Chemical Reactor System and Methods to Create Plasma Hot Spots in a Pumped Media

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are disclosed to produce gas vapor bubbles in a liquid media and collapsing the bubble to create a plasma hot spot. Generated bubbles are introduced and collapsing the bubbles results in the partial or total conversion of the internal and boundary layer gas and liquid phase content of the bubble to plasma, ionized gas and ionized liquid. Consequently, a change or increase in the reactivity of the elements and compounds in the gas or liquid phases of the bubble and the surrounding liquid media occurs.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for the formation and collapse of bubbles, the system comprising:
 a bubble generator for generating bubbles in a fluid;   a regenerative turbine pump for receiving the fluid and the bubbles;   at least one sensor sensing at least one process parameter associated with operation of the regenerative turbine pump; and   a controller in communication with the at least one sensor, the controller receiving the at least one process parameter, processing the at least one process parameter, and adjusting operation of the regenerative turbine pump based upon processing of the at least one process parameter.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the regenerative turbine pump includes an impeller blade defining a plurality of buckets. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the buckets are sized to receive and move a singular bubble. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the process parameter comprises at least one of the rotational speed of the buckets, discharge pressure, and temperature. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , further comprising a bubble detection apparatus attached to the pump, the bubble detection apparatus sized to detect the number and size of the bubbles. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the bubble generator comprises a venturi. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the bubble generator comprises an eductor. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the bubble generator comprises an injector for injecting the bubbles into the fluid. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the controller transmits a speed setpoint signal to the pump and the controller calculates the speed, pressure, or flow rate of the pump. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the system operates in a closed loop configuration. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one sensor senses at least one process parameter associated with operation of the bubble generator. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the controller is in communication with the at least one sensor, the controller receiving the at least one process parameter, processing the at least one process parameter, and adjusting operation of the bubble generator based upon processing of the at least one process parameter. 
     
     
         13 . A method for the formation and collapse of bubbles, the method comprising the steps of:
 producing a stream of bubbles from a liquid;   delivering the stream of bubbles to a regenerative turbine pump having an impeller defining a plurality of buckets;   collapsing the bubbles; and   monitoring a process parameter associated with the bubbles using a controller and at least one sensor; and   adjusting operation of the regenerative turbine pump based upon monitoring of the parameter.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the bubbles are collapsed in individual bucket chambers of the regenerative turbine pump. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the bubbles are entrained in a helical flow in the chambers of the pump. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the step of monitoring pressure or flow rate of the stream of bubbles using at least one sensor and the controller in communication with the at least one sensor. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of determining whether the pressure or the flow rate is within an acceptable range using the controller. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of adjusting operation of the regenerative turbine pump in response to monitoring of the pressure or the flow rate. 
     
     
         19 . A system for the formation and collapse of bubbles, the system comprising:
 a bubble generator for generating bubbles in a fluid;   a regenerative turbine pump for receiving the fluid and the bubbles;   at least one sensor sensing at least one process parameter associated with operation of the bubble generator; and   a controller in communication with the at least one sensor, the controller receiving the at least one process parameter, processing the at least one process parameter, and adjusting operation of the bubble generator based upon processing of the at least one process parameter.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the regenerative turbine pump includes an impeller blade defining a plurality of buckets. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the buckets are sized to receive and move a singular bubble. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the bubble generator comprises a venturi. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the bubble generator comprises an eductor. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the bubble generator comprises an injector for injecting the bubbles into the fluid.