The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 03, 1992
Filed:
May. 16, 1991
Jacques Alagy, Charbonnieres, FR;
Paul Broutin, Ecully, FR;
Christian Busson, Charbonnieres, FR;
Jerome Weill, Lyons, FR;
Institut Francais du Petrole, Rueil-Malmaison, FR;
Abstract
Method and apparatus for thermal conversion of methane to hydrocarbons of higher molecular weight, comprising a reactor 1 of elongated shape, connected at a first end to means 5 for supplying gas mixture containing methane (process gas), and connected at the opposite end to discharge means 10, the reactor having a plurality of electric heating means 3 surrounded by sheaths 4 over a first part (towards the first end). The heating means, which are substantially parallel, are arranged in sheets which are substantially parallel and perpendicular to the axis of the reactor, so that spaces or passages for circulation of the process gas and/or effluent are defined between the sheaths and/or between the sheaths and the walls 22 separating two consecutive sheets. The heating means are adapted to heat the passages by successive independent cross sections substantially perpendicular to the axis of the reactor. In a second part 8 (towards the opposite end) adjoining the first part, the reactor further comprises means 9 for cooling the effluent, connected to the means for supplying cooling fluid. The reactor also has means for introducing a gas containing hydrogen into the space surrounding the heating means inside the sheaths 4, at an appropriate pressure. The reactor and particularly the sheaths 4 are designed so that hydrogen is diffused from inside the sheaths to outside them and can then be diluted in the process gas.