Appeal No. 1996-1141
Application 08/109,166
The subject matter on appeal is directed to a method of reacting a pyrophoric gas
by combining a “first flow of a gas mixture comprising an oxidant” and a “second flow of a
second gas mixture comprising a pyrophoric gas in a turbulent environment.”
Claims 20, 24, 25, and 30 are illustrative and read as follows:
20. A method [sic: reacting] of a pyrophoric gas comprising the steps of:
introducing a first flow of a first gas mixture comprising an oxidizing species into a
chamber through a first inlet located at a first position;
introducing a second flow of a second gas mixture comprising said pyrophoric gas
into said chamber through a second inlet located at a second position downstream of said
first position, wherein said first flow is turbulent from at least a point upstream of said
second position; and,
combining said first and second flows to create a third flow of a third gas mixture
comprising said first and said second gas mixtures, said third flow being turbulent from
said second position and through at least an additional portion of said chamber, said
turbulence causing said first and said second gas mixtures to mix, wherein said turbulence
is sufficient to cause said pyrophoric gas to react with said oxidizing species in a
controlled manner to be substantially without risk of explosion.
24. The method as described in Claim 20 wherein a sufficient amount of said
pyrophoric gas reacts with said oxidizing species such that when said third flow exists said
chamber said third flow has a substantially reduced risk of explosion.
25. The method as described in Claim 23 wherein a sufficient amount of said
pyrophoric gas reacts with said oxidizing species such that when said third flow exists said
chamber said third flow has a substantially reduced risk of explosion.
30. A method of reacting a pyrophoric gas comprising the steps of:
introducing a first flow of a first gas mixture comprising an oxidizing species into a
chamber through a first inlet;
2
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007