GB827720A - Improvements relating to the thermal decomposition of hydrocarbons - Google Patents

Abstract

<PICT:0827720/III/1> At least one gaseous or vaporized or atomized liquid hydrocarbon is decomposed in a thermally insulated combustion chamber which comprises two part-chambers separated to form a peripheral exit for the products of combustion and which has a longitudinal axis and a ratio of total length to maximum diameter of less than four to one, in the presence of an amount of oxygen-containing gas insufficient or just sufficient for overall complete combustion (hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and finely-divided carbon being produced in the former case, said hydrocarbon, oxygen - containing gas, and optionally a non-hydrocarbon fuel, being injected into the combustion-chamber so as to produce a flame in one (Figs. 1, 4, 5 and 7, not shown) or both (Figs. 2 and 3, not shown) part-chambers and to effect substantially uniform thermal decomposition and/or combustion of said hydrocarbon. The part chambers may have a circular or square cross-section. They may be in the form of a hemisphere or cone. Two cones each having an included angle of 90 degrees or one having an included angle of 30 degrees and the other of 90 degrees, may be employed. The mouth of one conical part-chamber may be located within the mouth of another conical part-chamber (Fig. 5, not shown). The hydrocarbon injection means may be located at the apex of a conical part-chamber, or at a plurality of points in the conical wall thereof. In a modification (Fig. 6) the two part-chambers may be separated by a central chamber so as to form two peripheral exits, flames being produced in both part-chambers and at least one hydrocarbon being injected into the central chamber through the wall thereof with or without the production of a flame. Liquid hydrocarbon may be atomised by primary air or oxygen, or combustible gas under pressure, e.g. tail gas from the reaction after removal of carbon black. The atomized hydrocarbon may form a conical spray having an included angle of at least 30 degrees, preferably 60-120 degrees. Secondary air or oxygen or a combustible gas, e.g. tail gas, may be introduced into flame- and non-flame-producing part chambers from a surrounding casing by means of a compressor. As shown, two conical part-chambers 1 and 2 are separated by a cylindrical part 8 forming two peripheral exits 3 and 31 having flanged extensions 15. Make hydrocarbon is injected into the chamber through atomizers 81 and hydrocarbon for production of flames through burners 11 and 12. Air or oxygen for combustion is injected into the conical part-chamber through inlets 13 and 14 from casings 9 and 10 respectively.