Improvements in or relating to apparatus for use in carrying out exotheric chemical reactions under high temperatures and pressures

摘要

140,089. L'Air Liquide, Soc. Anon. pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des ProcÚdÚs G. Claude. Dec. 24, 1918, [Convention date]. Ammonia, catalytic production of from nitrogen and hydrogen; catalytic apparatus. - In apparatus for effecting exothermic reactions in gases under high pressures and at high temperatures, the gases are led into the apparatus through a tube embedded in the catalyst, and which also serves.to convey electric current into the apparatus for starting or promoting the reaction, the tube itself acting as the heating- element and also as a heat-interchanger between the products of the reaction and the incoming gas. The invention relates particularly to apparatus for use in the synthesis of ammonia. In the apparatus shown, the reaction tube T' containing the catalyst is enclosed in a pressure-sustaining tube T, and the latter is protected by molten material in which are immersed a pile of rings of heat-insulating material. The reaction gases are led in through the tube t, which forms the heating-element and is provided with a series of barbs to support the catalyst and with earthenware or china disks D to obviate short-circuiting; the gases pass through the whole length of the tube and escape through an opening O at its lower end. In the free space above the catalyst the tube is coiled to provide a heat-interchanger, and to prevent undue rise in temperature, this part of the tube is thicker and of a better conductor, or the spirals are short-circuited. In use, a heavy current of low voltage is passed through the tube in order to produce a temperature gradient between the reaction-tube and the outer wall T comparable with that obtaining during the normal working of the apparatus; by this, the protective material is fused regularly, and undue strains on the tube T' are obviated. Specifications 140,083 and 158,593 are referred to.