Process and apparatus for the manufacture of synthesis gas

Claim 2

AN IMPROVED PROCESS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CARBON MONOXIDE AND HYDROGEN SYNTHESIS GAS, WHICH COMPRISES INTRODUCING NATURAL GAS AND OXYGEN INTO A REFRACTORY LINED CHAMBER, BURNING SAID NATURAL GAS WITH SAID OXYGEN IN A BURNER AT A TEMPERATURE ABOVE ABOUT 2700* F., THE PRODUCT OF SAID BURNING CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE, CARBON DIOXIDE, H2O, UNREACTED NATURAL GAS, AND HYDROGEN, RAPIDLY QUENCHING THESE GASES, TO A TEMPERATURE BELOW ABOUT 2300* F. BUT SUFFICIENTLY ELEVATED TO EFFECT REFORMING THEREOF, WITH H2O INTRODUCED AROUND SAID BURNER SO AS TO CONVERGE ON HOT GASES PASSING THEREFROM, PASSING SAID QUENCHED GASES THROUGH A REFORMING CATALYST AND THEREBY CONVERTING UNREACTED NATURAL GAS TO ADDITIONAL CARBON MONOXIDE AND HYDROGEN, AND RECOVERING SAID CARBON MONOXIDE AND HYDROGEN AS SYNTHESIS GAS.

Claim 3

AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING SYNTHESIS GAS CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE AND HYDROGEN IN THE RATIO 1:2 WHICH COMPRISES A REACTION CHAMBER FORMED BY A METAL SHELL, TOP AND BOTTOM MEMBERS OF SAID SHELL, AND A REFRACTORY HEAT RESISTANT LINING WITHIN SAID SHELL, AXIALLY POSITIONED INLET MEANS FOR NATURAL GAS AND OXYGEN IN THE TOP OF SAID SHELL, BURNER MEANS FOR SAID NATURAL GAS AND OXYGEN, A PLURALITY OF RADIALLY DISPOSED INLET MEANS FOR QUENCH MATERIAL AT THE TOP OF SAID REACTION CHAMBER AND SURROUNDING SAID BURNER MEANS AND IN OPEN COMMUNICATION WITH THE INSIDE OF SAID REACTION CHAMBER SUBSTANTIALLY AT THE PLACE AT WHICH THE SAID BURNER MEANS IS LOCATED AND IN SAID CHAMBER SURROUNDING SAID BURNER MEANS SUCH THAT THE QUENCH STREAM CONVERGES AS A CONE UPON THE REACTION PRODUCTS AS SAID PRODUCTS ARE FORMED AT SAID BURNER, PERFORATE SUPPORT MEANS IN THE BOTTOM OF SAID REACTION CHAMBER FOR SOLID CATALYST, AND OUTLET MEANS IN THE BOTTOM OF SAID REACTION CHAMBER FOR PRODUCT MATERIALS.

Claim 4

AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING SYNTHESIS GAS CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE AND HYDROGEN IN THE RATIO 1:2 WHICH COMPRISES A REACTION CHAMBER FORMED BY A METAL SHELL, TOP AND BOTTOM MEMBERS OF SAID SHELL, AND A REFRACTORY HEAT RESISTANT LINING WITHIN SAID SHELL, AXIALLY POSITIONED INLET MEANS FOR NATURAL GAS AND OXYGEN IN THE TOP OF SAID SHELL, BURNER MEANS FOR SAID NATURAL GAS AND OXYGEN, A PLURALITY OF RADIALLY DISPOSED INLET MEANS FOR QUENCH MATERIAL AT THE TOP OF SAID REACTION CHAMBER AND SURROUNDING SAID BURNER MEANS AND IN OPEN COMMUNICATION WITH THE INSIDE OF SAID REACTION CHAMBER SUBSTANTIALLY AT THE PLACE AT WHICH THE SAID BURNER MEANS IS LOCATED AND IN SAID CHAMBER SURROUNDING SAID BURNER MEANS SUCH THAT THE QUENCH STREAM CONVERGES AS A CONE UPON THE REACTION PRODUCTS AS SAID PRODUCTS ARE FORMED AT SAID BURNER, PERFORATE SUPPORT MEANS IN THE BOTTOM OF SAID REACTION CHAMBER FOR SOLID CATALYST, AND OUTLET MEANS IN THE BOTTOM OF SAID REACTION CHAMBER FOR PRODUCT MATERIALS.