769. ------. [GARBO, P. W.] (Hydrocarbon Research, Inc.). Synthesis Gas. United States Patent 2,526,652. Oct. 24, 1950; appl. filed Oct. 2, 1946. Serial No. 700,819: 9 claims (Cl. 48-212). Chem. Abs., vol. 45, 1951, p. 1326.

Patent Abstracts

769. ------. [GARBO, P. W.] (Hydrocarbon Research, Inc.). Synthesis Gas. United States Patent 2,526,652. Oct. 24, 1950; appl. filed Oct. 2, 1946. Serial No. 700,819: 9 claims (Cl. 48-212). Chem. Abs., vol. 45, 1951, p. 1326.

Temperature of a high-temperature reaction, such as the formation of synthesis gas from CH₄ and O₂, is controlled by absorbing the heat of reaction in a granular solid thermophore. The partly cooled thermophore then preheats the less stable CH₄ feed to such a temperature that thermal decomposition is avoided. Thus 1/16-in SiC pellets are heated to 2,300º F. in a reaction zone. The hot thermophore is passed countercurrent to incoming 98% O₂ introduced at atmospheric temperature at 2,880 cu. ft. per hr. and withdrawn at 2,200º F. The thermophore at 900º F. is brought into contact in a 2d preheating zone with natural gas containing CH₄, 75%, higher hydrocarbons, 13%; and H₂, 10% introduced at atmospheric temperature at 3,900 cu. ft. per hr. and discharged at 800º F. The thermophore is withdrawn at 200º F. and is recirculated. The preheated streams are mixed in the reaction zone and form a gas containing N₂, 2%:CH₄, 2%; CO₂, 5%: and the remainder H₂ and CO in the molar ratio of 2:1.