Process and apparatus for fluid bed reactions

Abstract

A process and apparatus for contacting (a) at least one gaseous reactant and (b) at least one liquid selected from the group consisting of reactants, coolants and mixtures thereof in the presence of a fluidised bed of catalyst, in which the liquid is introduced into the reactor through at least one inlet located within the fluidisation zone and the gaseous reactant is introduced into the reactor through at least one inlet located within the fluidisation zone adjacent the support means.

1 - 17 . (canceled)  
     
     
         18 . Apparatus for fluid bed heterogeneous reactions in which (a) at least one gaseous reactant and (b) at least one liquid selected from the group consisting of reactants, coolants and mixtures thereof, are introduced into a fluidised bed of catalyst, which apparatus comprises a reactor having: 
 (1) a fluidisation zone for a fluidised bed of catalyst;    (2) means for supporting a fluidised bed of catalyst within said fluidisation zone;    (3) at least one inlet for introducing at least one gaseous reactant into said reactor; and    (4) at least one inlet for introducing at least one liquid selected from the group consisting of reactants, coolants and mixtures thereof into said reactor.    in which said at least one inlet for liquid is located within said fluidisation zone and said at least one inlet for gaseous reactant is located within said fluidisation zone adjacent said support means.    
     
     
         19 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 18  in which said at least one inlet for liquid is located in the lower half of the fluidisation zone.  
     
     
         20 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 18  in which said at least one inlet for liquid is located so that liquid does not impinge on any solid surfaces within the fluidisation zone.  
     
     
         21 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 18  in which said at least one inlet for gaseous reactant is located at a distance from said catalyst support means of greater than any potential flame length when said gaseous reactant comprises molecular oxygen containing gas.  
     
     
         22 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 18  wherein said gaseous reactant comprises a molecular oxygen-containing gas.  
     
     
         23 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 22  wherein one or more second gaseous reactants are introduced into the reactor.  
     
     
         24 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 23  in which said one or more second reactants are introduced at least in part, separately from said first gaseous reactant.  
     
     
         25 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 23  in which said one or more second gaseous reactants are introduced as a component of the fluidising gas.  
     
     
         26 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 23  in which said one or more second gaseous reactants comprises ethane, ethylene or mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         27 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 26  in which said liquid introduced into said reactor comprises acetic acid and there is produced vinyl acetate.  
     
     
         28 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 26  in which said liquid introduced into said reactor is selected from the group consisting of acetate acid, water and mixtures thereof and there is produced acetic acid by the oxidation of ethylene and/or there is produced ethylene and/or acetic acid by the oxidation of ethane.  
     
     
         29 . A process as claimed in  claim 23  in which acrylonitrile is produced by the reaction of ammonia molecular oxygen-containing gas and a second reactant selected from the group consisting of propylene, propane and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         30 . A process as claimed in  claim 23  in which maleic anhydride is produced by the reaction of molecular oxygen-containing gas and a second reactant selected from the group consisting of butene, butane and mixtures thereof.