Patent GB-341393-A (GB)
Title: Improved process for the decomposition under the action of heat of a mixture of methane or other hydrocarbons and water vapour
IPC: C01B3/34
Filed: 1929-09-03
Abstract: A mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide is obtained by the non-catalytic thermal reaction of water vapour and hydrocarbons, the heat being supplied by the combustion of gases with air within one of two separate circuits within a stationary heat exchanger, the reaction gases traversing the other circuit, and the heat exchanger being combined with heat regenerators which recover the heat taken away by the burnt gases and the converted gases.  The heating gas may consist of a portion of the gas to be converted. According to one arrangement, Fig. 1, the heating gas entering at 5 is burnt, with air entering a heat regenerator A at 2, in one compartment of a heat exchanger C, the gases to be converted enter at 3 and after traversing the other compartment of the heat exchanger C and the heat regenerator B pass out at 4.  In a modification, Fig. 2, air and heating gas enter at 5 and 2 and are burnt in one compartment of the heat exchanger C and on leaving at 1 lose heat to the reaction gas entering at 3.  The converted gas leaves at 4 and yields its heat to a boiler D.  The boiler may be replaced by a washer with water injection or a scrubber combined with a water saturator in which the gas treated is charged with the necessary water vapour.  In the modification shown in Fig. 5, the air and combustion gases pass through a reversing valve G traverse a heat regenerator A, burn in a heat exchanger C and pass out through a regenerator B.  At the same time the gases treated pass through <PICT:0341393/III/1> <PICT:0341393/III/2> <PICT:0341393/III/3> <PICT:0341393/III/4> a reversing valve F and traverse a regenerator D, the heat exchanger C, where they are decomposed, and the heat regenerator E.  In the modification shown in Fig. 6, the combustion air is admitted through a reversing valve 6 at the base of either of packings 4 or 4a and on arriving in the upper part of the chambers 2 or 2a burns with the gas admitted through a two-way cock 7.  The burnt gases traverse tubes 3, the upper part of the chambers 2a or 2 and the packings 4a or 4 and pass out through the reversing valve 6.  The gas to be converted is admitted through a reversing valve 8 at the base 9 of a regenerator 5, is deflected upwards by the wall 10, comes in contact with the tubes 3 and with the walls adjacent to the chambers 2 and 2a, the gas descending into the regenerator 5a and leaving through a reversing valve 8.  The Specification as open to inspection under Sect. 91 (3) (a) comprises also modifications, forming the subject-matter of the divided Specification 29174/30, in which the combustion gases and reaction gases traverse the same reaction chamber alternately; and in addition, a modification in which the heat exchanger C, Fig. 5, is replaced by a reaction chamber traversed alternately by the reaction gases and combustion gases; and another modification comprising a boiler and a regenerator traversed alternately by the reaction and combustion gases.  This subject-matter does not appear in the Specification as accepted.