BASF submerged-flame process

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). 

AcHTYMiNfl FKODUCTION, CHARACntilllSTK B OF THU MAIN AUTOTMURMAL PKOCUSSU8 

Company FccJslock Products Burner Quench Carbon black eliminalinn Compression flulvunis Sidvem puril ieulhni 

HASI Crude ail, residues. Aculykne 30%. Hlhylene SQ%. Submerged flume. Iiumcdiute by li-(juid surrounding flame. N-inulhyl- pyrrolidonc.  

6 ACETYLENE MANUFACTURE BY EXTRACTION FROM STEAM-CRACKED C, CUTS 

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Table 12. BASF Submerged-Flame Process-Average Cracked Gas Composition, ...

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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