GB851542A - - Google Patents

Abstract

851,542. Gas containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide; cooling gas. BATAAFSCHE PETROLEUM MAATSCHAPPIJ N.V., DE. July 18, 1957 [July 20, 1956; Dec. 21, 1956], No. 22814/57. Class 55 (2). [Also in Group XIII] In a process and apparatus for producing a gas containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide by partial combustion of a hydrocarbon with oxygen, the hydrocarbon is subjected to partial combustion in a reaction chamber at superatmospheric pressure, preferably between 5 and 35 atm. abs., and optionally in the presence of steam and the hot gases produced are cooled by passage through one or more helical pipes around which a coolant liquid is flowing. The helical pipe or pipes may be arranged to vibrate slightly under the influence of the hot gases and/ or of the coolant liquid. In one form of apparatus the hot gases are passed upwardly through a helical pipe arranged in an upright cylindrical vessel and a cooling liquid is supplied to the lower end of the vessel and withdrawn at the top. The apparatus shown in Fig. 2 has twin helical pipes 4 through which the hot gases are passed in parallel and which are connected to a common outlet 13. The pipes 4 are arranged in a cylindrical vessel 1 and around an inner cylindrical vessel 7, liquid coolant being supplied to the inner vessel through a pipe 15 and withdrawn from the outer vessel through pipe 14, the bottom of the inner vessel being nozzle-shaped to direct a jet of liquid coolant on to the base of the outer vessel. The portions 16 of the helical pipes are made of thicker metal to withstand the high temperatures of the inlet gases. In a modified apparatus the hot gases are cooled by passage through twin helical pipes 109 and 110 in series, the gas entering at 101 and leaving at 105. The pipes are arranged in a cylindrical vessel 106 and around an inner cylindrical vessel 107, liquid coolant being introduced at 102 around the gas inlet 101 and withdrawn at 104 after passing downwardly through the inner vessel 107. The inner vessel 107 is open at its upper end and has a pipe 115 extending into the vessel and leading to a cyclone separator 114 and an outlet 103 for vaporized liquid coolant. The inner vessel 107 has near its bottom end holes 118 to allow coolant to pass between the inner and outer vessels. The vessels may be drained of coolant through a pipe 117. The pipe connecting the reaction chamber with the helical pipe or pipes in which the gas is to be cooled may be provided with a cooling jacket through which coolant is circulated.