Reaction pump and system for hydrocarbon conversion

Abstract

Reaction pumps and systems for hydrocarbon conversion are disclosed. A reaction pump for conversion of hydrocarbons has a housing, a reaction chamber enclosed by the housing, for containment of a hydrocarbon process fluid or liquid reactant, a mixing element disposed inside the reaction chamber, the mixing element coupled to a rotatable shaft, and a plurality of bearings receiving the shaft, each bearing being disposed outside the reaction chamber. At least one of the bearings is closest to the reaction chamber. A type of barrier is disposed between the reaction chamber and the closest bearing, for fluidically separating the reactant from the closest bearing. This barrier can take the form of a seal protection chamber. A system for hydrocarbon conversion includes the reaction pump and an additional circuit for cleaning and recycling process fluid or liquid.

1 - 36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . A reaction pump for thermal conversion of hydrocarbons, comprising:
 a housing;   a reaction chamber enclosed by the housing to contain a hydrocarbon process fluid or liquid reactant;   a mixing element disposed inside the reaction chamber to transfer energy to the fluid reactant, the mixing element coupled to a rotatable shaft;   at least one bearing receiving the rotatable shaft and being disposed outside the reaction chamber;   a barrier disposed between the reaction chamber and the at least one bearing, to fluidically separate the reactant from the at least one bearing; wherein   the barrier includes a seal protection chamber disposed between the reaction chamber and the at least one bearing; and   the seal protection chamber contains a liquid which is in fluid communication with the reaction chamber.   
     
     
         38 . A reaction pump according to  claim 37 , wherein the seal protection chamber includes inlet and outlet channels to circulate liquid in the seal protection chamber. 
     
     
         39 . A reaction pump according to  claim 37 , wherein the barrier is a seal protection chamber intermediate of the at least one bearing and the reaction chamber. 
     
     
         40 . A reaction pump according to  claim 37 , wherein the barrier includes a fluid ring seal. 
     
     
         41 . A reaction pump according to  claim 37 , further comprising a pressure vessel or pump that varies the liquid pressure within the seal protection chamber. 
     
     
         42 . A reaction pump according to  claim 37 , wherein the barrier includes a sliding ring seal enclosing the shaft. 
     
     
         43 . A reaction pump according to  claim 37 , wherein the barrier includes a throttle enclosing the shaft, the throttle being disposed between the seal protection chamber and the reaction chamber. 
     
     
         44 . A reaction pump according to  claim 37 , wherein the reaction chamber is divided into two sub-chambers, the first sub-chamber including an inlet configured to receive reactant entering the reaction pump and the second sub-chamber including an outlet configured to expel processed reactant. 
     
     
         45 . A reaction pump according to  claim 44 , wherein the mixing element includes an impeller and wherein a rib is supported on an inner surface of the reaction chamber and is located intermediate of the two sub-chambers, the rib has a diameter larger than a diameter of the impeller and the center of a circle defining the rib is offset from an axis of the reaction chamber so that the rib extends eccentrically around an inner wall of the reaction chamber. 
     
     
         46 . A reaction pump according to  claim 45 , wherein a bore or conduit is provided to introduce liquid, or gaseous, catalyst into the reaction chamber, under pressure, at or near the rib. 
     
     
         47 . A reaction pump according to  claim 46 , wherein the bore or conduit is a conduit passing through material defining the rib. 
     
     
         48 . A reaction pump according to  claim 46 , wherein the impeller is drivable to decrease input pressure in the reaction chamber sufficient to aspire reactant to the inlet from a fluid pre-processing unit, and to increase output pressure sufficient to pump reactant from the outlet to a fluid post-processing unit. 
     
     
         49 . A reaction pump according to  claim 37 , further comprising a sealing device that accommodates thermal expansion of the shaft. 
     
     
         50 . A reaction pump according to  claim 49 , wherein the sealing device includes a bellows seal that surrounds the shaft. 
     
     
         51 . A method of thermal conversion of hydrocarbons using a reaction pump, comprising the steps of:
 supplying a hydrocarbon process fluid or liquid reactant to the reaction pump; and   supplying reactant output from the reaction pump to a fluid post-processing circuit and/or to a fluid cleaning circuit for removing solids from process fluid or liquid reactant output by the reaction pump.   
     
     
         52 . A system for conversion of hydrocarbons, comprising:
 a reaction pump according to  claim 37 ; and   a cleaning circuit configured to eliminate solid residue from process fluid or liquid reactant output by the reaction pump.   
     
     
         53 . A reaction pump according to  claim 37 , wherein the liquid contained in the seal protection chamber fluidically separates the reactant from the at least one bearing and isolates the reactant from the at least one bearing. 
     
     
         54 . A reaction pump according to  claim 37 , wherein the liquid contained in the seal protection chamber fluidically separates the reactant from the at least one bearing and ensures an airtight or near airtight light seal. 
     
     
         55 . A reaction pump according to  claim 37 , wherein a sealing device is disposed between the seal protection chamber and the at least one bearing which is closest to the reaction chamber, and the seal protection chamber is configured to fluidically separate the reactant from the sealing device. 
     
     
         56 . A reaction pump according to  claim 55 , wherein the sealing device includes a sliding ring seal enclosing the shaft.