US 5,037,619 AGranted

Oxidization of an oxidizable charge in the gaseous phase and a reactor for implementing this method

AssigneeInstitut Francais du Petrole

InventorsJacques Alagy, Christian Busson

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Abstract

An oxidizable charge is oxidized in a gaseous phase reaction. The oxidizable charge and an oxidizing gas flow simultaneously and separately through a distribution zone made of a ceramic material. In at least a part of the distribution zone, the oxidizable charge and the oxidizing gas flow through a multiplicity of passages of a dimension so small that any flame resulting from oxidation of the oxidizable charge will be quenched. The oxidizable charge and oxidizing gas are then mixed in a mixing zone made from a ceramic material defining a multiplicity of spaces with passages having a dimension comparable to the dimension of the passages in the distribution zone. The mixture of gases then flows through a reaction zone made from a ceramic material defining another multiplicity of passages having dimensions comparable to those in the distribution zone. The distance between each of the distribution, mixing and reaction zones is also so small that any flame resulting from oxidation of the oxidizable charge will be quenched.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A method for oxidizing an oxidizable charge in the gaseous phase by forming a gas mixture containing at least one oxidizing gas, which comprises the following successive steps:

(a) causing the oxidizable charge and the at least one oxidizing gas to flow simultaneously in a distribution zone located at one end of a longitudinal reactor, said distribution zone being made from a ceramic material and having first passages defined by at least one row of channels of a first group and second passages defined by at least one row of channels of a second group so that one of the oxidizable charge and the at least one oxidizing gas, flows separately inside the first passages defined by the at least one row of channels of a first group and so that the other of the oxidizable charge and the at least one oxidizing gas flows separately in the second passages defined by at least one row of channels of a second group, the oxidizable charge and the at least one oxidizing gas flowing in the distribution zone through a plurality of said passages, each having a cross-section defined, at least in one direction, by a dimension at most equal to 10 mm corresponding to the distance for quenching a flame which may result from oxidization of said oxidizable charge by reaction with the at least one oxidizing gas;
(b) then mixing said oxidizable charge and said at least one oxidizing gas distributed in a side-by-side relationship within said distribution zone in a mixing zone made from a ceramic material defining a multiplicity of passages, each having a cross-section defined, in at least one direction, by a dimension comparable to that of the passages within the distribution zone, said multiplicity of passages communicating with each other in a staggered arrangement to insure mixing of gases;
(c) causing a mixture of products resulting from passage of said gases through the mixing zone to enter into and react in a reaction zone made from a ceramic material including another multiplicity of passages each having a cross-section defined, in at least one direction, by a dimension comparable to that of the passages in the distribution zone and in the mixing zone, the distance between the distribution zone and the mixing zone, as well as the distance between the mixing zone and the reaction zone being at most equal to the distance of at most 10 mm for flame quenching;
and
(d) discharging reaction products from said reaction zone at the other end of said longitudinal reactor.

2 more elements

An oxidization reactor for oxidizing an oxidizable charge gas which comprises an oxidizing gas feed means, an oxidizable charge gas feed means and discharge means for discharging reaction products resulting from the reaction of the oxidizing gas and the oxidizable charge gas from the reactor, said reactor further including a longitudinal housing and in one end portion of the housing a gas distribution means comprising a monolithic structure made from a ceramic material having at least one row of channels of a first group connected to one of the gas feed means and inside which a gas flows, said distribution means also including outside of said channels a plurality of channels of a second group connected to feed means of said other of the gas feed means, the inside of said channels of the first group further being filled with a packing material to define a plurality of spaces having cross-sections, defined in at least one direction, by a dimension at most equal to 10 mm, said at least one row of channels of a first group and said plurality of channels of the second group being arranged for distributing separate streams of the oxidizing charge gas and the oxidizing gas into a gas mixing means made from a ceramic material and located adjacent to and in fluid communication with said distribution means within said reactor;

said mixing means mixing said streams of oxidizable charge gas and said oxidizing gas as the oxidizable charge gas and the oxidizing gas flow along a length of the mixing means and defining along the length of said mixing means a multiplicity of spaces having cross-sections defined, in one direction at least, by a dimension at most equal to 10 mm, said mixing means being situated at a distance at most equal to 10 mm from ends of said channels in the distribution means and from a gas reaction means located adjacent to and in fluid communication with the mixing means, said reaction means comprising another monolithic structure made from a ceramic material for defining another multiplicity of spaces each having a cross-section defined, in one direction, at least by a dimension at most equal to 10 mm through which reaction products obtained from the reaction of said oxidizable charge gas and said oxidizing gas are channeled to the discharge means located at the other end portion of said reactor.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 07/507,507Filed 11 Apr 1990 · continuation
Priority: FR 85/1943130 Dec 1985
Granted: 6 Aug 1991
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

C01B 3/34
By reaction of gaseous or liquid organic compounds with gasifying agents, e.g. water, carbon dioxide or air: by reaction of hydrocarbons with…
B01J 4/04
Feed or outlet devices; Feed or outlet control devices: using osmotic pressure using membranes, porous plates
B01J 12/005
Chemical processes in general for reacting gaseous media with gaseous media; Apparatus specially adapted therefor: carried out at high…
B01J 19/2415
Stationary reactors without moving elements inside: tubular reactors