Patent GB-818061-A (GB)
Title: A method of and apparatus for producing oil gas and/or reforming hydrocarbon gases
IPC: C10G9/00
Filed: 1955-10-28
Abstract: 818,061. Oil gas; reforming gaseous hydrocarbons. STEIN ET ROUBAIX. Oct. 28, 1955 [Nov. 23, 1954], No. 30908/55. Class 55 (2). In a cyclic process for producing oil gas and for reforming gaseous hydrocarbons there is an endothermic production phase in which the hydrocarbons are contacted in a chamber containing a refractory mass which has been brought up to a high temperature and an exothermic correction phase in which the refractory mass is brought to the required high temperature, the production and correction phases being terminated by means responsive to the temperature in the refractory mass and separated by intermediate phases the duration of which is determined chronometrically. The intermediate phase may comprise purging the apparatus with steam or burning off carbon deposited on the refractory mass. Apparatus for carrying out the process as applied to oil gas comprises a chamber a containing an oil injection nozzle d, a refractory mass b in which there is the rod of a pyrometer c, a blower i, a wash box p, stack valves n and s, and valved supply conduits for oil, air and steam. In a production phase at the start the temperature of the refractory mass is e.g. 850‹ C. and all valves except valve g for admitting gas making oil are closed. The gas produced leaves by conduit m and the wash box p. When the temperature of the refractory mass falls to e.g. 750‹ C., valve g is closed and valve k is opened to admit steam to purge the apparatus; valve k is then closed and air valve j and stack valve n are opened to burn off carbon deposited on the refractory mass by a disc-ending steam of air. After a chronometrically determined period the heating phase commences, valve n is closed and valve e is opened to admit heating oil until the temperature of the refractory mass is again 850‹ C. Valves e and j are closed, valves q and s are opened, allowing a stream of air to pass upwardly through the refractory mass and burn off residual deposited carbon. After a chronometrically determined period the valves q and s are closed and the production phase as repeated with the opening of the oil admission valve g. A control device for automatically operating the various valves is shown in Fig. 2. It comprises a switch C, a pyrometer P and an electric bridge W in the branches of which are placed in series, the contacts P1 P2, P4 and P6 of the pyrometer and the contacts A8, B8, E8 and F8 for starting and stopping rotation of the switch C. The switch C comprises seven coaxial cams 1-7 carrying bosses and which correspond to one of the members or assemblies of members to be actuated through relays V1-V7. Thus the relay V1 controls admission of heating oil, V2 that of gas making oil, V3 that of steam, V4 that of air passing upwardly and V5 that of air passing downwardly through the refractory mass and V6 and V7 control one each of the valves s and n. The cam 8 mounted on a common shaft with the cams 1-7 controls the contacts for starting and stopping rotation of the switch, the shaft of which is driven by a motor M.