Process for starting-up an ethylene oxide reactor
First Claim
1. A process for starting up a fixed bed ethylene oxide reactor containing a catalyst comprising silver, alkali metal promoter and rhenium co-promoter supported on an alumina carrier, which process comprises:
- (a) heating the reactor to a temperature between about 400°
F. and 475°
F.,(b) passing an ethylene-containing gas over the catalyst in the reactor at a flow rate between about 5 to about 40 percent of the design flow rate,(c) adding a chlorohydrocarbon moderator to the gas passing over the catalyst and after between about 0.1 to about 10 cubic centimeters of moderator (basis liquid) per cubic foot of catalyst has been added,(d) adding oxygen to the gas passing over catalyst, and raising the reactor temperature and gas flow rates to operating conditions.
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Abstract
This invention relates to a process for starting up a fixed bed ethylene oxide reactor containing a catalyst comprising silver, alkali metal promoter and rhenium co-promoters supported on an alumina carrier which process comprises heating the reactor to slightly below normal operating conditions, passing an ethylene containing gas over the catalyst at a flow rate of about 20% of design, adding a chlorohydrocarbon moderator to the gas passing over the catalyst and after approximately 1 cubic centimeters of moderator (basis liquid) per cubic foot of catalyst has been added, then adding oxygen to the gas passing over the catalyst to initiate the ethylene oxidation reaction and subsequently raising the reactor temperature and gas flow rates to operating conditions.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A process for starting up a fixed bed ethylene oxide reactor containing a catalyst comprising silver, alkali metal promoter and rhenium co-promoter supported on an alumina carrier, which process comprises:
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(a) heating the reactor to a temperature between about 400°
F. and 475°
F.,(b) passing an ethylene-containing gas over the catalyst in the reactor at a flow rate between about 5 to about 40 percent of the design flow rate, (c) adding a chlorohydrocarbon moderator to the gas passing over the catalyst and after between about 0.1 to about 10 cubic centimeters of moderator (basis liquid) per cubic foot of catalyst has been added, (d) adding oxygen to the gas passing over catalyst, and raising the reactor temperature and gas flow rates to operating conditions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification