GB839302A - Improvements in and relating to acetylene generation - Google Patents

Abstract

<PICT:0839302/IV (b)/1> A continuous process for producing acetylene comprises feeding together a continuous supply of calcium carbide and a first supply of water into a first reaction zone, regulating the rate of carbide feed in automatic response to a selected condition which is dependent on the rate of acetylene generation to provide a controlled rate of generation of acetylene, continuouly adding a second supply of water to the charge in a quantity in automatic response to changes in the temperature of the product gas to produce a residual hydrated lime of substantially uniform moisture content and continuously removing the gas and hydrated lime. In a preferred embodiment based on the apparatus shown in Specification 610,546 carbide is fed from a hopper I by means of a screw 2 to a zone A of three drum generator chambers 3, 4, 5, and then over partition walls 9, 10 and 11 through zones B, C and D. A water supply line 12 provides the first supply of water, and supply line 13 the second water supply. The gaseous products are removed through a line 7 and the hydrated lime is withdrawn through a channel 8. A manually adjustable valve 21 regulates the flow in the first water supply line 12. A measuring and transmitting means 25 in line 7 responds to temperature changes in the gas discharged from the generator and operates a controller 26 which in turn controls valve 27 in the second supply line 13. A direct acting relay 31 responsive to the measuring means 22 completely closes valve 28 whenever the gas production has fallen below a pre-selected value. Specification 559,198 also is referred to.