Chemical reactor
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A reactor comprising(a) a reaction zone that receives reactants for reaction purposes;
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Abstract
A reactor comprises a reaction zone, optionally containing a catalyst bed, and heat exchange means inoperative contact with the reaction zone, e.g. embedded in a catalyst bed, and arranged so as to received reactants for heat exchange purposes, wherein the heat exchange means is formed from a plurality of superposed metal plates wherein fluid flow channels have been formed, according t a pre-determined pattern, the channel-bearing plates being aligned during superposition to define discrete heat exchange pathways respectively for reactant and working fluids, and the said plates are diffusion bonded together.
54 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A reactor comprising
(a) a reaction zone that receives reactants for reaction purposes; - and
(b) a heat exchanger in operative contact with the reaction zone so as to receive the reactants exiting the reaction zone for heat exchange purposes, wherein the heat exchanger is formed from a heat exchange panel that includes a plurality of superposed metal printed circuit heat exchange (PCHE) plates bearing fluid flow channels, the channel-bearing PCHE plates being (i) aligned during superposition to define discrete heat exchange pathways for fluids, and (ii) diffusion bonded together. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A reactor comprising:
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(a) a reaction zone that receives reactants for reaction purposes; and (b) a heat exchanger in operative contact with the reaction zone so as to receive reactants subseciuently exiting the reaction zone for heat exchange purposes, wherein the heat exchanger is formed from a heat exchange panel that includes a plurality of superposed metal printed circuit heat exchange (PCHE) plates bearing fluid flow channels, the channel-bearing PCHE plates being (i) aligned during superposition to define discrete heat exchange pathways for fluids, and (ii) diffusion bonded together, wherein the fluid flow channels do not extend completely through the plates.
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22. A method for creating a highly uniform temperature profile for reactants moving through a reactor, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a heat exchanger to receive reactants for heat exchange purposes that is formed from a heat exchange panel that includes a plurality of superposed metal printed circuit heat exchange (PCHE) plates fluid flow channels, the channel-bearing PCHE plates being (i) aligned during superposition to define discrete heat exchange pathways for fluids, and (ii) diffusion bonded together; (b) positioning the heat exchanger in operative contact with a reaction zone of the reactor that receives reactants for reaction purposes; and (c) directing the reactants exiting from the reaction zone subseciuently through the heat exchanger.
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23. A reactor comprising:
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(a) a first reaction zone that receives reactants for reaction purposes; (b) a heat exchanger in operative contact with the first reaction zone so as to receive reactants from the first reaction zone for heat exchange purposes, wherein the heat exchanger is formed from a heat exchange panel that includes a number of superposed metal printed circuit heat exchange (PCHE) plates bearing fluid flow channels that define discrete fluid pathways; and (c) a second reaction zone in operative contact with the heat exchanger opposite the first reaction zone that receives reactants from the heat exchanger for reaction purposes.
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Specification