Patent ID: 6096106
Filing Date: 2000-08-01
Classification: B01J,C01B

Abstract:
An endothermic reaction apparatus for effecting an endothermic reaction, comprisinga vessel, said vessel including an inlet port for an endothermic reactant to be subjected to an endothermic reaction to convert the reactant to an endothermic product, an outlet port for the endothermic product, and an exothermic reaction chamber between the inlet and outlet ports along the flow path of the endothermic product,a plurality of reaction tubes providing flow passages between said inlet and outlet ports, said reaction tubes extending through said exothermic reaction chamber from a downstream end to an upstream end of said exothermic reaction chamber,first and second supply passages for separately supplying first and second exothermic reactants to said exothermic reaction chamber for exothermically reacting within said exothermic reaction chamber and for providing flow of exothermic reaction products in a direction going from said upstream end to said downstream end of said exothermic reaction chamber, said first and second supply passages passing through a preheating zone within said vessel wherein heat is transferred to said exothermic reactants from said endothermic reaction product for preheating the exothermic reactants prior to mixing and exothermically reacting and for cooling said endothermic reaction product, anda plurality of feed tubes respectively associated with said reaction tubes and disposed to produce an annular shroud of flame around each reaction tube, said feed tubes each having an outlet end located at said upstream end of said exothermic reaction chamber and oriented to direct at least one of the exothermic reactants exiting therefrom in a direction substantially parallel to said reaction tubes such that the annular shroud of flame is directed countercurrent to the flow of the endothermic reaction product.