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AssigneeExxon Research & Engineering Co.
InventorsFrank Hershkowitz, Harry W. Deckman, Robert P. Reynolds, Constantine P. Gonatas, John W. Fulton, Leonard Schoenman, Jack I. Ito
Estimating the term…
A novel injector/reactor apparatus and an efficient process for the partial oxidation of light hydrocarbon gases, such as methane, to convert such gases to useful synthesis gas for recovery and/or subsequent hydrocarbon synthesis. Sources of a light hydrocarbon gas, such as methane, and oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas are preheated and pressurized and injected through an injector means at high velocity into admixture with each other in the desired relating proportions, at a plurality of mixing nozzles which are open to the partial oxidation zone of a reactor and are uniformly-spaced over the face of the injector means, to form a gaseous premix having a pressure drop through the injector. The gaseous premix is injected in a time period which is less than 5 milliseconds, preferably at a velocity between about 25 to 1000 feet/second, into a partial oxidation reaction zone so that the gaseous premix reacts therein, to reduce the amounts of CO.sub.2, H.sub.2 O and heat produced by the partial oxidation reaction and form, cool and recover a useful syngas.
A process for the partial oxidation of hydrocarbons to useful synthesis gas containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide, comprising providing individual streams of a hydrocarbon gas and oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas, each stream being at independent elevated pressure and temperature, injecting said individual streams into admixture with each other through an injector means having a plurality of mixing nozzles to form a gaseous premix, introducing said gaseous premix from the plurality of mixing nozzles, in a time period less than about 5 milliseconds after it is formed, into a partial oxidation reaction zone to form said useful synthesis gas, and recovering said synthesis gas.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.