GB603829A - Improvements in cooling reaction gases - Google Patents

Abstract

<PICT:0603829/III/1> In the manufacture of chemical substances, particularly oxygenated hydrocarbons, e.g. as described in Specifications 462,906 and 463,389, [both in Group IV], by reactions in which the products are hot compressed gases, the latter are rapidly cooled by adding water and the gaseous mixture so obtained is employed to drive a turbine in which water vapour is condensed, but at least part of the reaction products remain in the vapour phase. Butane is partially oxidised in reaction chamber 3, using steam as diluent. The reaction products leave chamber 3 at 900 DEG F. under a pressure of 100 lbs./sq. inch and are introduced into quench trap 4 where sufficient cold water is added to bring the temperature down to 400 DEG F. The gas mixture then passes through turbine 5 wherein the pressure falls to about 58 lbs. and the temperature to about 140 DEG F. The greater part of the water vapour in the mixture is thereby condensed and is collected in accumulator 6. The uncondensed gases pass on to centrifugal compressor 7 in which they are compressed to 125 lbs. by the power of turbine 5. They are re-cooled to 140 DEG F. in cooler 8 and then passed to water absorber 9 in which the oxygenated organic compounds are removed from the gases. The gases leaving the absorber are divided; part being recycled to the reaction zone, and part being vented via an oil absorber (not shown) in which it is freed from hydrocarbons. In a modification, the uncondensed gases from the accumulator are passed direct to the water absorber without compression; the residual gas is then passed to the centrifugal compressor before being recycled to the reaction zone.