GB191505098A - Improved Manufacture of Carbon Black and Hydrogen. - Google Patents

Abstract

5098. Brownlee, R. H., and Uhlinger, R. H. April 1. Carbon; hydrogen.-Carbon black and hydrogen are obtained by decomposition of hydrocarbons by contact with highly-heated refractory, material in a closed chamber in the absence of air; the refractory material is first heated up by combustion of a suitable fuel within the chamber; the mixture of hydrogen and carbon particles is led off from the chamber and separated into its constituents. In the construction of apparatus shown, a furnace 2 is lined with fire-bricks 3 and is provided with a supporting chequer-work 4, above which the furnace is filled with pieces 5 of refractory material; or the body of the furnace may be completely filled with refractory chequer-work. The furnace is first heated to the required temperature by admitting gas, vapour, or other hydrocarbon by the pipe 12 and burning it with air admitted by the pipe 10; the gas and air supplies are then shut off, the hydrocarbon to be decomposed, for example, natural gas, is admitted by the pipes 8; the resulting carbon and hydrogen pass out to the cooler 16; the carbon deposited in the cooler 16 is carried by the conveyer 26 into the hopper 21; the hydrogen passes through the return cooler 23, depositing further carbon which is carried by a second conveyer 26 to the hopper; the hydrogen then passes through a chamber 25 containing a filtering-screen 30 and thence through a water-seal 32 to scrubbers 34, 37, in which it is washed first by water and then by lime-water or other alkaline solution, and is finally collected; the hydrogen may be purified by liquefaction &c. In place of the screen 30, high-tension electric currents may be used to remove carbon particles from the hydrogen. Liquid or volatile solid hydrocarbons used as fuel in the preliminary heating-up should be sprayed or blown in with an air-blast, and when used in the subsequent production of carbon and hydrogen should be sprayed in or atomized by means of hydrogen under pressure; the preliminary heating-up may be effected by means of hydrogen obtained previously by the process.