Cryogenic cooling of exothermic reactor

• US 5,943,869 A
• Filed: 05/12/1998
• Issued: 08/31/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Praxair Technology Incorporated (Linde Plc)
• Original Assignee: Praxair Technology Incorporated (Linde Plc)
• Inventors: Cheng, Alan Tat Yan, Lumba, Deepak
• Primary Examiner(s): CAPOSSELA, RONALD C
• Application Number:
  US09/076,628
• Time in Patent Office: 476 Days
• Field of Search: 62/70, 62/4, 62/121
• US Class Current: 62/121
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/0013 Controlling the temperature of the process
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/26 Nozzle-type reactors, i.e. the distribution of the initial reactants within the reactor is effected by their introduction or injection through nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00126 Cryogenic coolants
• CPC Class Codes: F28C 3/08 with change of state, e.g. absorption, evaporation, condensation generating steam under pressure F22

Abstract

Method and apparatus for effectively and safely using cryogenic liquid to cool a reactor vessel housing an exothermic reaction wherein the cryogenic liquid is subcooled, valved into the reactor in a downward direction, and shielded by annular coaxial shielding gas upon injection into the reactor.

Claims

1. Apparatus for cooling a reactor containing an exothermic reaction comprising:

(A) a subcooler and a reactor vessel;

(B) means for providing cryogenic liquid into the subcooler;

(C) means for passing cryogenic liquid from the subcooler to the reactor vessel, said passing means comprising at least one valve;

(D) an injector for receiving cryogenic liquid and injecting cryogenic liquid into the reactor vessel, said injector oriented so as to inject cryogenic liquid into the reactor vessel in a downwardly directed stream; and

(E) means for providing shielding gas around the downwardly directed stream of cryogenic liquid.

2. The apparatus for claim 1 wherein the injector comprises a provision means having a central passage for flow of cryogenic liquid and an outer passage for flow of shielding gas.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the injector comprises a nozzle through which cryogenic liquid and shielding gas are passed into the reactor vessel.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the nozzle has a conical face and wherein the central passage communicates with the face closer to the apex of the conical face than does the outer passage.