GB672100A - Improvements in the production of acetylene - Google Patents

Abstract

<PICT:0672100/IV (b)/1> An apparatus for the production of acetylene by the incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons with oxygen in a flame reaction after the gases have been mixed comprises a gas distributer arranged in front of the reaction chamber and consisting of a plurality of parallel channels, wherein the gas distributer is constructed of a material having a good thermal conductivity, e.g. a metal, and is provided with cooling means. The part of the gas distributer on the gas outlet side only may be constructed of a material having a good thermal conductivity. The reaction chamber adjoining the gas distributer may be bounded by side walls, e.g. made of a metal, which are also provided with cooling means. Means may be provided for introducing additional amounts of oxygen into the reaction chamber in the neighbourhood of the cooled walls at the points where the reaction starts. In the Figure, the gas mixture to be reacted enters into a gas distributer consisting of a block A perforated by a plurality of channels. The upper part is made of ceramic material and the lower part is made of metal. The lower part comprises hollow spaces B through which cooling water circulates. Contiguous with the distributer is the reaction chamber C, the walls of which are also made of metal and are surrounded by a jacket D through which cooling water circulates. Tubes E are provided for the introduction of small amounts of oxygen. The reaction chamber is limited at the bottom by a zone into which water is injected by means of jets F for quenching the hot reacted gases. In the example, methane is reacted with oxygen to form acetylene.