GB191024256A - An Improved Process and Apparatus for the Continuous Manufacture of Hydrogen and Finely Divided Carbon (Soot) from Acetylene or a Mixture of Acetylene with other Hydrocarbons. - Google Patents

Abstract

24,256. Pictet, R. P. Oct. 2], 1909, [Convention date]. Carbon and hydrogen are obtained from acetylene, or a mixture of acetylene with hydrocarbons, such as benzine, petroleum, masut, &c., in the form of gas or vapour, by passing the gas or gases through a conduit heated to about 500‹ C., under a pressure slightly higher than atmospheric, the mixture being cooled in a further portion of the conduit, and its constituents being then separated. The vertical conduit a consists of a tubular body, and may be subdivided internally by a partition f of cruciform horizontal section. Pure acetylene, for example, passes in at the top e under constant pressure, and is preheated by means of a jacket c, through which are passed hot furnace gases &c., or combustible gases consumed in situ. With the commencement of the acetylene flow the external heating is stopped, the exothermic decomposition of the gas giving sufficient heat. Travelling down through the conduit a, the mixture of hydrogen and soot formed is cooled by means of a jacket d, through which is passed a regulated current of, preferably, water, or oils, the vapours of which may be mixed with the acetylene. Preferably, scraping-device is furnished to clear the walls of soot deposited thereon. The still hot mixture flows into a reservoir b on which the conduit a is mounted, for further cooling and for separation, suitable cooling-devices being preferably provided. The reservoir b is subdivided by perforated partitions h of graduated mesh, the last partition advantageously consisting of close-meshed fabric. Hydrogen is thus discharged pure at the exit i. A shaking-device k continuously clears the soot from the partitions h. In a modification, Fig. 3, the mixture of hydrogen and soot flows from the conduit a into a reservoir l, into which also water, or an oil such as petroleum, benzine, masut, or an oil suitable for mixing with the soot to form a product for subsequent utilization, say, printing- ink, is simultaneously sprayed, in excess, from a pipe s. The soot and liquid may be subsequently separated or further treated. A curved overflow pipe m is so arranged at the bottom of the reservoir l that air cannot enter, while both the hydrogen and oil continually escape.