Patent GB-414347-A (GB)
Title: An improved manufacture of acetylene and organic compounds therefrom
Filed: 1932-10-28
Abstract: <PICT:0414347/III/1> Acetaldehyde and other organic compounds are prepared from dilute acetylene such as that produced by arc treatment or catalytic cracking of hydrocarbons.  Natural gas, coke oven gas, cracking products from oil refineries or like gas, which preferably contains olefines, is treated in an arc apparatus 1 to produce acetylene, the product being passed by a pipe 3 to a cooler 4 which may be a packed tower flushed with water, the cooled gas passing thence to a holder 8 and thence to a compressor.  The gas, compressed to 20--40 lb., flows through a cooler 12 to a scrubber 14 flushed with a hydrocarbon such as gas oil or toluene, or acetone, to remove diacetylene, and then through a pipe 16, which receives steam from a pipe 16a, to a heat exchanger 17 and then to a catalyst chamber 19 for the production of acetaldehyde.  The solvent from the acetylene washer 14, is taken to the upper compartment 57 of a tower which receives a current of gas from the tower 31 by a pipe 60 to remove dissolved acetylene, and the solvent then flows to the lower compartment 58 of the tower, in which it is treated with a second stream of gas from a branch 64 of the pipe 60 so as to remove the dissolved diacetylene.  The pressure in the compartment 57 is preferably lower than that in the scrubber 14, and the pressure in the compartment 58 may be still lower.ALSO:Acetaldehyde and other organic compounds are prepared from dilute acetylene such as that produced by arc treatment or catalytic cracking of hydrocarbons. Natural gas, coke oven gas, cracking products from oil refineries or like gas which preferably contains olefines, <PICT:0414347/IV/1> is treated in an arc apparatus 1 to produce acetylene, the product being passed by a pipe 3 to a cooler 4 which may be a packed tower flushed with water, the cooled gas passing thence to a holder 8 and thence to a compressor 10 which receives also recycled gas, but the compressor may be byepassed by a pipe line 11.  The gas, compressed to 20--40 lb., flows through a cooler 12 to a scrubber 14 flushed with a hydrocarbon such as gas oil or toluene, or acetone to remove diacetylene, and then through a pipe 16, which receives steam from a pipe 16a, to a heat-exchanger 17 and then to a catalyst chamber 19 for the production of acetaldehyde.  A byepass 20 connects to a heater 23 so as to allow of heating the gas on starting to the requisite temperature for the catalysis. The reaction product passes through a pipe 24 through the heat-exchanger 17 to a cooler 26, and thence to a storage tank 29 for weak acetaldehyde or by a pipe 30 to the bottom of a wash tower 31 from which the acetaldehyde solution is passed to the tank 29.  The solution from the tank 29 is taken through a heat-exchanger 35 to the upper part of a still 36, the acetaldehyde vapour being condensed at 43 and passed through a reflux tank 44 to a storage tank 48.  Any gases uncondensed at 43 or liberated in the tanks 44, 48 are returned to the compressor 10 by a pipe 54.  The solvent from the acetylene washer 14 is taken to the upper compartment 57 of a tower, which receives a current p  of gas from the tower 31 by a pipe 60 to remove dissolved acetylene, and the solvent then flows to the lower compartment 58 of the tower, in which it is treated with a second stream of gas from a branch 64 of the pipe 60 so as to remove the dissolved diacetylene.  The pressure in the compartment 57 is preferably lower than that in the scrubber 14, and the pressure in the compartment 58 may be still lower.