Process and apparatus for partial oxidation of hydrocarbons

Claim 1

A HOT GAS MIXER AND REACTOR SYSTEM FOR THE PARTIAL OXIDATION OF HYDROCARBONS COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A REACTOR MEMBER HAVING AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION PASSAGE THEREIN, SAID INTERNAL COMBUSTION PASSAGE HAVING AN INLET END AND A DISCHARGE END; A RELATIVELY FLAT IGNITION CHAMBER COMMUNCIATING WITH THE INLET END OF SAID INTERNAL COMBUSTION PASSAGE, SAID IGNITION CHAMBER HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY SHALLOWER DEPTH THAN WIDTH AND BEING DEFINED BY WALLS INCLUDING AN INLET END WALL AND A DISCHARGE END WALL, SAID DISCHARGE END WALL HAVING AN OPENING COMMUNICATING WITH SAID INTERNAL COMBUSTION PASSAGE; AT LEAST ONE MIXER MOUNTED IN SAID REACTOR MEMBER AND CONSTRUCTED AND ARRANGED TO DISCHARGE A MIXTURE OF OXIDANT AND HYDROCARBON AT A NEAR SONIC VELOCITY INTO SAID IGNITION CHAMBER THROUGH THE INLET END WALL AND AGAINST THE DISCHARGE END WALL THEREOF; AT LEAST ONE FLAMEHOLDING IGNITION BURNER MEANS POSITONED IN SAID REACTOR MEMBER TO DISCHARGE LATERALLY TOWARD AND ADJACENT TO THE COMMUNICATING OPENING OF THE DISCHARGE END WALL OF SAID IGNITION CHAMBER A FIRM HIGH-VELOCITY FLAME TO IGNITE AND MAINTAIN IGNITION OF SAID OXIDANT AND HYDROCARBON MIXTURE IN THE VICINITY OF THE JUNCTURE OF SAID IGNITION CHAMBER AND SAID INTERNAL COMBUSTION PASSAGE; QUENCHING MEANS POSITIONED AT THE DISCHARGE END OF SAID INTERNAL COMBUSTION PASSAGE FOR QUENCHING THE HOT PRODUCTS OF COMBUSTION PRODUCED IN SAID PASSAGE; AND MEANS FOR COLLECTING SAID QUENCHED PRODUCTS OF COMBUSTION AND SEPARATING THE COMPONENTS THEREOF.