Methane conversion apparatus and process using a supersonic flow reactor
AssigneeUop LLC
InventorsRobert L. Bedard, Christopher Naunheimer, Gavin P. Towler, Laura E. Leonard, 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.
Claims9
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;
- 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;
- an outer layer of the reactor shell for providing structural support thereto;
- an inner layer of the reactor shell having a thermal conductivity of between about 200 and about 500 W/m-K for conducting heat from the reactor chamber the inner layer comprising at least copper chrome, copper chrome zinc, copper chrome niobium, copper nickel and copper nickel tungsten and 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.
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;
- 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;
- an outer layer of the reactor shell for providing structural support thereto;
- an inner layer of the reactor shell having a thermal conductivity of between about 200 and about 500 W/m-K for conducting heat from the reactor chamber the inner layer comprising at least copper chrome, copper chrome zinc, copper chrome niobium, copper nickel and copper nickel tungsten and 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.
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;
- 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;
- an outer layer of the reactor shell for providing structural support thereto;
- an inner layer of the reactor shell having a thermal conductivity of between about 200 and about 500 W/m-K for conducting heat from the reactor chamber the inner layer comprising at least copper chrome, copper chrome zinc, copper chrome niobium, copper nickel and copper nickel tungsten and mixtures thereof;
- and
- a pressure relief device in the reactor shell.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.