GB317558A - Improvements in effecting chemical reactions in gases by means of electrical discharges - Google Patents

Abstract

317,558. Hull, P. H., and Imperial Chemical Industries, Ltd. May 31, 1928. Gases, treating with electric discharge.-In the production of acetylene by the passage of gaseous hydrocarbons through an electric discharge, the gases are passed into the discharge zone with a velocity of 800-900 feet per second so that a high degree of turbulence is produced. The treated gases are rapidly conducted from the discharge zone. The arc is struck between the hollow electrode 2 and the rod electrode 1. The gases are introduced through a tube 3 arranged co-axially with the electrode 2 and pass through the arc into the chamber 4. The gases may return through the arc and pass away through the annular space between the tube and electrode 2. The electrodes are of carbon and the hollow arc may be rotated. The chamber 4 may be of aluminium. Coke oven gas freed from sulphur compounds and containing 25-35 per cent of methane is passed through an arc operating at 4000 volts and 40 cycles and yields 3-5 per cent of acetylene which passes to an absorption tower as described in Specification 302,515, [Class 2 (iii), Dyes &c.].