Controlled temperature ion transport membrane reactor

Abstract

The controlled temperature ion transport membrane reactor is a combustion-type ion transport membrane reactor for combusting a hydrocarbon fuel with oxygen. The reactor includes an oxygen permeable ion transport membrane for separating oxygen from air. In order to control temperature within the reactor, a thermally conductive plate is positioned between a mixing passage, where a diluent gas and the permeated oxygen are mixed, and a reaction zone. The reaction zone is in fluid communication with the mixing passage and a fuel chamber through a porous plate for combusting the hydrocarbon fuel with the oxygen.

1 . A controlled temperature ion transport membrane reactor, comprising:
 a reactor housing having first and second laterally opposed ends, an upper wall, and a lower wall;   an oxygen-permeable ion transport membrane disposed within the reactor housing;   an air passage defined between the oxygen-permeable ion transport membrane and the upper wall of the reactor housing;   an air inlet formed through the first end of the reactor housing for receiving pressurized air, the pressurized air passing through the air passage;   a depleted air outlet formed through the second end of the reactor housing for expelling depleted air following removal of oxygen therefrom;   a thermally conductive plate disposed within the reactor housing;   a mixture passage defined between the oxygen-permeable ion transport membrane and the thermally conductive plate;   a diluent inlet formed through the second end of the reactor housing for receiving a diluent gas, the diluent gas and oxygen permeated through the oxygen-permeable ion transport membrane mixing in the mixture passage;   a porous plate disposed within the reactor housing;   a reaction zone defined between the thermally conductive plate and the porous plate, the reaction zone being in fluid communication with the mixture passage;   an exhaust outlet formed through the second end of the reactor housing for expelling combustion products,   a fuel inlet formed through the second end of the reactor housing; and   a fuel chamber defined between the porous plate and the lower wall of the reactor housing, the fuel inlet being in fluid communication with the fuel chamber;   wherein a hydrocarbon fuel injected into the fuel inlet passes from the fuel chamber through the porous plate and reacts with the diluent gas and the oxygen in the reaction zone to generate heat and the combustion products.   
     
     
         2 . The controlled temperature ion transport membrane reactor as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a channel positioned adjacent the first end of the reactor housing, the channel connecting the reaction zone with the mixture passage. 
     
     
         3 - 7 . (canceled)