Oxygen injector means for secondary reformer

#1. Field of the Invention

#This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for directing oxygen into an effluent in a hydrocarbon secondary reforming process and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to an apparatus having means for protection of the delivery equipment from the excessive heat created by the use of oxygen in a hydrocarbon secondary reforming process.

#2. Description of the Prior Art

#FIG. 1 is an elevational view, partly in section, of an oxygen injector apparatus embodying the invention and illustrated as installed in a typical secondary reformer apparatus.

#FIG. 2 is a view taken on line 2--2 of FIG. 1.

#FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional elevation view of one end of an oxygen injector apparatus embodying the invention.

#Referring to the drawings in detail, reference character 10 generally indicates a secondary reformer apparatus having an oxygen delivery or injector means 12 installed in combination therewith. The secondary reformer apparatus 10 may be of any suitable type, and as shown herein comprises a housing 14 having one end 16 thereof flared outwardly for connection with a suitable reaction vessel (not shown), or the like, normally utilized in a secondary reformer operation. The opposite end of the housing 14 is normally open and may be provided with an outwardly extending peripheral flange 18 for receiving one end of a suitable domed head means 20 thereagainst. The head means 20 may be bolted, or otherwise secured to the open end of the housing 14, as is well known. The housing 14 is preferably constructed from a suitable metallic material such as carbon steel lined with refractory material 22, and the head member 20 is also preferably constructed from a similar metallic material lined or filled with a refractory material 24. In addition, an inlet port 26 is provided for the housing 14 and refractory lining 22 thereof, the inlet port being in communication with the effluent or exhaust emanating from any suitable primary reformer process (not shown), as is well known. The effluent from the primary reformer is directed into the interior of the housing 14 and is directed therethrough in a manner and for a purpose as will be hereinafter set forth.

#The oxygen injector means 12 extends through a port 13 provided in the head 20 and comprises a central pipe or tube member 28 concentrically arranged within the head 20 and housing 14 and has one open end 30 in communication with a suitable source of oxygen (not shown). The end 30 may be secured to the oxygen source (not shown) in any suitable manner, such as by a bolt flange means 32, as is well known, whereby a supply of oxygen, or oxygen in combination with steam, or the like, may be directed into and through the pipe 28. The opposite end of the pipe 28 is closed by suitable metal closure means 37 and is protected from the excessively high temperature existing in the reactor vessel by a suitable refractory means 34 which extends longitudinally into the interior of the pipe 28 and projects outwardly therefrom, as particularly shown in FIG. 3. An annular passageway 36 is provided between the inner periphery of the pipe 28 and the outer periphery of the metal closure means 37 above the closed end of the pipe 28, and one or more circumferentially spaced outwardly directed jets or ports 38 are provided in the wall of the pipe 28 substantially immediately inboard of the refractory means 34. The jets or ports 38 provide communication between the interior of the pipe 28 and the interior of the reactor vessel whereby the oxygen moving through the pipe 28 will be injected into the path of the effluent during a secondary reformer operation, as will be hereinafter set forth.

#A cooling jacket assembly 40 is concentrically arranged around the outer periphery of the pipe 28. It is preferable that the inner periphery of the cooling jacket assembly 40 be radially spaced from the outer periphery of the pipe 28, and suitable centering gussets 42, or the like, may be interposed between the pipe 28 and the inner periphery of the cooling jacket 40 for maintaining the concentrical relationship therebetween. In addition, a jacket or sleeve means 43 is secured around the outer periphery of the cooling jacket assembly 40 in any suitable manner (not shown) and disposed in substantial alignment with the inlet port 26. The sleeve 43 is preferably lined with a suitable refractory material (not shown) and the sleeve 43 thus protects the cooling jacket assembly 40 from the impact of the incoming effluent from the primary reformer process. This is of particular importance when it is considered that the effluent entering the housing 14 usually has a linear velocity in the neighborhood of one hundred feet per second and the temperature of the effluent may be as great as fifteen hundred degrees Fahrenheit.