Patent GB-885173-A (GB)
Title: Production of synthesis gas
IPC: C09C1/58
Filed: 1959-07-01
Abstract: <PICT:0885173/III/1> In a process for the production of a gas containing carbon monoxide and hydrogen by partial combustion of a liquid hydrocarbon with a gas containing free oxygen, e.g. air, oxygenenriched air or oxygen, in the presence of steam, the reactants are introduced into an unpacked reaction zone maintained at 1,100-1,900 DEG  C. and a pressure between 1 and 50 atm. gauge in such proportions that between 0.5-4.0%, preferably between 1 and 2%, of the carbon contained in the liquid hydrocarbon feed is obtained as free carbon in the product gases, thereby preventing corrosion of the oxidic-refractory material with which the reaction zone is lined, and the product gases containing free carbon are contacted with water to remove the carbon and obtain a dispersion of carbon in water which is contacted with a hydrocarbon oil to obtain an oil-carbon mixture, the oil-carbon mixture being burned to supply heat for the process in producing steam and preheating the reactants before they enter the reaction zone.  The hydrocarbon feed may be formed as a dispersion in steam and the hydrocarbon contacted with the water-carbon dispersion may be the hydrocarbon feed, a light hydrocarbon or a mixture of the hydrocarbon feed and a light hydrocarbon.  The carbon monoxide in the product gases may be reacted with steam to produce carbon dioxide and hydrogen and the resulting gas further treated to obtain hydrogen or a gas mixture suitable for ammonia synthesis.  In the Figure the carbon-oil mixture is combusted in vessels 6 and 10 to produce steam and preheat a steam-oil dispersion respectively, oil being added to the steam through line 8.  The steam-oil dispersion heated to at least 300 DEG  C. is passed to a reaction zone 13 and oxygen is added through line 14.  The lower end of the reaction zone extends into a body of water in a chamber 17 which serves to quench the product gases and removes most of the free carbon, the remaining free carbon being removed in a scrubber 19.  A water-carbon dispersion is withdrawn from chamber 17 and passed to a vessel 32 where it is contacted at a temperature between 120 and 205 DEG  C. with hydrocarbon feed supplied through line 33 and an oil-carbon mixture is withdrawn through line 34 and fed to vessels 6 and 8.  Water is withdrawn through line 35 and fed to the steam-raising vessel 7 and the chamber 17. Alternatively a light petroleum oil may be supplied to the vessel 32 through line 36 and the resulting oil-carbon dispersion mixed with hydrocarbon feed through line 40 and fed to a vessel 37, in which the light oil is distilled off and returned to the vessel 32 via a condenser 38 and line 39.  Water withdrawn from the vessel 32 may be flash vaporized in a vessel 43 to recover traces of hydrocarbon contained in it, steam and oil vapour being withdrawn through line 44 and water through line 46, the water being fed to the scrubber 19.  The oil-carbon mixture may contain between 10 and 15% by weight of the carbon.  The gas stream from the scrubber 19, saturated with water vapour, is passed, together with any additional steam necessary, to a vessel 26 where the steam and carbon monoxide are reacted to produce carbon di-oxide and hydrogen.  The resulting gas passed out through a heat exchanger 24 and is washed to remove carbon di-oxide in a scrubber 28; hydrogen is delivered through line 30. If the hydrogen is to be used for ammonia synthesis water vapour and carbon dioxide may be removed by contact with liquid nitrogen. This treatment also removes any methane present and argon, if air or oxygen-enriched air has been used in the partial combustion of the hydrocarbon oil.