| abstract |
A high temperature reaction apparatus for reacting on solid, liquid and gaseous materials to change their state and/or chemical compositions. High temperatures are generated within a reaction chamber by means of electrical energy applied to electrodes or other means for generating radiant energy. The radiant energy may be in one or more forms such as a beam or a plasma. In a preferred form, the apparatus is controlled by a master controller such as a computer which generates control signals applied to control the admission of a reaction material or materials to a reaction chamber, the operation of one or more electrical energy to radiant energy generating means and, in certain arrangements, the removal or products of the high temperature reaction from the reaction chamber. Controlled chemical and/or physical reactions may thus be effected under computer control to perform such functions as incineration, the production of select chemicals, the refining of metals, the comminuting of solids, the vaporization of solid materials or select portions thereof, the production of select gases from vapors and solid materials and the coating of surfaces by particulate and/or vapor deposition. The apparatus may also be operated to provide combinations of such processes in a single reaction chamber or in a series of chambers joined together for the sequential and continuous processing of solid, liquid, vaporous and/or gaseous matter fed per se or as a mixture or separate streams thereof. |