Method and apparatus for producing acetylene

摘要

The effluent gas stream from a plasma arc reactor is cooled without dilution of the stream by indirect heat exchange and quenched by recirculating and positively directing a portion of the cooled gas into the hot effluent gas stream from the plasma arc reactor. As shown in Fig. 1, feed gas materials, e.g. hydrogen and hydrocarbons having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, enter the reactor through pipes 20 and 22, the reactor being provided with cooling jacket 17. Effluent product gas at 900 DEG to 1500 DEG C. passes into indirect heat exchanger 50, provided with baffles 30, a portion of the recirculating gas stream impinging on fresh effluent product gas at 29 to provide immediate quenching thereof to 300 DEG to 600 DEG C. to prevent decomposition of the acetylene content. Fig.3 shows a modification wherein the product effluent gas is cooled by admixture with cooled product gas recirculated through line 43 and nozzles 45 and then further cooled by at least one heat exchanger coil 32 fed with liquid or gas coolant, the latter optionally containing at least one component of the feed gas which then passes through outlet 35 to the reactor through line 20. Product gases are taken off for purification through line 40.