850.    ESKREIS, A.  [Conversion of Carbon Monoxide; CO+H₂O=CO₂+H₂.]  Plyn, Voda Zdravotni Technika, vol. 17, 1937, p. 176; Chem. Zentralb., vol. II, 1937, pp. 1486-1487; Chem. Abs., vol. 33, 1939, p. 4763.

      For this reaction there is a definite proportion of water vapor that gives the optimum yield.  The introduction of superheated steam increases the amount of water vapor and thus improves the effect.  The temperature must be maintained within narrow limits.  The conversion is retarded not only by the reaction products but also by an excess of one of the reacting substances, that is, the water vapor.  The optimum concentration of steam at a given temperature can be calculated from the relation: (100-q : 100)ηW’=Q_p-Q₈+Y(ηA-B)+(B-B’)X.  Here q=the percentage heat loss in the reaction space; η=the thermal capacity of the apparatus; W’=the theoretical heat effect of the reaction; Q_p=heat of the products after the reaction at the final temperature of the process; Q₈=the heat of the reactants before the reaction at the initial temperature of the reaction; Y=the theoretical percentage completion of the reaction; B=the molecular specific heat of water at the final temperature; B’=the molecular specific heat of water at the temperature of steam entering the furnace; X=the molecules of water vapor to be added; and A=the molecular specific heat of CO₂ at the final temperature.