METHANE CONVERSION APPARATUS AND PROCESS USING A SUPERSONIC FLOW REACTOR

摘要

Apparatus and methods are provided for converting methane in a feed stream to acetylene. A hydrocarbon stream is introduced into a supersonic reactor and pyrolyzed to convert at least a portion of the methane to acetylene. The reactor effluent stream may be treated to convert acetylene to another hydrocarbon process. An acid washing system is employed to wash the reactor effluent to remove any copper acetylide byproducts that may be present in the reactor effluent, or alternatively to decompose any copper acetylide byproducts that may remain in the reactor after shutdown of the reactor.

主权项

1. A system for producing acetylene from a feed stream comprising methane comprising:
a supersonic reactor for receiving the methane feed stream and heating the methane feed stream to a pyrolysis temperature; a reactor shell of the supersonic reactor for defining a reactor chamber; a combustion zone of the supersonic reactor for combusting a fuel source to provide a high temperature carrier gas passing through the reactor space at supersonic speeds to heat and accelerate the methane feed stream to a pyrolysis temperature; at least a portion of the reactor shell comprises at least one of copper and a copper alloy, wherein upon heating and accelerating the methane stream, a reactor effluent is generated comprising acetylene and a copper acetylide byproduct; and an acid washing unit that washes the reactor effluent from the supersonic reactor with an acid to decompose the copper acetylide byproduct.