PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING A LOSS OF REACTION IN A HYDROCARBON CONVERSION REACTION

摘要

A HYDROCARBON CONVERSION PROCESS SUCH AS AN AUTO - THERMAL CRACKING PROCESS IN WHICH A HYDROCARBON FEED AND A MOLECULAR OXYGEN-CONTAINING GAS ARE CONTACTED IN A REACTION ZONE IN THE PRESENCE OF A CATALYST TO PRODUCE AN OUTLET STREAM HAVING AN OXYGEN CONCENTRATION WHICH IS AT, NEAR OR ABOVE THE FLAMMABLE LIMIT AND IN WHICH PROCESS A LOSS OF REACTION IS DETECTED AND USED AS A SIGNAL TO ACTIVATE MEANS FOR MITIGATING THE RISK OF EXPLOSION DOWNSTREAM OF THE REACTION ZONE. THE LOSS OF REACTION MAY BE DETECTED FOR EXAMPLE BY A SUDDEN INCREASE IN OXYGEN CONCENTRATION IN THE OUTLET STREAM AND/OR A SUDDEN DROP IN TEMPERATURE OF THE OUTLET STREAM.