Abstract: Apparatus for mixing of a first gas and a second gas, including (i) a linear first tube for supply of the first gas, the first tube having an inlet for the first gas at an upstream end and tapering to form a nozzle at a downstream end, and (ii) a linear second tube for supply of the second gas. The second tube has an inlet for the second gas at an upstream end, a first portion which forms an annulus around the outer surface of the first tube upstream of the nozzle, and a second portion which forms a sheath around the nozzle of the first tube and which forms an area of expanded cross-section compared to the annulus.

Abstract: The present invention provides a reactor design that enables an auto-thermal cracking process to be conducted at any suitable pressure wherein the gaseous reactants are preheated separately before mixing and then presented to the reaction zone in a uniformly distributed manner.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for mixing of a first gas and a second gas, comprising: i) a linear first tube (1) for supply of the first gas, said first tube comprising an inlet (2) for the first gas at an upstream end and tapering to form a nozzle (3) at a downstream end, and ii) a linear second tube (4) for supply of the second gas, said second tube comprising an inlet (5) for the second gas at an upstream end, a first portion (6) which forms an annulus around the outer surface of the first tube upstream of the nozzle, and a second portion (7) which forms a sheath around the nozzle (3) of the first tube (1) and which forms an area of expanded cross-section (8) compared to the annulus.

Abstract: A catalyst system capable of supporting combustion beyond the fuel rich limit of flammability comprising a catalytic component, a first support and a second support and wherein the catalytic component is present on both the first and the second support, and a process for the production of an olefin, said process comprising passing a mixture of a hydrocarbon and an oxygen-containing gas over said catalyst system to produce said olefin. The first support and the second support must differ in at least one of the following aspects: support material, support type and/or structural dimension.

Abstract: A process for the production of olefins from a hydrocarbon comprising the steps of: a) passing a first feed stream comprising gaseous reactants to a first reaction zone wherein said gaseous reactants react exothermically to provide a product stream b) producing a mixed feed stream comprising oxygen by passing the product stream produced in step (a) and a second feed stream comprising a hydrocarbon feedstock to a mixing zone, oxygen being passed to the mixing zone via (i) the product stream produced in step (a), (ii) the second feed stream comprising a hydrocarbon feedstock and/or (iii) a third stream comprising an oxygen-containing gas c) passing the mixed feed stream directly to an essentially adiabatic second reaction zone wherein in the absence of a supported platinum group metal catalyst at least a part of the oxygen is consumed and a stream comprising olefins is produced e) cooling the stream comprising olefins exiting the second reaction zone to less than 650° C.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the production of olefins by autothermal cracking of a liquid paraffinic hydrocarbon-containing feedstock in the presence of a molecular oxygen-containing gas, wherein said process comprises (a) providing a liquid paraffinic hydrocarbon-containing feedstock, (b) mixing said liquid paraffinic hydrocarbon-containing feedstock with a diluent comprising steam, said diluent being pre-heated to a temperature of at least 300° C., to produce a vaporised diluent liquid paraffinic hydrocarbon-containing feedstream comprising at least 20% by volume of steam, (c) subsequently mixing said vaporised diluted liquid paraffinic hydrocarbon-containing feedstream with a molecular oxygen-containing gas to produce a diluted mixed feedstream, (d) subsequently contacting said diluted mixed feedstream with a catalyst capable of supporting combustion beyond the normal fuel rich limit of flammability, to provide a hydrocarbon product stream comprising olefins.

Abstract: A process for the production of an olefin comprising partially combusting in a reaction zone a mixture of a hydrocarbon and an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a catalyst which is capable of supporting combustion beyond the fuel rich limit of flammability to produce the olefin, wherein the superficial feed velocity of said mixture is at least 250 cm s?-1? at standard temperature and operating pressure with the proviso that where the catalyst is an unsupported catalyst, the superficial feed velocity of said mixture is at least 300 cm s?1 at standard temperature and operating pressure.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon conversion process such as an auto-thermal cracking process in which a hydrocarbon feed and a molecular oxygen-containing gas are contacted in a reaction zone in the presence of a catalyst to produce an outlet stream having an oxygen concentration which is at, near or above the flammable limit and in which process a loss of reaction is detected and used as a signal to activate means for mitigating the risk of explosion downstream of the reaction zone. The loss of reaction may be detected for example by a sudden increase in oxygen concentration in the outlet stream and/or a sudden drop in temperature of the outlet stream.

Abstract: A process for the production of an olefin from a hydrocarbon by autothermal cracking, which process comprises: partially combusting the hydrocarbon and an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a catalyst, wherein the stoichiometric ratio of hydrocarbon to oxygen is 5 to 16 times the stoichiometric ratio of hydrocarbon to oxygen required for complete combustion of the hydrocarbon to carbon dioxide and water, characterised in that the catalyst comprises palladium and at least one further metal being a Group IIIA, Group IVA, VA, a transition metal or a lanthanide.

Abstract: Process for the production of an olefin comprising partially combusting in a reaction zone a mixture of a hydrocarbon and an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a catalyst which is capable of supporting combustion beyond the fuel rich limit of flammability to produce the olefin. The superficial feed velocity of the mixture is at least 250 cm s?1 at standard temperature and operating pressure, with the proviso that where the catalyst is an unsupported catalyst, the superficial feed velocity of the mixture is at least 300 cm s?1 at standard temperature and operating pressure. The process is carried out at a pressure of at least 1.3 bara and the reaction zone is not externally heated.

Abstract: Process for the production of an olefin from a hydrocarbon, which process comprises contacting the hydrocarbon and a molecular oxygen-containing gas with a catalyst under auto-thermal conditions sufficient to produce the olefin. The catalyst comprises a component (a) and a component (b), wherein component (a) is at least one metal selected from Group IIIA, Group IVA, Group VA and the transition metals and component (b) is at least one transition metal. The catalyst does not comprise either palladium or platinum.

Abstract: Process for the oxidation of a hydrocarbon comprising partially oxidizing in a reaction zone, a mixture comprising a hydrocarbon and an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a catalyst which is capable of supporting oxidation of the hydrocarbon. Prior to the partial oxidation, the mixture comprising the hydrocarbon and the oxygen-containing gas is passed through a heat exchanger which provides a pressure drop which acts to even the velocity profile and ensure that the reactants flow uniformly over the catalyst.

Abstract: A process for the production of an olefin comprising partially combusting in a reaction zone a mixture of a hydrocabon and an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a catalyst which is capable of supporting combustion beyond the fuel rich limit of flammability to produce the olefin. Prior the partial combustion, the mixture of the hydrocabon and the oxygen-containg gas is passed through a heat excahanger, and the heat exchanger provides a pressure drop.

Abstract: A process for the oxidation of a hydrocarbon, said process comprising partially oxidising in a reaction zone, a mixture comprising a hydrocarbon and an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a catalyst which is capable of supporting oxidation of the hydrocarbon, wherein prior to said partial oxidation, said mixture comprising the hydrocarbon and the oxygen-containing gas is passed through a heat exchanger. Preferably the heat exchanger is a compact heat exchanger. Prior to passage through the heat exchanger a mixture of hydrocarbon and oxygen-containing gas may be passed through a baffle zone which comprises a housing containing at least one baffle plate. In a preferred embodiment, the invention relates to a process for the production of an olefin such as ethylene by the catalytic oxidative dehydrogenation of a hydrocarbon or mixture of hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon conversion process such as an auto-thermal cracking process in which a hydrocarbon feed and a molecular oxygen-containing gas are contacted in a reaction zone in the presence of a catalyst to produce an outlet stream having an oxygen concentration which is at, near or above the flammable limit and in which process a loss of reaction is detected and used as a signal to activate means for mitigating the risk of explosion downstream of the reaction zone. The loss of reaction may be detected for example by a sudden increase in oxygen concentration in the outlet stream and/or a sudden drop in temperature of the outlet stream.

Abstract: A process for the production of an olefin comprising partially combusting in a reaction zone a mixture of a hydrocarbon and an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a catalyst which is capable of supporting combustion beyond the fuel rich limit of flammability to produce the olefin, wherein the superficial feed velocity of said mixture is at least 250 cm s?—1? at standard temperature and operating pressure with the proviso that where the catalyst is an unsupported catalyst, the superficial feed velocity of said mixture is at least 300 cm s−1 at standard temperature and operating pressure.

Abstract: A process for the production of an olefin from a hydrocarbon, which process comprises: partially combusting the hydrocarbon and an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a catalyst, characterised in that the catalyst comprises palladium and at least one further metal, said further metal being a Group IIA, Group IVA, VA or a transition metal.

Abstract: A process for the production of olefins from a hydrocarbon comprising the steps of: a) providing a first feed stream comprising a gaseous fuel and an oxygen-containing gas; b) contacting the first feed stream with a first catalyst under conditions so as to produce a product stream and unreacted oxygen; c) providing a second feed stream of hydrocarbon feedstock; and d) contacting the second feed stream, the product stream of step b) and the unreacted oxygen step b) with a second catalyst which is capable of supporting oxidation, thereby consuming at least a part of the unreacted oxygen to produce an olefin product.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for contacting (a) at least one gaseous reactant and (b) at least one liquid selected from the group consisting of reactants, coolants and mixtures thereof in the presence of a fluidized bed of catalyst, in which the liquid is introduced into the reactor through at least one inlet located within the fluidization zone and the gaseous reactant is introduced into the reactor through at least one inlet located within the fluidization zone adjacent the support means.

Abstract: A reactor and process for using same, for containing a solid catalyst for heterogeneous gas-phase reactions into which reactor there extends at least one inlet pipe for a molecular oxygen-containing gas which has means for surrounding a substantial portion of the pipe in the reactor with an inert fluid and optionally also has means for suppressing ingress to the inlet pipe from the reactor of flame, reagents, products, catalyst or combinations thereof. The reactor and process are particularly suitable for fluid bed reactions.