GB327025A - Improvements in and apparatus for carrying out endothermic catalytic reactions - Google Patents

Abstract

327,025. Johnson, J. Y., (I. G. Farbenindustrie Akt.-Ges.). April 15, 1929. Catalytic apparatus.- Endothermic catalytic reactions are carried out by heating the reaction chamber or chambers containing the catalyst, which is or are separated from the heating space, mainly or exclusively by heat radiation from suitable surfaces. These may be arranged on one or more sides of, or completely surround the reaction vessel. Such surfaces are heated by furnace gases, electric current &c., and preferably consist of materials of high heat absorptive or emissive power, e.g. metals or metal oxides, particularly those of the iron group. For example, a furnace for heating a bank of catalyst tubes R consist of three chambers, the central chamber K2 serving as a combustion chamber for the heating gases entering at A. The gases, heat the dividing walls, and pass throughthe lattice brickwork into the outer chambers K1 and K3, finally passing out at B. The heat is partly transferred by the gases flowing past the tubes, but chiefly by radiation from the hot walls between the chambers. Such apparatus may be employed, for example, in the catalytic conversion of methane and steam into carbon monoxide and hydrogen, or for the thermal decomposition of organic compounds, e.g. methane.