In order to suppress discharge of an unreacted content in a chemical reaction apparatus for irradiating a content with microwaves, a chemical reaction apparatus includes: a horizontal flow-type reactor in which a liquid content horizontally flows with an unfilled space being provided thereabove; a microwave generator that generates microwaves; and a waveguide that transmits the microwaves generated by the microwave generator to the unfilled space in the reactor, wherein the inside of the reactor is partitioned into multiple chambers to by overflow-type partition plates and that allow the content to flow thereover and an underflow-type partition plate that allows the content to flow thereunder.

A microwave reactor includes a chamber, at least one microwave source, a sprayer and a vapor extractor. The chamber includes a containing space and a reacting space. The containing space is communicated with the reacting space and provided for containing a reactant. The microwave source is connected to one side wall of the reacting space of the chamber. The sprayer is communicated with the containing space of the chamber for turning the reactant into a mist and spraying the mist in the reacting space of the chamber. The vapor extractor is connected to the reacting space. When the water contained in the mist is gasified to produces a water vapor, the water vapor can be exhausted from the chamber by the vapor extractor.

In one aspect, the disclosure relates to relates to heterogeneous catalysts useful for the synthesis of ammonia under microwave irradiation, processes for preparing the disclosed heterogeneous catalysts, and processes for synthesizing ammonia using the heterogeneous catalysts with microwave irradiation. In various aspects, the disclosed heterogeneous catalysts comprise: a metal selected from Group 7, Group 8, Group 9, Group 10, Group 11, or combinations thereof; a metal oxide support; and optionally a promoter material. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.

A system and method for increase chemical reaction rates and/or lower reaction temperatures. The system relates to a chemical reactor including non-electrically conducting support and an electron source in communication with the support. The reactor further includes an electromagnetic source in communication with at least the electron source and the non-electrically conducting support.

A microwave reduction furnace including a reaction furnace provided with a refractory chamber of silica or silicon carbide for storing a material therein, a supply section for supplying the material into the refractory chamber, the material being a mixture of a silica powder and a graphite powder or a mixture of a silica powder, a silicon carbide powder and a graphite powder, a discharge section for discharging molten silicon, obtained through reduction, out of the chamber, and a microwave oscillator for outputting microwave toward the refractory chamber in the reaction furnace with a degree of directionality by virtue of a helical antenna or a waveguide.

A fuel activation and energy release apparatus is provided for increasing energy output of a fluid substance. The apparatus comprises a fluidly sealable reactor chamber, adapted to withstand a predetermined fluid pressure and temperature; a fluid injection port, adapted to provide a one-way fluid communication from an external fluid reservoir to said reactor chamber; a fluid ejection port, adapted to provide a one-way fluid communication from said reactor chamber to an external region, so as to controllably release said fluid substance from said reactor chamber and at least one first electromagnetic radiation (EMR) waveguide. The first EMR waveguide having a first waveguide input port and a first waveguide output port, operably coupled within said reactor chamber and adapted to couple electromagnetic radiation of a predetermined first wavelength to a fluid substance injected into said reactor chamber.

Embodiments relate to generating non-thermal plasma to selectively convert a precursor to a product. More specifically, plasma forming material, a precursor material, and a plasma promoter material are provided to a reaction zone of a vessel. The reaction zone is exposed to microwave radiation, including exposing the plasma forming material, the precursor material, and the plasma promoter material to the microwave radiation. The exposure of the plasma forming material and the plasma promoter material to the microwave radiation selectively converts the plasma forming material to a micro-plasma. The precursor material is mixed with the plasma forming material and the precursor material is exposed to the micro-plasma. The exposure of the precursor material to the micro-plasma and the microwave radiation selectively converts the precursor material to a product.

Provided is a method of producing graphene from a microwave-expandable un-exfoliated graphite or graphitic carbon, comprising: (a) feeding a powder of the microwave-expandable material onto a non-metallic solid substrate, wherein the powder is in a ribbon shape having a first ribbon width and a first ribbon thickness; (b) moving the ribbon-shape powder into a microwave applicator chamber containing a microwave power zone having a microwave application width (no less than the first ribbon width) and a microwave penetration depth (no less than the first ribbon thickness) so that the entire ribbon-shape powder receives and absorbs microwave power with a sufficient power level for a sufficient length of time to exfoliate and separate the powder for producing graphene sheets; and (c) moving the graphene sheets out of the microwave chamber, cooling the graphene sheets, and collecting the graphene sheets in a collector container or for a subsequent use.

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 fuel activation and energy release apparatus is provided for increasing energy output of a fluid substance. The apparatus comprises a fluidly sealable reactor chamber, adapted to withstand a predetermined fluid pressure and temperature; a fluid injection port, adapted to provide a one-way fluid communication from an external fluid reservoir to said reactor chamber; a fluid ejection port, adapted to provide a one-way fluid communication from said reactor chamber to an external region, so as to controllably release said fluid substance from said reactor chamber and at least one first electromagnetic radiation (EMR) waveguide. The first EMR waveguide having a first waveguide input port and a first waveguide output port, operably coupled within said reactor chamber and adapted to couple electromagnetic radiation of a predetermined first wavelength to a fluid substance injected into said reactor chamber.