METHODS AND REACTORS FOR PRODUCING ACETYLENE

摘要

Methods and reactors are provided for producing acetylene. The method includes combusting a fuel with oxygen in a combustor to produce a carrier gas, and accelerating the carrier gas to a supersonic speed in a converging/diverging nozzle prior to the carrier gas entering a reaction zone. A nozzle exit temperature of the carrier gas is controlled from about 1,200 degrees centigrade (° C.) to about 2,500° C. by adding a heat sink gas to the carrier gas before the reaction zone, where the heat sink gas is different than the fuel and the oxygen. Methane is added to the carrier gas in the reaction zone, and a shock wave is produced in the reaction zone by adjusting a back pressure such that the methane reacts to form acetylene.

主权项

1. A method of producing acetylene, the method comprising the steps of:
combusting a fuel with oxygen in a combustor to produce a carrier gas; accelerating the carrier gas to a supersonic speed in a converging/diverging nozzle prior to the carrier gas entering a reaction zone; controlling a nozzle exit temperature of the carrier gas from about 1,200 degrees centigrade to about 2,500 degrees centigrade by adding a heat sink gas to the carrier gas in a reactor, wherein the heat sink gas is different than the fuel and the oxygen, and wherein the reactor comprises the combustor, the converging/diverging nozzle, and the reaction zone; adding methane to the carrier gas in the reaction zone; and converting kinetic energy in the carrier gas to thermal energy in the reaction zone to increase the temperature of the carrier gas such that the methane reacts by pyrolysis to form the acetylene.