Patent · US Expired

Process for thermally converting methane into hydrocarbons with higher molecular weights, reactor for implementing the process and process for realizing the reactor

US4973777A · kind A · utility

34Cited by
9References
23Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 27, 1988
Grant dateNov 27, 1990
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 27, 2008

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S585/943
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A process for thermally converting methane e.g., at 1,000.degree.-1,300.degree. C. into hydrocarbons with higher molecular weights, especially ethylene comprises circulating a gas containing methane in ceramic channels (11) grouped in rows which cover at least a part of the reactor (1) length, parallel to its axis. At the reaction temperature, the temperature variation is kept at less than 20.degree. C. The rows of channels form multiple plates (4) which are not adjacent to one another and which define tight spaces (17) in which are housed the electric heating (5, 22) means that heat the channel plates in a first zone (9) through successive, independent cross sections substantially perpendicular to the axis of the reactor and substantially parallel to the plane of the plates. Means for heating, servocontrol and modulation (7, 8) regulate the heating system. At the exit of the heating zone (9), the effluent is cooled in a second zone (10) equipped with cooling means and finally collected.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.