GB812807A - A method of converting gaseous hydrocarbons - Google Patents

Abstract

812,807. Gas manufacture. GERHOLD, M. March 26, 1957 [April 13, 1956], No. 9829/57. Class 55 (2). Gaseous higher molecular weight hydrocarbons, such as the exhaust gases from the distillation of petroleum, are converted into hydrogen and lower molecular weight carbon compounds by preheating the hydrocarbons under pressure with steam and then admitting the mixture under decompression, for instance through a thin nozzle, together with a catalyst solution into a reaction chamber which is maintained at the reaction temperature. Formation of soot and other undesirable substances is largely prevented. The hydrocarbon-steam mixture may be preheated to between 200‹ C. and 300‹ C., there being between 1 and 1.5 kilograms of steam per kilogram of hydrocarbon. Hydrogen or hydrogen-containing gases may be introduced into the reaction chamber such as by recirculating part of the generated gas. Oxygen or oxygen-containing gases may also be fed into the reaction chamber in a proportion of 10 to 20 per cent of the quantity of steam admitted. The reaction chamber is maintained at a temperature of at least 700‹ C., such as between 850‹ C. and 950‹ C., by recuperative or inductive heating or by indirect heating of the recycled generated gas or by partial combustion of the latter with oxygen or oxygen-containing gases. The catalysts used include the salts of organic acids or alcoholates of the elements of the 2nd, 3rd or 4th group of the periodic system in mixture with organic salts of heavy metals of the 6th, 7th and 8th groups. 1.5 to 2 grams of catalyst may be used per kilogram of hydrocarbon.