Control of a pulse combustion reactor with thermoacoustic phenomena

We have developed a novel way of controlling parameters in reactors using flue gases from pulse combustion as a direct source of heat and as a means of transport of particulate materials synthesized in a slightly reductive environment or oxidative environment. The reactor is used for a spray pyrolysis synthesis of materials or the sintering of different ceramic powders. The reactor is heated directly, which means reduced energy losses, and the enhanced drying reported using pulse combustion is implemented for faster reaction. A slightly reductive atmosphere is maintained by combusting a stoichiometric fuel and air mixture and adding acetylene to the flue gas flow. Reaction conditions must be carefully controlled; this is achieved by influencing the characteristic times of the pulse combustion and changing the frequency of combustion and with it the temperature and flue gas composition in the reactor. The frequency is changed by nitrogen dilution of burning gas, influencing the mixing of the combustible mixture with hot flue gases and damping of frequencies with a secondary Helmholtz resonator. The frequency of pressure oscillations in the combustor should be the same as one of the harmonic frequencies of the reactor pipe to reach an acoustic resonance. In this work, the frequency of pulse combustion was altered in such a way that resonance was established with the reactor pipe and that a suitable reaction environment was obtained. With good control over all parameters, we were able to synthesize different Li-ion cathode materials, such as LiFePO₄ and Li(Ni_xMn_yCo_z)O_2.