Operational controls for inert gas blanketing for andrussow process

A process for producing hydrogen cyanide, comprising:

• introducing components of the ternary gas mixture to a mixing vessel included in a reaction assembly to form a ternary gas mixture comprising at least 25 vol. % oxygen;
• contacting the ternary gas mixture with a catalyst to provide a crude hydrogen cyanide product;
• flushing the reaction assembly with an inert gas when the crude hydrogen cyanide product comprises more than a threshold of oxygen;
• and
• diverting the crude hydrogen cyanide product from separation process equipment by activating at least one valve consisting of materials that can withstand a temperature of greater than 200° C.

A process for producing hydrogen cyanide, comprising:

• introducing components of the ternary gas mixture to a mixing vessel included in a reaction assembly to form a ternary gas mixture comprising at least 25 vol. % oxygen;
• contacting the ternary gas mixture with a catalyst to provide a crude hydrogen cyanide product;
• separating the crude hydrogen cyanide product to form an off-gas stream and a hydrogen cyanide product stream;
• flushing the reaction assembly with an inert gas when the off-gas stream comprises more than 1 vol. % oxygen;
• and
• diverting the crude hydrogen cyanide product from separation process equipment by activating at least one valve that is free of polytetrafluoroethylene.

A reaction assembly for producing hydrogen cyanide, the reaction assembly comprising:

• an inert gas storage unit;
• a mixing vessel comprising a first inlet port for ternary gas mixture components comprising a methane-containing gas, an ammonia-containing gas, and the oxygen-containing gas;
• a reactor comprising a second inlet port, at least one outlet port, and an internal reaction chamber comprising a catalyst bed containing a catalyst;
• and
• a crude hydrogen cyanide product diverting valve that is free of polytetrafluoroethylene;
• wherein the inert gas storage unit is configured to be maintained in a pressure of 1300 to 1600 kPa and can feed an inert gas to the mixing vessel.