber.

Abstract: Solid materials may be processed using shockwaves produced in a supersonic gaseous vortex. A high-velocity stream of gas may be introduced into a reactor. The reactor may have a chamber, a solid material inlet, a gas inlet, and an outlet. The high-velocity stream of gas may be introduced into the chamber of the reactor through the gas inlet. The high-velocity stream of gas may effectuate a supersonic gaseous vortex within the chamber. The reactor may be configured to facilitate chemical reactions and/or comminution of solid feed material using tensive forces of shockwaves created in the supersonic gaseous vortex within the chamber. Solid material may be fed into the chamber through the solid material inlet. The solid material may be processed within the chamber by nonabrasive mechanisms facilitated by the shockwaves within the chamber. The processed material that is communicated through the outlet of the reactor may be collected.

Abstract: Methane may be dissociated at low temperatures and/or pressures utilizing a reactor designed to generate shockwaves in a supersonic gaseous vortex. Within a preprocessing chamber, the methane may be pressurized to a pressure of 700 kPa or more, and heated to a temperature below a dissociation temperature of methane. The methane may be introduced as a gas stream substantially tangentially to an inner surface of a chamber of the reactor to effectuate a gaseous vortex rotating about a longitudinal axis within the chamber. The gas stream may be introduced using a nozzle that accelerates the gas stream to a supersonic velocity. A frequency of shockwaves emitted from the nozzle into the gaseous vortex may be controlled. Product gas and carbon byproduct may be emitted from the chamber of the reactor. The carbon byproduct may be separated out from the product gas using a gas/solid separator.

Abstract: Various wear resistance designs may be applied to a reactor configured to facilitate chemical reactions, and/or comminution using shockwaves created in a supersonic gaseous vortex. The reactor may include a rigid chamber having a substantially circular cross-section. A first gas inlet may be configured to introduce a high-velocity gas stream into the chamber. A first replaceable wear part may be disposed in the chamber to absorb wear impact caused by the gas stream. In some implementations, the first replaceable wear part may be a cylindrical rod continuously fed into the chamber. In some implementations, the first replaceable wear part may be coated with, or composed of, a catalytic material, and/or may be electrically isolated from the rest of the reactor. In some implementations, a second gas inlet may be disposed to steer the gas stream to a desired area within the chamber to even out the wear impact.

Abstract: A gas reactor system may be configured for facilitating chemical reactions of gases using shockwaves produced in a supersonic gaseous vortex. The system may include a gas source to provide a gas to a heater and/or a reactor. The reactor may be configured to facilitate chemical reactions of gases using shockwaves created in a supersonic gaseous vortex. The reactor may be arranged with a gas inlet to introduce a high-velocity steam of gas into a chamber of the reactor. The gas inlet may effectuate a vortex of supersonic circulating gas within the chamber. The vortex may rotate at supersonic speed about the longitudinal axis of the chamber. The system may be configured to store an output product of the reactor in a storage tank in fluid communication with the reactor.

Abstract: Various wear resistance designs may be applied to a reactor configured to facilitate chemical reactions, and/or comminution using shockwaves created in a supersonic gaseous vortex. The reactor may include a rigid chamber having a substantially circular cross-section. A first gas inlet may be configured to introduce a high-velocity gas stream into the chamber. A first replaceable wear part may be disposed in the chamber to absorb wear impact caused by the gas stream. In some implementations, the first replaceable wear part may be a cylindrical rod continuously fed into the chamber. In some implementations, the first replaceable wear part may be coated with, or composed of, a catalytic material, and/or may be electrically isolated from the rest of the reactor. In some implementations, a second gas inlet may be disposed to steer the gas stream to a desired area within the chamber to even out the wear impact.

Abstract: Solid materials may be processed using shockwaves produced in a supersonic gaseous vortex. A high-velocity stream of gas may be introduced into a reactor. The reactor may have a chamber, a solid material inlet, a gas inlet, and an outlet. The high-velocity stream of gas may be introduced into the chamber of the reactor through the gas inlet. The high-velocity stream of gas may effectuate a supersonic gaseous vortex within the chamber. The reactor may be configured to facilitate chemical reactions and/or comminution of solid feed material using tensive forces of shockwaves created in the supersonic gaseous vortex within the chamber. Solid material may be fed into the chamber through the solid material inlet. The solid material may be processed within the chamber by nonabrasive mechanisms facilitated by the shockwaves within the chamber. The processed material that is communicated through the outlet of the reactor may be collected.

Abstract: A reactor may be configured to facilitate chemical reactions and/or comminution of solid feed materials. The reactor may be configured to make use of shockwaves created in a supersonic gaseous vortex. The reactor may include a rigid chamber having a substantially circular cross-section. A gas inlet may be configured to introduce a high-velocity stream of gas into the chamber. The gas inlet may be disposed and arranged so as to effectuate a vortex of the stream of gas circulating within the chamber. The vortex may rotate at a supersonic speed about a longitudinal axis of the chamber. A material inlet may be configured to introduce a material to be processed into the chamber. The material may be processed within the chamber by nonabrasive mechanisms facilitated by shockwaves within the chamber. An outlet may be configured to emit the gas and processed material from the chamber.

Abstract: Method for reducing the number of viable organisms present in ship ballast water wherein the ballast water is treated so as to reduce the concentration of dissolved oxygen and/or carbon dioxide to a level(s) at which a substantial portion of the organisms present cease to remain viable. The treatment comprises adding to the ballast water a suitable amount of an antioxidant.