Patent GB-511349-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in apparatus for the polymerisation of normally gaseous olefins and/or the hydrogenation of olefinic polymers to form motor fuel hydrocarbons
IPC: C07C5/03
Filed: 1937-12-10
Abstract: 511,349. Polymerizing olefines ; hydrogenating olefine polymers. UNIVERSAL OIL PRODUCTS CO. Dec. 10, 1937, No. 21649/39. Convention date, Aug. 23, 1937. Divided out of 511,181. [Class2(iii)] Apparatus for the polymerization of normally gaseous olefines and/or the hydrogenation of olefinic polymers to give motor fuel hydrocarbonscomprises a vertical elongated reaction vessel 28 containing a bundle of vertical tubes 30 for a catalyst, said tubes terminating in upper and lower headers 29, 31 for supply and removal of reactants respectively, and being surrounded by a space for maintaining a boiling normally liquid heat exchange medium in contact therewith over substantially their entire length, means for controlling the pressure on said medium, a primary circuit for circulation of said medium to and from said space comprising a drum 68 for separating entrained liquid from vapour and located at the upper part of the apparatus to maintain a maximum level of boiling liquid around the tubes, a supply conduit 71, 77 connecting the drum with said space near the lower header, and a vapour removal conduit 61 connecting said space near the upper header with the drum, said primary circuit having a secondary circuit comprising the drum, a condenser 22, a conduit 69 for passage of'vapour from the drum to the condenser, and a separate conduit 70 for return of condensed vapour from the condenser to the drum and to the supply conduit 71, 77. A plurality of reaction vessels 28, 36, 48 may be provided connected with, a single drum 68 so that liquid can return from the drum by way of the supply conduit to each of said vessels, and vapour can pass from each vessel to the drum. The apparatus is particularly adapted for producing iso-octanes from C 4 hydrocarbons as described in Specification 511,181, wherein the polymerization or hydrogenation temperature is controlled by indirect contact of the reactants with liquid heat exchange medium boiling under controlled superatmospheric pressure. The purified hydrocarbons are pumped through condenser 22, wherein the vaporized heat exchange medium,- preferably steam, preheats the hydrocarbons and is itself condensed, and pass to the upper headers 29, 39, 49 of the reactors 28, 36, 48 connected in both series' and parallel so as to be utilizable in any order. The cooling spaces of the reactors are filled from line 72 with water which is heated to boiling, by injection of steam from line 86, the boiling being maintained by the reaction heat at a temperature which is adjusted by controlling the pressure on the cooling system by valve 85 in line 84, through which excess steam is discharged when more is generated in the'reactors than is condensed in condenser 22, or by valve 89 in line 88 for addition of steam when less is generated than is condensed. Reaction products leave by the lower headers 31, 41, 51 and line 98. The iso-octane fraction is hydrogenated in stages in two reactors, Fig. 2 (not shown), constructed similarly to the reactors described, connected with a common drum for separating liquid and vapourous cooling medium, and each provided with a preheater for the reactants which acts as a condenser for vapours from the drum.