Patent GB-901682-A (GB)
Title: A process for the reaction of gaseous, vaporous or vaporisable substances and apparatus therefor
Inventor: BARTHOLOME ERNEST
IPC: B01J8/00
Filed: 1959-04-03
Abstract: In a process wherein a granular solid is passed downwardly in dense phase through a reaction zone in counter-current to a gaseous reactant, at least the lower part of said zone is in the form of a plurality of streams which are subsequently reunited and recycled to said zone, the gaseous reactant as such or as a liquid is introduced into said streams and the quantities of the solids in the individual streams are externally regulated so that the ratio of the velocity of the solids to the velocity of the gases is uniform over the entire cross-section of said reaction zone. Preferably the gases have the same velocity at a given distance above the point of introduction in each of said streams.  The flow of solids can be regulated by means of slides or screens or, as illustrated, by individually controlling the conical heaps of solids formed at the point where said streams reunite.  In Fig. 1, streams C and D are regulated by altering the effective length of conduits 13, 14 by means of extension tubes 4, 5 which pass through the cover 3 of a collecting vessel 1 in which said streams reunite.  Corrugated tubes 17, 18, 19, 20 prevent gas leakage while <PICT:0901682/III/1> <PICT:0901682/III/2> permitting movement of the extension tubes.  Fig. 3 illustrates the use of a similar apparatus in a complete plant; in this case, as in an example, the conduits 29, 30 for the individual streams converge at their entry into the collecting vessel 1.  The reactant, a hydrocarbon to be cracked, in the form of a liquid or gas, is introduced into dead spaces provided in dense phase corundum particles at 31, 32 and the product containing unsaturated compounds including ethylene and acetylene is withdrawn through line 33.  (The reactant gas may alternatively be introduced above the conical heaps in the collecting vessel). After reuniting the streams in the collector vessel 1, the solids are recirculated through line 38 by means of a lift gas to separating vessel 39.  The solids are then passed to regenerator 24 in which deposits are burnt off and the solids preheated to 600 DEG - 1,300 DEG  C. by means of fuel supplied with an excess of air to a combustion chamber 21.  Pipes 27, 34 and 35 are provided to supply sealing steam at these points.ALSO:<PICT:0901682/IV (b)/1> <PICT:0901682/IV (b)/2> Figs. 1 and 3 illustrate a process wherein granular corundum is passed downwardly in dense phase through a reaction zone 28 in counter-current to a hydrocarbon gas to be cracked and at least the lower part of said zone is in the form of a plurality of streams 29, 30.  Said streams are subsequently reunited and recycled to said zone through line 38 by means of a lift gas to separating vessel 39.  The solids are then passed to regenerator 24 in which deposits are burnt off and the solids preheated to 600 DEG -1300 DEG C. by means of fuel supplied with an excess of air to a combustion chamber 21.  Pipes 27, 34 and 35 supply sealing steam. The gaseous reactant as such or as a liquid is introduced into said streams at 31, 32 and the product containing ethylene and acetylene is withdrawn through line 33.  The quantities of the solids in the individual streams are externally regulated so that the ratio of the velocity of the solids to the velocity of the gases is uniform over the entire cross-section of said reaction zone.  The flow of solids is regulated by individually controlling the conical heaps of solids formed at the point where said streams reunite, by altering the effective length of conduits 13, 14 by means of extension tubes 4, 5 which pass through the cover 3 of a collecting vessel 1 in which said streams reunite.  Corrugated tubes 17, 18, 19, 20 prevent gas leakage while permitting movement of the extension tubes.