Acetylene Autothermal processes

The submerged-flame technique developed by BASF represents the latest de> cIopment in autothermal processes. Within a liquid hydrocarbon, a flame creates a suf ciently high temperature in its vicinity to cause the formation of light products, tnduding acetylene. The gases are quendied in the cold zones of the liquid, and the carbon black formed is sent with the hydrocarbon to the burner. The reactor can operate undo pressure with any hydrocarbon oomponnd, without the substandal producdon of carbon black. The weak point of the device is the control of the burner, which is difficult to achieve due to the bi gas flow velocity (Fig. 5.13). 

ACETYLENE MANUFACTURE FROM hydrocarbons AUTOTHERMAL PROCESSES... 

Fig, 5.12. Acetylene manufacture by autothermal combustion of hydrocarbons. BASF submerged flame process,... 

Finally, BASF have also developed a submerged flame autothermal cracking process for crude oil. Partial combustion raises the temperature locally, to the point at which cracking to both ethylene and acetylene occur. A typical off-gas composition comprises approximately Imol acetylene, M5mol ethylene, 7-5 mol carbon monoxide and 4 5 mol hydrogen, with minor amounts of C3 and higher products. 

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