GB958061A - Improvements in and relating to the production of acetylene - Google Patents

Abstract

Acetylene is obtained by the partial combustion of hydrocarbons by preheating an oxidant to 500-700 DEG C., injecting a fuel gas in an amount insufficient to consume all the oxidant at 500 ft./sec. to sonic velocity into the preheated oxidant and igniting it to further heat the oxidant to 900-1500 DEG C., dividing the oxidant into a plurality of streams, mixing each stream with a stream of a hydrocarbon preheated to a temperature below its decomposition temperature, at least one of the hydrocarbon streams being introduced at substantially sonic velocity, introducing the mixtures obtained into a reaction zone for 0.001-0.01 second and rapidly quenching. Oxygen is preheated in heater 18 to 500-700 DEG C. and fuel gas in an amount of 2.5-5% by volume of the oxygen is injected by pipe 20. A flame is maintained by igniter 24. The temperature of the oxygen stream is measured by thermocouple 26 and maintained at 900-1500 DEG C. by adjustment of the quantity and velocity of the fuel gas. Distributing chamber 10 divides the oxygen into subdivided streams flowing through channels 40. Preheated hydrocarbon is injected at 90 degrees into each oxygen stream by a plurality of inlets 34. The turbulent mixture flows into reaction chamber 14 and is quenched with water injected through jets 46.