Patent GB-820724-A (GB)
Title: An improved method for the performance of controlled chemical reactions
IPC: B01J8/10
Filed: 1955-05-11
Abstract: <PICT:0820724/III/1> <PICT:0820724/III/2> A controlled chemical reaction is carried out in apparatus incorporating a pressure exchanger, gaseous input being introduced into the cells of the pressure exchanger and heated to a temperature required to effect the reaction, and the reaction products being cooled rapidly and withdrawn from the cells. Acetylene may be produced from a hydrocarbon, e.g. methane, by heating, for example to 1500 DEG  C. and separating acetylene from the product gases by dissolving in acetone or absorbing in a porous solid.  As shown in Fig. 3, methane is supplied at 17 and enters the pressure exchanger at 18.  High pressure steam is introduced at 21 from boiler 22 in order to compress and heat the reactant gas.  Reaction products leave at 23, steam is condensed at 24 and acetylene extracted at 27, unconverted methane being recycled. In Fig. 4 (not shown) steam is introduced simultaneously at both ends of the pressure exchanger cells.  Inert gas may be used in place of steam.  Stratified layers of the hydrocarbon and air or oxygen may be introduced and ignited by a sparking plug or a feedback pipe, in order to increase the temperature by partial combustion of the hydrocarbon.  Other methods of supplying heat to the reactants are by compressing with gas at a higher pressure from another cell or by removal of the gas from each cell in turn, heating externally and returning to the cells, the duct circuit being, if desired, of adjustable length (Fig. 2, not shown); a further method is heat exchange between the reaction products and the reactants.  Expansion at the outlet from the pressure exchanger cools the products or they may be quenched by means of a liquid coolant which is injected into the cells or used to cool the cell walls.  The inlet ducts or cells may be tapered in the direction of gas flow, for example as shown at 2 in Fig. 5, in order to increase the compression wave effect.  Transfer passages including absorption apparatus for the reaction products may be provided.  The flow of gas may rotate the cell wheel of the pressure exchanger and energy may be extracted from the apparatus. Reference is made to the formation of nitric oxide from nitrogen and oxygen.ALSO:Acetylene is produced by introducing a hydrocarbon, e.g methane, into the cells of a pressure exchanger (see Group XXVIII), where it is heated, e.g. to 1500 DEG C., the reaction products being rapidly cooled and withdrawn from the cells.  The acetylene may be separated by dissolving in acetone or absorbing in a porous solid.  High pressure steam or inert gas may be admitted to one or both ends of the cells to compress and heat the reactant gas.  Stratified layers of the hydrocarbon and air or oxygen may be introduced and ignited by a sparking plug or a feed-back pipe in order to increase the temperature by partial combustion of the hydrocarbon.  Expansion at the outlet from the pressure exchanger cools the products or they may be quenched by means of a liquid coolant which is injected into the cells or used to cool the cell walls.  The inlet ducts or cells may be tapered in the direction of gas flow in order to increase the compression wave effect.