GB340235A - An improved process and apparatus for the production of carbon by the dissociation of gases - Google Patents

Abstract

<PICT:0340235/III/1> Soot is obtained by the splitting of gases such as acetylene in pressure vessels in which they are ignited and into which they are forced by a compressor consisting of high and low pressure and intermediate working cylinders, the hydrogen formed by the decomposition serving to tear off deposited carbon from the walls of the tubes on opening the release valve and being afterwards exhausted from a settling vessel into a storage tank. The dissociation tubes a are provided at each end with stop valves, each comprising a conical part b<2> engaging a seating and provided on a member b<14> which is connected to the actuating spindle b<8> by a screw and slot allowing a certain amount of backlash. A cushion b<15> is interposed between the member b<14> and a head b<18>, which is fixed to the spindle and carries a slotted deflecting cone b<16>. Within the casing of the inlet valve is a segmental rotary valve actuated through a lever b<10> and sleeve b<7>. The gas to be treated is drawn into a low-pressure cylinder e<2> in which moves a piston secured on a rod e on which are also mounted the piston of a high-pressure cylinder e<3> and that of an intermediate actuating cylinder e<1> to which oil under pressure is admitted from a pipe f through an oscillating rotary valve f<1>. Oil is admitted on either side of the central piston alternately through the engagement of the compressor pistons with levers l<1>, l<2> linked by mechanism not shown to the valve f<1>, the gas being thereby precompressed in the cylinder e<2>, and then further compressed in the cylinder e<3> whence it passes by way of an ignition chamber d<1> to the tube a. Oil from a reservoir h<1> is drawn into the compression cylinders behind the pistons on their compression strokes and serves for cooling the cylinders. The ignition chamber is provided with a sparking plug c and a soot-removing scraper c<4> therefor. An auxiliary plug c<6> may be brought into use if the plug c fails. An inlet valve d<5> having a self-cleaning end d<4> admits gas to the ignition chamber. After charging the chamber a and ignition of the gas, excess of pressure is reduced by allowing the hydrogen formed to blow off into a reservoir n. The hydrogen still under pressure in the tube is then allowed to flow out through a pipe o<1> into a soot collector o<3>. The valves b<2> are then both opened and hydrogen from the reservoir n is allowed to pass through the tube a, a whirling motion being imparted to the gas by the slotted cones b<16>, whereby soot is stripped from the interior of the tube and carried into the collector o<3>. After this proceeding the valve b<11> is opened and a current of hydrogen circulated through the tube a by the operation of an exhaust fan o<2>. Soot deposited in the collector o<3> is removed through a slide valve o<10>.