PATENTS

3642.   ------.  [STEWART, S. G.]  (Phillips Petroleum Co.).  Synthesis-Gas Manufacture.  United States Patent 2,606,158, Aug. 5, 1952; appl. filed Jan. 4, 1940, Serial No. 69,177; 6 claims (Cl. 252-373).

Natural gas, containing 20-40 mol. % C₂-C₄ paraffin hydrocarbons, is partly oxidized by an exothermic reaction in the presence of an O₂-containing gas at 2,000°-2,500° F. and for 0.1-1.5 sec.  The product is rapidly quenched by indirect heat exchange with a propane cracking stock and cooled 1,200°-1,600° F., thereby supplying heat for thermally cracking the paraffin.  The quenched partial oxidation product is cooled to <900° F. to prevent formation of CO₂ by the water gas shift reaction, the product of thermal cracking separated and a H₂ and CH₄ fraction recovered, a part of this fraction being passed to the partial oxidation step to raise the H₂ content of the product synthesis gas so that an optimum ratio of H₂:CO in the range of 1.7:1 to 2.3:1 is obtained.

----------.  See abs. 2182.

STIEBLING, E.  See abs. 3838.