Process and apparatus for thermally cracking hydrocarbons
AssigneeThe Dow Chemical Company
InventorPeter H. Kosters
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process and apparatus capable of cracking hydrocarbon to produce a reaction product containing a high proportion of ethylene. A hydrocarbon such as naphtha is vaporized and admixed with superheated steam at high temperature in a mixing device. The resulting hydrocarbon-steam mixture is passed through a reaction zone consisting of a reactor conduit which extends through a passageway defined in a radiation block structure. Heating gases at extremely high temperatures are directed through the passageway, co-currently with the hydrocarbon-steam mixture, to produce a desirable heat flux for the cracking reaction. A short residence time in the reactor conduit is maintained to prevent undesirable side reactions.
Claims7
A process for cracking a hydrocarbon composition which comprises the steps of:
- passing steam through a conduit enclosed by a radiation block structure, the structure defining a gas passage which surrounds the steam conduit;
- flowing heating gases through the gas passage to superheat the steam to a temperature of from about 1000.degree. C. to 1500.degree. C.;
- mixing the hydrocarbon composition with the superheated steam;
- passing the resulting hydrocarbon-steam mixture through a reactor conduit which extends through and is enclosed by a radiation block structure, the structure defining a gas passage which surrounds the reactor conduit;
- flowing heating gases through the gas passage, in contact with the reactor conduit, and in a direction co-current with the flow of the hydrocarbon-steam mixture through said reactor conduit, to heat said hydrocarbon-steam mixture to a temperature of from about 700.degree. C. to 1000.degree. C.;
- causing the heated hydrocarbon composition to undergo a cracking reaction while in the reactor conduit;
- and
- passing the hot reaction product from the reactor conduit into a heat exchanger for quenching said reaction product.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.