Reactor for performing a strongly heat-conditioned catalytic reaction

Abstract

The invention relates to a reactor for performing a strongly heat-conditioned catalytic reaction in a process fluid, equipped with plates that are arranged parallel to one another at a distance and that form flat channels with lateral boundary areas that face one another, whereby a portion of the channels contains a solid catalyst and carries the process fluid, and another portion of the channels guides a heat transfer medium in indirect heat contact with the process fluid. According to the invention, plates ( 1 ) are flat or are provided with grooves or ribs, and plates ( 1 ) are coated at least partially with catalyst ( 6 ) on the surface that faces the process fluid.

1 . A reactor for performing a heat-conditioned catalytic reaction in a process fluid, said reactor comprising: plates that are arranged parallel to one another at a distance and that form flat channels with lateral boundary areas that face one another, wherein a portion of said channels contain a solid catalyst and carry a process fluid, and another portion of said channels carry a heat transfer medium in indirect heat contact with the process fluid, wherein said plates are flat or are provided with grooves or ribs and are coated at least partially with a catalyst on the surface that faces the process fluid.  
     
     
         2 . A reactor according to  claim 1 , wherein said lateral boundary areas are jacket pieces, which form a pressure-resistant cuboid block with said channels, plates, and with collectors for the process fluid and for the heat transfer medium.  
     
     
         3 . A reactor according to  claim 1 , wherein the channels which carry the process fluid contain corrugated or pleated sheets which form passages for the flow of process fluid.  
     
     
         4 . A reactor according to  claim 3 , wherein said sheets are perforated and thereby provide flow connections between said passages.  
     
     
         5 . A reactor according to  claim 3 , wherein said sheets are coated at least partially on both sides with catalyst material.  
     
     
         6 . A reactor according to  claim 1 , wherein said catalyst layer contains a support medium.  
     
     
         7 . A reactor according to  claim 1 , wherein said catalyst layer has a thickness of 1-500 μm.  
     
     
         8 . A reactor according to  claim 1 , wherein said catalyst layer has a thickness of 10-100 μm.  
     
     
         9 . A reactor according to  claim 1 , wherein said reactor is made of aluminum.  
     
     
         10 . A reactor according to  claim 1 , wherein said reactor is made of steel or high-grade steel.  
     
     
         11 . In a method of performing an endothermic or exothermic reaction within a reaction, the improvement wherein said reactor is according to  claim 1 .  
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein said reaction is synthesis of methanol or synthesis of higher alcohols.  
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein said reaction is hydrogenation of hydrocarbons.  
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein said reaction is selective hydrogenation of C 2 H 2  to C 2 H 4 .  
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein said reaction is non-selective hydrogenation of C 2 H 4  to C 2 H 6 .  
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein said reaction is methanation or in the synthesis of methane.  
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein said reaction is conversion of carbon monoxide.  
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein said reaction is Fischer-Tropsch synthesis.  
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein said reaction is epoxidation.  
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 19 , wherein said reaction is synthesis of ethylene oxide.  
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein said reaction is Claus reaction.  
     
     
         22 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein said reaction is direct oxidation of H 2 S to sulfur.  
     
     
         23 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein said reaction is oxidation of SO 2  to SO 3 .  
     
     
         24 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein said reaction is synthesis of NH 3 .