Patent GB-831522-A (GB)
Title: Process for carrying out endothermic reactions at high temperatures
IPC: C01C3/02
Filed: 1956-01-11
Abstract: <PICT:0831522/III/1> In an endothermic reaction, at least one molecular gas is thermally split into atoms to the extent of at least 10% and the gas is allowed to act outside the thermal-splitting zone upon a carbonaceous reactant or reactants, the heat liberated by the recombination of the atomic gas to molecular form being utilized for carrying out the endothermic reaction and the reacted mixture being finally chilled.  The carbonaceous reactant may be lignite, degassed or undegassed and preferably dried coal, charcoal, coke, methane, ethane, propane, butane, pentane, heptane, octane, decane, iso-butane, iso-octane, iso-heptane, ethylene, propylene, butylene, iso-butylene, natural or artificial mixtures of hydrocarbons, methylamine, ethylamine, propylamine, butylamine, laurylamine, oleylamine, ethylene diamine, trimethylamine, dimethylamine, tetramethylene diamine, or hexamethylene diamine. Carbon may be pulverized and hydrocarbons sprayed or vaporized. The reaction mixture may be chilled by the injection of a non-reacting liquid, e.g. water.  The apparatus, including feed-pipes, is made of or lined with refractory material, e.g. carbon or chamotte, dynamidon, chalk-dinas, or magnesium silicate tiles.  As shown, gas preheated to about 1000 DEG  C. enters the chamber 2 through the pipe 1 and passes through the aperture 3 and the electric arc 4 (or a high-frequency, glow, or silent electric discharge).  The minimum gas velocity is 400 metres per second and is preferably more than 1000 metres per second. The activated gas passes through the contracted aperture 5 where it encounters the substance to be reacted, preferably preheated to about 1000 DEG  C. and fed in through the pipe 6.  The mixed gases pass into the reaction chamber 7 into which cooling water may be sprayed via the nozzle 8.  Solid reactants may be introduced via the pipe 6, being blown in as a suspension in a non-atomic gas.  In example 1, preheated hydrogen is introduced via pipe 1 and preheated propane via pipe 6.  A mixture of acetylene, propylene, ethylene and methane is obtained, 85% of the carbon being present as acetylene.  Examples 2, 3 and 4 are similar using topped Kuweit oil, dodecane, and pulverized lignite suspended in hydrogen respectively.  Example 5 is also similar, but the hydrogen is replaced by nitrogen and 60% of the carbon is obtained in the form of hydrogen cyanide, 15% in the form of acetylene, and the remainder is mostly methane.  The production of cyanogen from solid carbon and nitrogen is also referred to.  Amines give hydrogen cyanide or mixtures thereof with acetylene. Specification 470,258 is referred to.ALSO:<PICT:0831522/IV (b)/1> In an endothermic reaction, at least one molecular gas is thermally split into atoms to the extent of at least 10% and the gas is allowed to act outside the thermal-splitting zone upon a carbonaceous reactant or reactants, the heat liberated by the recombination of the atomic gas to molecular form being utilized for carrying out the endothermic reaction and the reacted mixture being finally chilled. The carbonaceous reactant may be lignite, degassed or undegassed and preferably dried coal, charcoal, coke, methane, ethane, propane, butane, pentane, heptane, octane, decane, iso-butane, iso-octane, iso-heptane, ethylene, propylene, butylene, iso-butylene, natural or artificial mixtures of hydrocarbons, methylamine, ethylamine, propylamine, butylamine, laurylamine, oleylamine, ethylene diamine, trimethylamine, dimethylamine, tetramethylene diamine, or hexamethylene diamine. Carbon may be pulverized and hydrocarbons sprayed or vaporized. The reaction mixture may be chilled by the injection of a non-reacting liquid, e.g. water.  The apparatus, including feed pipes, is made of or lined with refractory material, e.g. carbon or chamotte, dynamidon, chalk-dinas, or magnesium silicate tiles. As shown, gas preheated to about 1000 DEG  C. enters the chamber 2 through the pipe 1 and passes through the aperture 3 and the electric arc 4 (or a high-frequency, glow, or silent electric discharge).  The minimum gas velocity is 400 metres per second and is preferably more than 1000 metres per second.  The activated gas passes through the contracted aperture 5 where it encounters the substance to be reacted, preferably preheated to about 1000 DEG  C. and fed in through the pipe 6.  The mixed gases pass into the reaction chamber 7 into which cooling water may be sprayed via the nozzle 8.  Solid reactants may be introduced via the pipe 6, being blown in as a suspension in a non-atomic gas.  In Example 1, preheated hydrogen is introduced via pipe 1 and preheated propane via pipe 6.  A mixture of acetylene, propylene, ethylene and methane is obtained, 85% of the carbon being present as acetylene. Examples 2, 3 and 4 are similar using topped Kuweit oil, dodecane, and pulverized lignite suspended in hydrogen respectively.  Example 5 is also similar, but the hydrogen is replaced by nitrogen and 60% of the carbon is obtained in the form of hydrogen cyanide, 15% in the form of acetylene, and the remainder is mostly methane.  The production of cyanogen from solid carbon and nitrogen is also referred to.  Amines give hydrogen cyanide or mixtures thereof with acetylene. Specification 470,258 is referred to.