Process for pyrolyzing or thermal cracking a gaseous or vaporized

Abstract

A process is disclosed for converting a gaseous or vaporized hydrocarbon feedstock to a product comprising ethylene, acetylene or a mixture thereof. The process comprises the steps of advancing a gaseous or vaporized stream comprising a gaseous or vaporized fuel and an oxygen source into contact with particulate solids in one section of an annular gas-solids contacting zone, said stream being deflected at the entrance to said one section of said contacting zone sufficiently to move said solids in a generally circumferential and horizontal direction, said particulate solids being at a sufficiently high temperature to effect combustion of said gaseous fuel, said particulate solids comprising an effective amount of at least one oxidation catalyst to enhance the combustion of said fuel, combusting said gaseous fuel, the heat from said combustion heating said solids, and removing a gaseous or vaporous material comprising exhaust gases or vapors from said combustion from said one section of said contacting zone; moving said particulate solids to another section of said contacting zone, the movement of said solids being effected by the flow of said gaseous stream, advancing said feedstock into said another section of said annular contacting zone into contact with said particulate solids, said feedstock being deflected at the entrance to said another section of said contacting zone sufficiently to move said solids in a generally circumferential and horizontal direction, converting at least some of said feedstock to said product, and removing said product from said another section of said contacting zone; and returning said particulate solids to said one section of said contacting zone. The resulting product can then be converted to higher order hydrocarbons, especially substantially liquid hydrocarbons.