Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
35 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said gaseous reaction mixture increases in temperature up to about 300* F. as it passes through the reaction chamber during conversion of the mixture to an equilibrium product stream.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the cycles alternate about every 100 to 3,000 seconds.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the conditions in the reaction chamber are sufficient to effect chemical equilibrium and to produce an equilibrium product stream consisting essentially of hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide and sulfur.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the reducing catalyst is calcium aluminate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the gaseous reducing agent is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide and a gaseous hydrocarbon.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 6 wherein the reducing agent is carbon monoxide.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The process of claim 6 wherein the reducing agent is a gaseous hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of natural gas and a low molecular weight hydrocarbon of one to four carbon atoms.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 8 wherein the gaseous hydrocarbon is natural gas.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 8 wherein the gaseous hydrocarbon is methane.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 10 wherein the ratio of sulfur dioxide to methane is in the range of 1.33 to 2.0 to 1.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
The process of claim 4 wherein the gaseous reaction mixture is passed through the catalyst in the reaction chamber at a superficial linear gas velocity of from 1/3 to 30 feet per second and a contact time of about 1/4 to 7 seconds.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the temperature in the reaction chamber is maintained within the range of about 1,500* to 2,400* F.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
252 words
A continuous method for the preparation of the equilibrium products of the reduction of sulfur dioxide with a gaseous reducing agent which comprises the steps of heating a gaseous reaction mixture comprising a sulfur dioxide-containing gas and a gaseous reducing agent selected from the group coNsisting of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide, and a gaseous hydrocarbon to a temperature of from 1, 000* to 2,400* F. by passing said gaseous reaction mixture through a first contact chamber wherein said gaseous mixture is heated by a contact mass in said chamber maintained at a temperature sufficient to raise the temperature of said gaseous mixture to about 1,000* to 2,400* F., passing said heated gaseous reaction mixture through a reaction chamber containing a catalytic material at a superficial linear gas velocity through the catalyst of from 1/3 to 30 feet per second and a contact time of about 1/4 to 7 seconds to produce an equilibrium product stream consisting essentially of hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide and sulfur, passing said equilibrium product stream through a second contact chamber containing contact means sufficient to absorb heat from said product stream to reduce the temperature of the product stream to about 700* to 800* F., and recovering said cooled equilibrium product stream; said contact chambers being subjected to continuous alternating heat absorbing cycles while maintaining during the alternating cycles of the contact chambers the passage of the gaseous reaction mixture through the reaction chamber in the same direction through the catalyst bed.