Back to results
US 10,166,524 B2Granted
Methane conversion apparatus and process using a supersonic flow reactor
AssigneeUop LLC
InventorsRobert L. Bedard, Christopher Naunheimer, Gavin P. Towler, Laura E. Leonard, Rodolphe Dudebout, Gregory O. Woodcock, Donald L. Mittendorf
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus and methods are provided for converting methane in a feed stream to acetylene. A hydrocarbon stream is introduced into a supersonic reactor and pyrolyzed to convert at least a portion of the methane to acetylene. The reactor effluent stream may be treated to convert acetylene to another hydrocarbon process.
Claims14
An apparatus for producing acetylene from a feed stream comprising methane comprising:
- a supersonic reactor for receiving the methane feed stream and heating the methane feed stream to a pyrolysis temperature;
- a reactor shell of the supersonic reactor for defining a reactor chamber wherein the reaction chamber operates at a temperature from about 1200° C. to about 4000° C.;
- a combustion zone of the supersonic reactor for combusting a fuel source to provide a high temperature carrier gas passing through the reactor space at supersonic speeds to heat and accelerate the methane feed stream to a pyrolysis temperature;
- the reactor shell comprising an inner shell and an outer shell with one or more channels between the inner shell and the outer shell where the inner shell is constructed of a material having a thermal conductivity of between about 300 and about 450 W/m-K for conducting heat from the reactor chamber and having a melting temperature of between about 500° C. and about 2000° C.;
- the material being at least copper chrome, or copper chrome zinc, or copper chrome niobium, or copper zirconium or copper silver zirconium;
- or mixtures thereof;
- and
- one or more sensors positioned within the channel and electronically connected to one or more of a display, a monitoring system and a control system.
5 more elements
An apparatus for producing acetylene from a feed stream comprising methane comprising:
- a supersonic reactor for receiving the methane feed stream and heating the methane feed stream to a pyrolysis temperature;
- a reactor shell of the supersonic reactor for defining a reactor chamber wherein the reaction chamber operates at a temperature from about 1200° C. to about 4000° C.;
- a combustion zone of the supersonic reactor for combusting a fuel source to provide a high temperature carrier gas passing through the reactor space at supersonic speeds to heat and accelerate the methane feed stream to a pyrolysis temperature;
- the reactor shell comprising an inner shell and an outer shell with one or more channels between the inner shell and the outer shell where the inner shell is constructed of a material having a thermal conductivity of between about 300 and about 450 W/m-K for conducting heat from the reactor chamber and having a melting temperature of between about 500° C. and about 2000° C.;
- the material being at least copper chrome, or copper chrome zinc, or copper chrome niobium, or copper zirconium or copper silver zirconium;
- or mixtures thereof;
- and
- an isolation valve at an inlet of the supersonic reactor and a control system capable of detecting a change in pressure and in connection with the isolation valve.
5 more elements
An apparatus for producing acetylene from a feed stream comprising methane comprising:
- a supersonic reactor for receiving the methane feed stream and heating the methane feed stream to a pyrolysis temperature;
- a reactor shell of the supersonic reactor for defining a reactor chamber wherein the reaction chamber operates at a temperature from about 1200° C. to about 4000° C.;
- a combustion zone of the supersonic reactor for combusting a fuel source to provide a high temperature carrier gas passing through the reactor space at supersonic speeds to heat and accelerate the methane feed stream to a pyrolysis temperature;
- the reactor shell comprising an inner shell and an outer shell with one or more channels between the inner shell and the outer shell where the inner shell is constructed of a material having a thermal conductivity of between about 300 and about 450 W/m-K for conducting heat from the reactor chamber and having a melting temperature of between about 500° C. and about 2000° C.;
- the material being at least copper chrome, or copper chrome zinc, or copper chrome niobium, or copper zirconium or copper silver zirconium;
- or mixtures thereof;
- and
- a pressure relief device in the reactor shell.
5 more elements
An apparatus for producing acetylene from a feed stream comprising methane comprising:
- a supersonic reactor for receiving the methane feed stream and heating the methane feed stream to a pyrolysis temperature;
- a reactor shell of the supersonic reactor for defining a reactor chamber wherein the reaction chamber operates at a temperature from about 1200° C. to about 4000° C.;
- a combustion zone of the supersonic reactor for combusting a fuel source to provide a high temperature carrier gas passing through the reactor space at supersonic speeds to heat and accelerate the methane feed stream to a pyrolysis temperature;
- the reactor shell comprising an inner shell and an outer shell with one or more channels between the inner shell and the outer shell where the inner shell is constructed of a material having a thermal conductivity of between about 300 and about 450 W/m-K for conducting heat from the reactor chamber and having a melting temperature of between about 500° C. and about 2000° C.;
- the material being at least copper chrome, or copper chrome zinc, or copper chrome niobium, or copper zirconium or copper silver zirconium;
- or mixtures thereof;
- and
- wherein the supersonic reactor is oriented vertically.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.