Enhancing chemical reactions
- Richland, WA
Methods of enhancing selected chemical reactions. The population of a selected high vibrational energy state of a reactant molecule is increased substantially above its population at thermal equilibrium by directing onto the molecule a beam of radiant energy from a laser having a combination of frequency and intensity selected to pump the selected energy state, and the reaction is carried out with the temperature, pressure, and concentrations of reactants maintained at a combination of values selected to optimize the reaction in preference to thermal degradation by transforming the absorbed energy into translational motion. The reaction temperature is selected to optimize the reaction. Typically a laser and a frequency doubler emit radiant energy at frequencies of .nu. and 2.nu. into an optical dye within an optical cavity capable of being tuned to a wanted frequency .delta. or a parametric oscillator comprising a non-centrosymmetric crystal having two indices of refraction, to emit radiant energy at the frequencies of .nu., 2.nu., and .delta. (and, with a parametric oscillator, also at 2.nu.-.delta.). Each unwanted frequency is filtered out, and each desired frequency is focused to the desired radiation flux within a reaction chamber and is reflected repeatedly through the chamber while reactants are fed into the chamber and reaction products are removed therefrom.
- Research Organization:
- Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, OH (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC06-76RL01830
- Assignee:
- Battelle Memorial Institute (Columbus, OH)
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4124466
- OSTI ID:
- 863218
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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chemical
reactions
methods
selected
population
vibrational
energy
reactant
molecule
increased
substantially
thermal
equilibrium
directing
beam
radiant
laser
combination
frequency
intensity
pump
reaction
carried
temperature
pressure
concentrations
reactants
maintained
values
optimize
preference
degradation
transforming
absorbed
translational
motion
typically
doubler
emit
frequencies
optical
dye
cavity
capable
tuned
delta
parametric
oscillator
comprising
non-centrosymmetric
crystal
indices
refraction
unwanted
filtered
desired
focused
radiation
flux
chamber
reflected
repeatedly
fed
products
removed
therefrom
optical cavity
radiant energy
reaction chamber
chemical reaction
reaction product
reaction products
reaction temperature
chemical reactions
parametric oscillator
thermal equilibrium
removed therefrom
selected chemical
selected energy
thermal degradation
vibrational energy
desired frequency
radiation flux
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