Method and apparatus for hightemperature hydrocarbon conversions

Claim 1

THE METHOD FOR CONDUCTING ENDOTHERMIC CONVERSION OF GASEOUS HYDROCARBONS AT A SUITABLE ELEVATED CONVERSION TEMPERATURE RANGE WHICH COMPRISES: PASSING THE HYDROCARBON GAS SERIALLY THROUGH A PREHEATING ZONE WHEREIN IT IS RAPIDLY HEATED TO A TEMPERATURE BELOW BUT WITHIN ABOUT 100* F. TO 300* F. OF SAID SUITABLE CONVERSION TEMPERATURE RANGE, THEN WITHOUT FURTHER PREHEATING INTO AND THROUGH A CONVERSION ZONE WHEREIN IT IS CONVERTED AND THE SUITABLE CONVERSION TEMPERATURE RANGE IS MAINTAINED, AND THROUGH A QUENCHING ZONE WHEREIN THE GASEOUS CONVERSION PRODUCTS ARE QUICKLY COOLED TO A TEMPERATURE SUBSTANTIALLY BELOW SAID SUITABLE CONVERSION TEMPERATURE RANGE; HEATING SAID CONVERSION ZONE ELECTRICALLY TO MAINTAIN ITS TEMPERATURE AND TO SUPPLY THE ENDOTHERMIC HEAT OF CONVERSION; AND UTILIZING THE HEAT RECOVERED FROM THE QUENCHING OF SAIS GASEOUS CONVERSION PRODUCTS FOR PREHEATING HYDROCARBON FEED BY INTRODUCING A SUITABLE MOLTEN METAL HEAT EXCHANGE FLUID INTO SAID QUENCH ZONE AT A TEMPERATURE SUBSTANTIALLY BELOW SAID SUITABLE CONVERSION TEMPERATURE RANGE, PASSING SAID HEAT EXHANGE FLUID THROUGH SAID QUENCH ZONE COUNTERCURRENTLY TO AND IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH SAID GASEOUS PRODUCTS TO QUENCH SAID GASEOUS PRODUCTS WHILE BEING HEATED THEREBY, PASSING THE HEATED HEAT EXCHANGE FLUID THROUGH SAID PREHEATING ZONE COUNTERCURRENTLY TO AND IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE GASEOUS HYDROCARBON FEED TO PREHEAT SAID GASEOUS FEED WHILE BEING COOLED THEREBY, WITHDRAWING COOLED

Claim 2

THE METHOD FOR CONDUCTING ENDOTHERMIC CONVERSION OF GASEOUS HYDROCARBONS AT A SUITABLE ELEVATED CONVERSION TEMPERATURE RANGE WHICH COMPRISES: PASSING THE HYDROCARBON GAS SERIALLY THROUGH A PREHEATING ZONE WHEREIN IT IS RAPIDLY HEATED TO A TEMPERATURE BELOW BUT WITHIN ABOUT 100* F. TO 300* F. OF SAID SUITABLE CONVERSION TEMPERATURE RANGE, THEN WITHOUT FURTHER PREHEATING INTO AND THROUGH A CONVERSION ZONE WHEREIN IT IS CONVERTED AND THE SUITABLE CONVERSION TEMPERATURE RANGE IS MAINTAINED, AND THROUGH A QUENCHING ZONE WHEREIN THE GASEOUS CONVERSION PRODUCTS ARE QUICKLY COOLED TO A TEMPERATURE SUBSTANTIALLY BELOW SAID SUITABLE CONVERSION TEMPERATURE RANGE; HEATING SAID CONVERSION ZONE ELECTRICALLY TO MAINTAIN ITS TEMPERATURE AND TO SUPPLY THE ENDOTHERMIC HEAT OF CONVERSION; AND UTILIZING THE HEAT RECOVERED FROM THE QUENCHING OF SAIS GASEOUS CONVERSION PRODUCTS FOR PREHEATING HYDROCARBON FEED BY INTRODUCING A SUITABLE MOLTEN METAL HEAT EXCHANGE FLUID INTO SAID QUENCH ZONE AT A TEMPERATURE SUBSTANTIALLY BELOW SAID SUITABLE CONVERSION TEMPERATURE RANGE, PASSING SAID HEAT EXHANGE FLUID THROUGH SAID QUENCH ZONE COUNTERCURRENTLY TO AND IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH SAID GASEOUS PRODUCTS TO QUENCH SAID GASEOUS PRODUCTS WHILE BEING HEATED THEREBY, PASSING THE HEATED HEAT EXCHANGE FLUID THROUGH SAID PREHEATING ZONE COUNTERCURRENTLY TO AND IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE GASEOUS HYDROCARBON FEED TO PREHEAT SAID GASEOUS FEED WHILE BEING COOLED THEREBY, WITHDRAWING COOLED