Improvements in or relating to a process and apparatus for the production of unsaturated hydrocarbons

摘要

A process for the conversion of substantially saturated hydrocarbons to unsaturated hydrocarbons, particularly acetylene, comprises feeding a premixed mixture of saturated hydrocarbons and molecular oxygen or air at a high rate of flow into a combustion chamber long in relation to its transverse dimension, the mixture containing the hydrocarbon and molecular oxygen in ratios substantially different from the stiochiometric ratio, igniting the mixture to effect a pyrolysis or cracking of the saturated hydrocarbon, stabilizing combustion in said zone by means of an independent disc-like flame maintained in the path of flow of said mixture to extend transversely thereof, withdrawing the hot combustion products from the chamber and cooling them. In a preferred embodiment the combustible mixture enters a cylindrical ceramic duct 1 through an inlet A and passes to a refractory cross-piece 2 which is provided on the longitudinal axis of the duct with a cylindrical projection 3 which acts as an obstructing element against which may be projected a jet of hydrocarbon fuel from an axial nozzle 4 supplied from outside the duct by a pipe 5. Tubes 6 and 7 adapted to be supplied with air or oxygen via pipes 8, 9 and 10 co-operate respectively with the nozzle 4 and projection 3 to provide annular ports 11 and 12 for supplying air or oxygen to the thin disc of fuel formed by the jet of fuel impinging on projection 3. As an alternative, the air or oxygen may be supplied through the fuel nozzle and the fuel supplied through the air distributer. The product gas which may contain 6 per cent of acetylene may be quenched in a gas turbine. Specifications 711,208 and 819,784 are referred to.