PATENTS

2937.----- [RUHRCHEMIE, A. G.]  Improvements Relating to Catalytic Production of Hydrocarbons.  British Patent Appl. 15,166, filed 1937. 

Deals with a method of regulating the reaction temperature of  the Fischer synthesis.  Tubes containing superheated H₂O pass through the catalyst from a H₂O pass through the catalyst from a H₂O chest at one end of the converter to another end.  H₂O from a boiler enters the 1^st chest at the bottom, passes through the tubes and returns to the boiler from the top of the other chest.  No pumps are used, the circulation being maintained by thermosyphon action alone.  The converter is inclined in order to help circulation and to free steam bubbles.  The flow of H₂O through each tube is thus automatically regulated by the amount of reaction heat evolved locally, and efficient temperature regulation is claimed.  Several converters may be connected to a common steam boiler and several boilers connected to equalize the pressure.