Apparatus for the carbothermic reduction of metal oxides using solar energy

Patent · Tue Dec 09 04:00:00 EST 1986

OSTI ID:6958860

Gibson, J O; Gibson, M G

An apparatus is described for the carbothermic reduction of a metal oxide to produce a metal carbide utilizing solar energy comprising: (a) at least one reflective surface for collecting, reflecting and focusing collected solar radiation; (b) a focal mirror in spaced relation to the reflective surface having a reflective face facing the reflective surface for receiving focused and reflected solar radiation from the reflective surface and for focusing such solar radiation received; (c) a reaction chamber in spaced relation to the focal mirror for receiving focused solar radiation from the focal mirror; (d) a transparent window on the reaction chamber through which the focused solar radiation can pass into the reaction chamber; (e) a target area within the reaction chamber toward which the solar energy rays from the focal mirror are focused, the target area located beyond the focal point of the focused energy rays and positioned at a point where the rays diverge; (f) means within the reaction chamber for delivering a homogeneous mixture of metal oxide and carbon to the target area; (g) a Fresnel lens positioned in front of the transparent window of the reaction chamber along the focal pathway of solar radiation reflected from the focal mirror, for further focusing and concentrating the solar radiation. The fresnel lens is isolated by the transparent window from the reaction taking place in the reaction chamber; (h) means for providing a cooling fluid flow between the transparent window and the Fresnel lens; and (i) means for revolving the transparent window so that a different portion of the transparent window is positioned to transmit focused solar radiation to the reaction chamber.

• Assignee: NOV; NOV-85-038075; EDB-87-013884
• Patent Number(s): US 4627418
• OSTI ID: 6958860
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140905
141000* -- Solar Collectors & Concentrators
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400201 -- Chemical & Physicochemical Properties
CARBIDES
CARBON
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL PREPARATION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMICAL REACTORS
COOLANTS
DISPERSIONS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY
EQUIPMENT
FOCUSING
FRESNEL LENS
HEAT
LENSES
METALS
MIRRORS
MIXTURES
NONMETALS
OPACITY
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
POSITIONING
PROCESS HEAT
RADIATIONS
REDUCTION
SOLAR COLLECTORS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SOLAR PROCESS HEAT
SOLAR RADIATION
SPECTRALLY SELECTIVE SURFACES
STELLAR RADIATION
SURFACES
SYNTHESIS
USES