Brick-Lined Process Equipment

Synthesis gas may be prepared by a continuous, noncatalytic conversion of any hydrocarbon by means of controlled partial combustion in a fire-brick lined reactor. In the basic form of this process, the hydrocarbon and oxidant (oxygen or air) are separately preheated and charged to the reactor. Before entering the reaction zone, the two feed stocks are intimately mixed in a combustion chamber. The heat produced by combustion of part, of the hydrocarbon pyrolyzes the remaining hydrocarbons into gas and a small amount of carbon in the reaction zone. The reactor effluent then passes through a waste-heat boiler, a water-wash carbon-removal unit, and a water cooler-scrubber. Carbon is recovered in equipment of simple design in a form which can be used as fuel or in ordinary carbon products. 

This chapter provides the equipment designer with a basic discussion of various types of refractory brick linings which can be used to 3300°F, depending on the process. 

Make an order-of-magnitude estimate of the total capital investment, as of the year 2001 (MS = 1,110), to produce benzene according to the toluene hydrodealkylation process shown in Figure 5.13. Assume an overall conversion of toluene to benzene of 95% and 330 days of operation per year. Also, assume the makeup gas enters at the desired pressure and a clay adsorption treater must be added to the flow sheet after the stabilizer. The treater removes contaminants that would prevent the benzene product from meeting specifications. In addition, in order for the reactor to handle the high temperature, it must have a brick lining on the inside, so take a material factor of Fm = 15. Otherwise, aU major equipment is constructed of carbon steel. The plant will be constructed outdoors with major additions to existing facilities. 

Residence time, location of inlet and exit nozzles, MOC of wetted parts in each process equipment, and drive motor details (AR bricks/stainless steel lining). 

Because of its structure and composition the cellular glass is an excellent insulating material for the inside hot surfaces of process equipment. It has a weight of only 12 Ib/ft (0.19 g/cm ). For example, a process vessel handling 65% sulfuric acid at 350°F/177°C would have an outer shell of mild steel, an inner membrane of sheet rubber or vinyl, and an inner insulation of four 4 in. courses (layers) of acid brick laid up with a silicate mortar. As a result of the extra thickness of the lining, the outer steel walls and vessel supports would have to be heavy. 

British Standard Code of Practice C.D. 3 003 Linings of Vessels and Equipment for Chemical Processes. Part 1 Rubber, Part 2 Glass Enamel, Part 3 Lead, Part 4 P.V.C., Part 5 Epoxy Resins, Part 6 Phenolic Resin, Part 7 Corrosion and Heat Resistant Materials, Part 8 Precious Metals, Part 9 Titanium and Part 10 Brick and Tile... 

British Standard Code of Practice 3003 Lining of Vessels and Equipment for Chemical Processes, Part 10 Brick and Tile. ... 

Calcium carbide is manufactured today in a dosed furnace12 lined internally with refractory bricks and equipped with three electrodes positioned in a triangular layout, fabricated in situ with coke and lime hues from the processes (Sodeberg electrodes). These electrodes are suspended vertically above the furnace and introduced progressively into the litne/coal mixture, in which they cause partial fusion and mutual reaction. They are continuous, but usually have hollow cores to allow the injection of raw material fines from the feed or dost removal (Knapsack plant). They axe supplied with three-phase an. power at a voltage of 100 to 250 V, with a current density less than 10 A/cm2 of electrode surface area. Due to the reaction s poor energy eflidency, electricity consumption may be as high as 3.3 kWh/kg of carbide. 

---