A chemical reaction method includes preparing a chemical reaction apparatus including a horizontal flow reactor partitioned into multiple chambers by multiple partition plates. A liquid content horizontally flows with an unfilled space provided thereabove. a microwave generator and a waveguide that transmits microwaves to the unfilled space are also included. The reactor is inclined such that, in each of the chambers, a weir height on an inlet side is higher than a weir height on an outlet side by at least an overflow depth at the partition plate on the outlet side. The content is flowed over each of the multiple partition plates inside the reactor. The content flowing inside the reactor is irradiated with microwaves. The inclination angle of the reactor is changed in each of the chambers so that a weir height on an inlet side is higher than a weir height on an outlet side.

An apparatus for large batch chemical reactions using microwave energy includes a chamber defined by an outer wall, and a vessel disposed inside the chamber, the vessel defined by an inner wall, the inner wall being separated from the outer wall by a gap. The vessel is configured to receive and hold a load. The apparatus further includes a first applicator and a second applicator configured to emit the microwave energy at the load, wherein points at which microwave energy emitted by the first applicator and the second applicator enter the load are spaced at a distance from each other that is longer than a penetration depth of the microwave energy into the load such that no electromagnetic intercoupling occurs between the first applicator and the second applicator upon emission of the microwave energy.

Conversion of heavy fossil hydrocarbons (HFH) to a variety of value-added chemicals and/or fuels can be enhanced using microwave (MW) and/or radio-frequency (RE) energy. Variations of reactants, process parameters, and reactor design can significantly influence the relative distribution of chemicals and fuels generated as the product. In one example, a system for flash microwave conversion of HFH includes a source concentrating microwave or RF energy in a reaction zone having a pressure greater than 0.9 atm, a continuous feed having HFH and a process gas passing through the reaction zone, a HFH-to-liquids catalyst contacting the HFH in at least the reaction zone, and dielectric discharges within the reaction zone. The HFH and the catalyst have a residence time in the reaction zone of less than 30 seconds. In some instances, a plasma can form in or near the reaction zone.

A microwave energy source that generates a microwave energy is disclosed. The microwave energy source has an on-state and an off-state. A control circuit is coupled to the microwave energy source and includes an output to generate a control signal that adjusts a pulse frequency of the microwave energy. A voltage generator applies a non-zero voltage to the microwave energy source during the off-state. A frequency and a duty cycle of the non-zero voltage is based on a frequency and a duty cycle of the control signal. A waveguide is coupled to the microwave energy source. The waveguide has a supply gas inlet that receives a supply gas, a reaction zone that generates a plasma, a process inlet that injects a raw material into the reaction zone, and an outlet that outputs a powder based on a mixture of the supply gas and the raw material within the plasma.

Conversion of heavy fossil hydrocarbons (HFH) to a variety of value-added chemicals and/or fuels can be enhanced using microwave (MW) and/or radio-frequency (RF) energy. Variations of reactants, process parameters, and reactor design can significantly influence the relative distribution of chemicals and fuels generated as the product. In one example, a system for flash microwave conversion of HFH includes a source concentrating microwave or RF energy in a reaction zone having a pressure greater than 0.9 atm, a continuous feed having HFH and a process gas passing through the reaction zone, a HFH-to-liquids catalyst contacting the HFH in at least the reaction zone, and dielectric discharges within the reaction zone. The HFH and the catalyst have a residence time in the reaction zone of less than 30 seconds. In some instances, a plasma can form in or near the reaction zone.

An arrangement for heating a sample by microwave radiation is provided. The arrangement includes a container having an inner space for accommodating the sample and having a bottom container wall, a wave guide arranged to guide a microwave having an electric field direction, a waveguide adapter being adapted to couple the microwave from the wave guide into the inner space of the container via the bottom container wall being oriented to be different from perpendicular to, in particular substantially parallel to, the electric field vector direction.

A microwave mode coupling device for transferring electromagnetic (EM) energy from a first structure to a second structure while providing a pressure barrier between the first structure and the second structure, the coupling device comprising first and second transmission line sections separated by an intermediate waveguide section.

Gas streams may be effectively processed using microwave energy in such a way as to significantly reduce processing cost and plant complexity. In the first instance, microwave energy is used to generate a self-catalytic, non-equilibrium plasma, resulting in essentially complete gas reaction at industrial scales of operation. In the second instance, microwave energy is used in combination with conventional catalyst materials to significantly enhance their performance by enabling operation at reduced gas temperatures. In this second instance, the microwave energy may be used either to generate a non-equilibrium plasma or to selectively and directly heat the catalyst material.

A microwave energy source that generates a microwave energy is disclosed. The microwave energy source has an on-state and an off-state. A control circuit is coupled to the microwave energy source and includes an output to generate a control signal that adjusts a pulse frequency of the microwave energy. A voltage generator applies a non-zero voltage to the microwave energy source during the off-state. A frequency and a duty cycle of the non-zero voltage is based on a frequency and a duty cycle of the control signal. A waveguide is coupled to the microwave energy source. The waveguide has a supply gas inlet that receives a supply gas, a reaction zone that generates a plasma, a process inlet that injects a raw material into the reaction zone, and an outlet that outputs a powder based on a mixture of the supply gas and the raw material within the plasma.

This disclosure provides a reactor system that includes a microwave energy source that generates a microwave energy, a field-enhancing waveguide (FEWG) coupled to the microwave source. The FEWG includes a field-enhancing zone having a cross-sectional area that decreases along a length of the FEWG. The field-enhancing zone includes a supply gas inlet that receives a supply gas, a reaction zone that generates a plasma in response to excitation of the supply gas by the microwave energy, a process inlet that injects a raw material into the reaction zone, and a constricted region that retains a portion of the plasma and combines the plasma and the raw material in response to the microwave energy within the reaction zone. An expansion chamber is in fluid communication with the constricted region facilitates expansion of the plasma. An outlet outputs a plurality of carbon-inclusive particles derived from the expanded plasma and the raw material.