Importance

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Abstract

Gas or vapor phase chemical reactions are conducted inside an open loop Stirling cycle apparatus which may operate as a heat engine or as a heat pump. Adsorbent surfaces are associated with the thermal regenerators of the Stirling cycle apparatus, so that pressure swing adsorption separation of reactant and product gas species may be achieved in response to cyclic variations of flow and pressure within the apparatus. Flow control means are provided to introduce the feed gas into the working space of the apparatus and to remove separated product fractions. The feed gas is chemically reactive in a reaction zone of the working space, with reactant and product species separated by the apparatus to remove desired product(s) from the reaction zone while retaining reactant(s) in the reaction zone, so that conversion and selectivity objectives can be achieved. Engine embodiments of the invention may then convert heat of an exothermic reaction to mechanical power, while heat pump embodiments may supply heat to an endothermic reaction.

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First Claim