Apparatus using plate arrangement for exothermic reactions

• US 6,869,578 B1
• Filed: 02/22/2001
• Issued: 03/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: UOP Llc (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: UOP Llc (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Hebert, Philippe, Romatier, Jacques J. L., Pujado, Peter R., Vora, Bipin V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Doroshenk, Alexa
• Application Number:
  US09/791,973
• Time in Patent Office: 1,489 Days
• Field of Search: 422/198, 422/196, 422/197, 422/211, 422/216, 422/221, 422/311, 165/53, 165/57, 165/104.19, 165/138, 165/157, 165/162, 165168-170
• US Class Current: 422/198
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/249 Plate-type reactors
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/32 Packing elements in the form of grids or built-up elements for forming a unit or module inside the apparatus for mass or heat transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2208/022 Plate-type reactors filled with granular catalyst
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/2453 Plates arranged in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/2459 Corrugated plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/246 Perforated plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/2462 the reactants being in indirect heat exchange with a non reacting heat exchange medium
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/2464 Independent temperature control in various sections of the reactor
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/2465 Two reactions in indirect heat exchange with each other
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/2466 The same reactant stream undergoing different reactions, endothermic or exothermic
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/2479 Catalysts coated on the surface of plates or inserts
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/2481 Catalysts in granular from between plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/3221 Corrugated sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/32217 with sheets having corrugations which intersect at an angle of 90 degrees
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/32475 involving heat exchange
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0233 the reforming step being a steam reforming step
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0244 the reforming step being an autothermal reforming step, e.g. secondary reforming processes
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0844 the non-combustive exothermic reaction being another reforming reaction as defined in groups C01B2203/02 - C01B2203/0294
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0883 by indirect heat exchange
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/1011 Packed bed of catalytic structures, e.g. particles, packing elements
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/1035 : Catalyst coated on equipment surfaces, e.g. reactor walls
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/1041 : Composition of the catalyst
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/1052 : Nickel or cobalt catalysts
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/1064 : Platinum group metal catalysts
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/1082 : Composition of support materials
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/1241 : Natural gas or methane
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/1276 : Mixing of different feed components
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/141 : At least two reforming, decomposition or partial oxidation steps in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/143 : Three or more reforming, decomposition or partial oxidation steps in series
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/82 : Several process steps of C01B2203/02 - C01B2203/08 integrated into a single apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/382 : Multi-step processes
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/384 : the catalyst being continuously externally heated
• CPC Class Codes: C01C 1/0417 : characterised by the synthesis reactor, e.g. arrangement of catalyst beds and heat exchangers in the reactor arrangement of several reactors C01C1/0405; fixed-bed reactors in general B01J8/02
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 9/0037 : the conduits for the other heat-exchange medium also being formed by paired plates touching each other F28D9/0043 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 3/04 : the means being integral with the element
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/10 : Process efficiency
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/52 : using catalysts, e.g. selective catalysts

Abstract

A process and apparatus cools a heat exchange type reaction zone by passing the incoming reactants through heat exchange channels in heat exchange relationship with the reaction zone. The invention simplifies the operation and construction of the heat exchanging type reaction zone by directly communicating reaction channels that contain the reaction with the heating channels that heat reactant across an open manifold located at the end of the channels. Additional reactants, cooling fluids, or other diluents may enter the process directly through the manifold space to permit further temperature control of the reaction zone. The invention promotes better heat transfer efficiency than tube and shell heat transfer arrangements that have been used for similar purposes. The narrow channels are preferably defined by corrugated plates. The reaction channels will contain a catalyst for the promotion of the primary reaction.

Claims

1. An apparatus for contacting reactants with a catalyst in a reaction zone while indirectly cooling the reaction zone by indirectly heating a reactant stream, the apparatus comprising:

a plurality of reaction channels defined by a plurality of plates having heated reactant inlets at one end of the reaction channels and reacted stream outlets at an opposite end of the reaction channels;

a solid catalyst in the reaction channels;

a plurality of heated channels defined by a plurality of plates in an indirect heat exchange relationship with the reaction channels, the heated channels having cold reactant fluid inlets at one end of the heated channels and heated reactant outlets at an opposite end of the heated channels;

a solid catalyst for the promotion of one of an exothermic process and an endothermic process in the heated channels and the solid catalyst in the reaction channels is for the promotion of the other of an exothermic process and an endothermic process;

a containment vessel for housing the plurality of plates;

a chamber defined by the containment vessel for communicating the heated reactant outlets with the heated reactant inlets; and

a support structure for supporting one end of the plates from the top or the bottom of the containment vessel.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the channels have an average width of less than 1 inch.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plates are flat.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the reaction channels and the heated channels are defined by the same plurality of plates and the heat exchange relationship provides direct heat transfer between the reaction channels and the heated channels through the plates.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a port communicates with the chamber for adding or withdrawing fluid from the chamber.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plates define corrugations and the corrugations maintain spacing between the plates.

7. An apparatus for contacting reactants with a catalyst in a reaction zone while indirectly cooling the reaction zone by indirectly heating a reactant stream, the apparatus comprising:

a plurality of reaction channels defined by a plurality of plates having heated reactant inlets at one end of the reaction channels and reacted stream outlets at an opposite end of the reaction channels;

means for retaining a solid catalyst in the reaction channels;

a distributor with nozzles for injecting fluid at or near said reactant inlets;

a plurality of heated channels defined by a plurality of plates in an indirect heat exchange relationship with the reaction channels, the heated channels having cold reactant fluid inlets at one end of the heated channels and heated reactant outlets at an opposite end of the heated channels;

a containment vessel for housing the plurality of plates;

a chamber defined by the containment vessel for communicating the heated reactant outlets with the heated reactant inlets; and

a support structure for supporting one end of the plates from the top or the bottom of the containment vessel.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the channels have an average width of less than 1 inch.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the plates are flat.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the reaction channels and the heated channels are defined by the same plurality of plates and the heat exchange relationship provides direct heat transfer between the reaction channels and the heated channels through the plates.

11. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein a port communicates with the chamber for adding or withdrawing fluid from the chamber.

12. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the plates define corrugations and the corrugation maintain spacing between the plates.