Two-phase contact reactor

• US 3,969,081 A
• Filed: 08/16/1974
• Issued: 07/13/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lion Oil Company
• Original Assignee: Lion Oil Company
• Inventors: Jackson, Ronnie D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wolk, Morris O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Phillips, Roger F.
• Application Number:
  US05/498,232
• Time in Patent Office: 697 Days
• Field of Search: 23/283, 23/284, 261/112, 261/76, 261/115, 159/13 A, 159/13 C, 165/109 T, 165/60, 423/560, 239/403
• US Class Current: 422/236
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/526 Mixtures of hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 10/02 of the thin-film type
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/247 Suited for forming thin films
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00063 of the reactants
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00085 Plates; Jackets; Cylinders
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00103 in a heat exchanger separate from the reactor
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00164 controlling the flow
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00182 controlling the level of reactants in the reactor vessel
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 17/32 Hydrosulfides of sodium or potassium
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2006/80 Compositional purity

Abstract

A process for producing sodium hydrosulfide solutions substantially free of sodium carbonate from a refinery sour gas by contacting refinery sour gas with a fresh aqueous sodium hydroxide solution in cocurrent interfacial two-phase flow and separating a sweet gas substantially free of hydrogen sulfide. There is also disclosed a novel liquid-gas two-phase interfacial flow reactor designed for use in the process. The sodium carbonate free solutions of sodium hydrosulfide are useful in the sulfate paper industry.

Claims

1. A liquid-gas two-phase interfacial cocurrent flow reactor comprising a unitary shell and tube reactor having

a. a distribution header comprising (1) an annular housing, (2) fluid inlet means therein, (3) a first distributor plate, (4) a plurality of first conduit tubes passing through said first distributor plate for downward passage of a first fluid, (5) a second distributor plate positioned remote from said first distributor plate, (6) a second fluid inlet means positioned in the annular housing between the first and second distributor plates, (7) a plurality of second tubes surrounding a portion of said first conduit tubes and passing through said second distributor plate for downward passage of a second fluid, said first conduit tubes terminating within said second tubes and beyond said second distributor plate, wherein said first tubes are fixed to the interior walls of said second tubes and said first tubes are provided with fluid outlet means for directing flow of said first fluid tangent to said interior walls of said second tubes

b. a reactor section comprising (1) an annular housing, (2) a plurality of said second tubes passing through said second distributor plate and through a holder plate at the end of the reactor section remote from said second distributor plate, (3) fluid inlet and outlet means in said annular housing providing for passage of a third fluid about said plurality of second tubes, and

c. a collection header at the end of the reactor remote from the distributing header comprising (1) an annular housing, (2) said holder plate of said reactor section, (3) a plurality of said second tubes passing through and terminating beyond said holder plate and (4) a fluid outlet means in said annular housing for removal of fluids from said reactor.

2. The liquid-gas two-phase interfacial cocurrent flow reactor of claim 1 wherein said first tubes are terminated in a helical bend of such diameter so as to fit closely against the interior walls of each second tube.

3. The liquid-gas two-phase interfacial cocurrent flow reactor of claim 1 wherein said first tubes are provided with clip elements to position said first tubes adjacent to the interior walls of said second tubes.