1765. JENNY, F. J., AND RIBLETT, E. W. (Hydrocarbon Research, Inc.). Process for Synthesizing Hydrocarbons. Canadian Patent 479,511, Dec. 18, 1951; appl. filed Sept. 10, 1945, Serial No. 531,403, in United States Sept. 12, 1944; 5 claims.

Catalytic hydrogenation of CO is effected by passing a mixture of CO and H₂ upward through a mass of fluidized powdered Fe catalyst, the velocity of fluidization being low enough that there is relatively little entrainment of the powdered catalyst in the effluent gases. The reactants are continuously introduced into the lower part of the reaction zone at a predetermined rate and pass upward at 600º F. and 250 lb. pressure, converting gaseous reactants into hydrocarbons with substantial volume contraction. An effluent stream of normally liquid hydrocarbons is continuously removed from the reaction zone, and the liquid hydrocarbons vaporizable under the prevailing conditions in the reaction zone are separated and injected into the reaction mixture at a number of points along the direction of travel through the catalyst mass, the amount injected being such as to compensate for the contraction in volume of the reactant gases and to maintain substantial fluidization of the catalyst along the vertical dimension of the reaction zone.