Pyrolysis of hydrocarbons

Abstract

Abstract THIS INVENTION RELATES TO PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR THE PYROLSIS, OR THERMAL CRACKING, OF HYDROCARBONS OR HYDROCARBON FEEDSTOCKS TO PRODUCE PRODUCTS USEFUL AS CHEMICAL RAW MATERIALS OR FUELS. IN PARTICULAR, MOBILE HYDROCARBONS, I.E., NORMALLY GASEOUS OR LIQUID PARAFFINIC HYDROCARBONS, OR OTHER SUITABLE FEEDSTOCKS, ARE CRACKED TO OBTAIN UNSATURATED HYDROCARBON COMPOUNDS, PARTICULARLY OLEFINS. FASTER REACTION RATES, INCREASED PRODUCT YIELDS, AND BETTER SELECTIVITIES ARE OBTAINED BY THERMALLY CRACKING (WITH OR WITH OUT STEAM) A RAW, OR FRESH HYDROCARBON FEED IN ADMIXTURE WITH A STREAM OF HOT REACTING, THERMALLY CRACKED (WITH OR WITHOUT STEAM) PRODUCT. THE PROCESS IS THUS CHARACTERIZED BY STEPS WHEREIN A FEED IS THERMALLY CRACKED TO FORM AT LEAST PARTIALLY CONVERTED PRODUCTS, AND FRESH FEED, WHICH PREFERABLY IS PREHEATED TO SUPPLY SOME OF THE NEEDED SENSIBLE AND REACTION HEAT, IS THERMALLY CRACKED IN ADMIXTURE WITH THE SAID AT LEAST PARTIALLY CONVERTED PRODUCTS. IN ONE EMBODIMENT, FRESH HYDROCARBON FEED, AND STEAM IF DESIRED, IS PREHEATED AND FED AT SPACED LOCATIONS THROUGH A TUBULAR REACTOR, OR REACTION ZONE, RESULTING IN FRESH FEED BEING CONTACTED WITH AT LEAST PARTIALLY CONVERTED PRODUCTS FROM A PRECEDING PORTION OF THE TUBULAR REACTOR, OR REACTION ZONE (EXCEPT FOR THE PORTION INTRODUCED AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE REACTOR).

Inventors

• 👤 John A Kivlen

Bibliographic Details