초록 ▼

A fluid-wall reactor for high temperature chemical reactions is described, the reactor comprising (A) a porous reactor tube, at least a portion of the interior of which defines a reaction zone, the tube being made of a fabric of a fibrous refractory material; (B) a pressure vessel enclosing the reac

A fluid-wall reactor for high temperature chemical reactions is described, the reactor comprising (A) a porous reactor tube, at least a portion of the interior of which defines a reaction zone, the tube being made of a fabric of a fibrous refractory material; (B) a pressure vessel enclosing the reactor tube to define an inert fluid plenum, the pressure vessel having at least one inlet for admitting the inert fluid which is directed under pressure through the porous tube wall to provide a protective blanket for the inside surface of the reactor tube; (C) means for introducing at least one reactant into the reaction zone, the reactants being directed in a predetermined path axially of the reactor tube and being confined by the protective blanket substantially centrally within the reaction zone; (D) means disposed within the plenum for heating the reactor tube to the temperature level at which it emits sufficient radiant energy to initiate and sustain the desired chemical reaction, the radiant energy being directed into the reaction zone to coincide with at least a portion of the path of the reactants; and (E) a heat shield disposed within the pressure vessel, substantially enclosing the heating means and the reaction zone to define a black body cavity, the heat shield reflecting radiant energy toward the reaction zone. The fluid-wall reactor of the invention may be used in virtually any high temperature chemical reaction, many of which reactions have been previously regarded as impractical or only theoretically possible. Among the reactions which may be carried out in the fluid-wall reactor of the invention as the dissociation of hydrocarbons and hydrocarbonaceous materials, such as coal and various petroleum fractions, into hydrogen and carbon black; the steam reforming of coal, petroleum fractions, oil shale, tar sands, lignite, and any carbonaceous or hydrocarbonaceous feedstock into synthesis gas mixtures; the partial dissociation of hydrocarbons and hydrocarbonaceous materials into lower molecular weight compounds; the partial pyrolysis of saturated hydrocarbons into unsaturated hydrocarbons, such as ethylene, propylene and acetylene; the conversion of organic waste materials, such as sewage sludge, into a fuel gas; the complete or partial desulfurization of sulfur-containing hydrocarbonaceous feedstocks; and the reduction of mineral ores with hydrogen, carbon, synthesis gas, or other reducing agent.

대표청구항 ▼

In a high temperature reactor wherein substantially all of the heat is supplied by radiation coupling, comprising (a) a reactor tube having an inlet end and an outlet end, the interior of the tube defining a reactor chamber, the reactor tube being made of a porous refractory material capable of emit

In a high temperature reactor wherein substantially all of the heat is supplied by radiation coupling, comprising (a) a reactor tube having an inlet end and an outlet end, the interior of the tube defining a reactor chamber, the reactor tube being made of a porous refractory material capable of emitting sufficient radiant energy to raise the temperature of reactants within the reactor tube to a level required to initiate and sustain the desired chemical reaction, the pores of the refractory material being of such diameter as to permit a uniform flow of sufficient inert fluid which is substantially transparent to radiant energy through the tube wall to constitute a protective blanket for the radially inward surface of the reactor tube; (b) a fluid-tight, tubular pressure vessel enclosing the reactor tube to define an inert fluid plenum between the reactor tube and the pressure vessel, the inlet and outlet ends of the reactor tube being sealed from the plenum; the pressure vessel having an inlet for admitting the inert fluid which is directed under pressure into the plenum and through the porous tube wall into the reactor chamber; (c) means for introducing at least one reactant into the reactor chamber through the inlet end of the reactor tube, the reactants being directed in a predetermined path axially of the reactor tube and being confined by the protective blanket substantially centrally within the reactor chamber and out of contact with the inner wall of the reactor tube; (d) electrical means disposed within the plenum and spaced radially outwardly of the reactor tube for heating the reactor tube to the temperature level at which it emits sufficient radiant energy to initiate and sustain the desired chemical reaction, the radiant energy being directed centrally therewithin substantially coincident with at least a portion of the path of the reactants; and (e) a circumferential heat shield disposed within the pressure vessel and radially outwardly of the heating means, the heat shield reflecting radiant energy toward the reactor tube; the improvement in combination therewith comprising: (i) a reactor-tube assembly, including (i.1) the reactor tube of paragraph (a) of the preamble, the reactor tube being made of a porous fabric of a fibrous, refractory material; (i.2) a first support ring having an opening passing therethrough, the first support ring being secured to the inlet end of the reactor tube with the opening of the support ring generally coaxial with the opening in the inlet end of the reactor tube so that the opening of the first support ring communicates with the interior of the reactor tube through the inlet-end opening; and (i.3) a second support ring having an opening passing therethrough, the second support ring being secured to the outlet end of the reactor tube with the opening of the support ring generally coaxial with the opening in the outlet end of the reactor tube so that the opening of the second support ring communicates with the interior of the reactor tube through the outlet-end opening; and (ii) means for attaching the first and the second support rings to the pressure vessel to position the reactor tube within the pressure vessel.