PYROLYSIS OF THE LOWER PARAFFINS: II. THE PRODUCTION OF OLEFINES IN BAFFLED QUARTZ TUBES

Abstract

The pyrolysis of the lower paraffins in externally heated quartz tubes has been studied under conditions of streamline and turbulent flow. It has been found possible to produce a high degree of turbulence in the flow of paraffin gases through tubes heated to a high temperature. It has been shown that when the pyrolysis is carried out under conditions of turbulent flow the yields of olefines obtained at a given temperature are greatly increased over those obtained in an open tube. It is further shown that under conditions of turbulent flow higher rates of conversion of the lower paraffins to olefines are possible since the temperatures at which side reactions begin to be noticeable are considerably higher under the above conditions than when the gas flow is streamline.