Patent ID: 6921517

Claim:
An apparatus for pyrolyzing a hydrocarbon gas comprising: a decomposition reaction column comprising a diffuser at the upper portion of said reaction column and a reducer provided at the lower portion of said reaction column; a group of porous tubes extending vertically in said reaction column; and a header connected to the lower end of said porous tubes for supplying air or oxygen into said porous tubes; and which is provided with a nozzle through which air or oxygen is supplied into the decomposition reaction column and the other end of said porous tubes are blocked; wherein said diffuser is provided with an inlet for supplying a hydrocarbon gas, optionally mixed with water vapor, into the decomposition reaction column and said reducer is provided with an outlet through which an olefinic gas is discharged from the decomposition reaction column; and wherein an ignition system is provided for forming a diffusion flame layer on the outer surface of said porous tubes, which serves as a heat source for allowing hydrocarbon gas to undergo a radical reaction.