GB1413996A - Synthesis gas generation - Google Patents

Abstract

1413996 Production of synthesis gas TEXACO DEVELOPMENT CORP 6 Oct 1972 46172/72 Heading C5E [Also in Division F4] Synthesis gas is produced by reacting molecular oxygen with a normally liquid hydrocarbon in the presence of a moderator in a reaction zone at an elevated pressure and at 1800‹ to 3500‹ F. and in proportions effective to produce a product consisting essentially of hydrogen and carbon monoxide by partial combustion, by injecting a stream of molecular oxygen from the central nozzle of a burner into the reaction zone, injecting coaxially through an annular nozzle surrounding the central nozzle and spaced radially therefrom, an annular stream of liquid hydrocarbon carried as a uniform fog or mist of atomized particles in a carrier stream of moderator, injecting a stream of moderator coaxially of the streams from an annular nozzle spaced radially, intermediate between the central and annular nozzles and issuing from the nozzle as an annular sheath which extends a finite distance downstream of the burner and separates and spaces the reactant streams a substantial distance from the burner nozzles, during which distance the oxygen and liquid hydrocarbon are prevented from mixing, the moderator comprising water vapour, steam, carbon dioxide, inert gases or mixtures thereof. The molecular oxygen may possess an oxygen concentration substantially greater than that of air, e.g. at least 50% or between 90-100% purity. A burner for use in introducing the reactants into the reaction zone of a synthesis gas generator comprises a central axial tubular conduit 18, having a discharge nozzle 20 having an inwardly converging tapered outer surface and a single unobstructed circular discharge passage; an intermediate coaxial concentric tubular conduit 16 disposed radially about the outside of conduit 18 along its length, inlet means at the upstream end and an intermediate coaxial concentric inwardly, converging frustoconically shaped discharge nozzle 22 with a circular tip at the downstream end of conduit 16, means for positioning conduit 18 and nozzle 20 with respect to conduit 16 and nozzle 22 in spaced relationship thereby providing an intermediate annular passage 24 having a single unobstructed inwardly converging intermediate annular discharge passage at the downstream end; an outer coaxial concentric tubular conduit 14 radially disposed about the outside of conduit 16 along its length, inlet means at the upstream end and an outer coaxial concentric inwardly converging frustoconically shaped discharge nozzle 26 at the downstream end of conduit 16, means for positioning conduit 14 and nozzle 26 with respect to conduit 16 and nozzle 22 in spaced relationship thereby providing an outer annular passage 28 having an unobstructed inwardly converging annular passage that discharges into a single unobstructed concentric coaxial outwardly diverging central passage at the downstream tip of the burner; a coolant chamber 32 at the downstream tip of the burner comprising an inside section 34 that comprises the outer inwardly converging frusto-conically shaped discharge nozzle 26, an outside section 36 that extends from and flares out from the inside section and which comprises an outwardly diverging section with an annular face of convex configuration at the outer extremity of the downstream tip of the burner, the outside section being in part the peripheral surface of the outwardly diverging tapered central passage of passage 28, a collar section 38 joining the inside and outside sections and closing the coolant chamber, and inlet and outlet means for circulating coolant through coolant chamber connected with conduit means in contact with the burner for passing coolant in direct heat exchange with the burner. The nozzle 22 has a convergence angle of 10 to 55 degrees with the axis of the burner, and nozzle 26 has a convergence angle of 16 to 60 degrees with the axis of the burner. The downstream end of nozzle 22 may be located upstream from the downstream end of nozzle 26 so as to permit a small amount of intermixing between a stream of oxygencontaining gas and a stream of temperaturemoderating gas in the use of the burner.