Auto thermal cracking reactor

A process for the production of a mono-olefin by reacting an oxygen containing gas with a gaseous paraffinic hydrocarbon to form said mono-olefin, which process utilizes an apparatus which comprises a first supply means which comprises a plurality of first outlets for delivery of the oxygen containing gas, and a second supply means which comprises a plurality of second outlets for delivery of the gaseous paraffinic hydrocarbon, a resistance zone and a reaction zone,

• wherein the resistance zone is porous, is positioned downstream of the first and second supply means with respect to the flow of the oxygen containing gas and the gaseous paraffinic hydrocarbon and is in fluid communication with the first and second supply means, the reaction zone is positioned downstream of the resistance zone with respect to the flow of the oxygen containing gas and the gaseous paraffinic hydrocarbon and is fluid communication with the resistance zone, and wherein the first supply means and the second supply means are arranged such that the first gas and the second gas are contacted in an essentially parallel manner and mixed prior to contacting the resistance zone,
• which process comprises:
• passing oxygen containing gas into said first supply means and passing gaseous paraffinic hydrocarbon into said second supply means, such that the gaseous paraffinic hydrocarbon is contacted in an essentially parallel manner and mixed with the oxygen-containing gas,
• passing the gaseous mixture to the reaction zone via the porous resistance zone and
• partially combusting the gaseous mixture in the reaction zone in the presence of a catalyst which is capable of supporting combustion beyond the fuel rich limit of flammability, to produce the mono-olefin.