Appeal No. 1996-4174 Page 2
Application No. 08/134,204
Appellants' invention relates to an apparatus for
oxidizing organic material under pressure in an elongated
tubular reactor
having a substantially constant internal diameter. An
understanding of the invention can be derived from a reading
of exemplary claims 14, 15 and 16, which are reproduced below.
14. Apparatus for oxidizing organic material in the
presence of inorganic material and water, comprising:
a) an elongate tubular reactor having a
substantially constant internal diameter from an inlet,
of an inlet end of the elongate tubular reactor, to an
outlet, of an outlet end of the elongate tubular reactor;
b) means for forming a pressurized reaction mixture
of organic material, inorganic material, water and a source
of oxygen, said pressurized reaction mixture having a
pressure which is supercritical for water;
c) means for passing said pressurized reaction
mixture through said elongate tubular reactor at a velocity
sufficient to prevent settling of a substantial
portion of solid particles from the reaction mixture within
the elongate tubular reactor;
d) means for introducing sufficient heat to the
pressurized reaction mixture in the elongate tubular
reactor to cause at least a substantial portion of the
organic material in the reaction mixture to oxidize, the
temperature of the reaction mixture being elevated to at
least supercritical temperature for water; and
e) means for cooling the reaction mixture within the
elongate tubular reactor, but at the outlet end of said
elongate tubular reactor, to a temperature sufficient to
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