Reactor structure as a heat exchanger layer stacking construction and method of making same

Abstract

A reactor structure has a heat transfer layer stacking construction with a stack of heat-conductive plate elements which, alternating in the stacking direction, bound one catalyst-filled reactor layer and one tempering layer respectively, adjacent plate elements being connected in a fluid-tight manner on at least two closed side areas. The plate elements on the closed side areas are bent in a U-shape and are arranged with U-side flanks which rest against one another in the stack such that the reactor layers have a larger height than the tempering layers. In addition or as an alternative, heat-conductive corrugated ribs are inserted at least in the reactor layers which are higher than the tempering layers.

1 . A reactor structure comprising a stack of heat-conductive plate elements which, alternating in a stacking direction, bound at least one reactor layer respectively that is filled with a reaction catalyst material for catalyzing a chemical reaction, and at least one tempering layer respectively, through which a tempering medium can flow; wherein, 
 adjacent plate elements are connected in a fluid-tight manner on at least two closed side areas; and    heat-conducting corrugated ribs are inserted in the reactor layers formed with a larger height than the tempering layers.    
   
   
       2 . Reactor structure comprising: 
 a plurality of reactor layers filled with a reaction catalyst material for catalyzing a chemical reaction,    a plurality of tempering layers disposed respectively between the reactor layers, said tempering layers accommodating a tempering medium flow therethrough,    heat-conductive plate elements bounding the reactor layers and tempering layers and tempering layers, with adjacent plate elements connected in a fluid-tight manner on at least two closed side areas,    wherein the plate elements are configured to provide the reactor layers with a height larger than a height of the tempering layers.    
   
   
       3 . Reactor structure according to  claim 2 , 
 wherein heat-conducting corrugated ribs are inserted in the reactor layers formed with a larger height than the tempering layers.    
   
   
       4 . The reactor structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the plate elements have a corrugated main plate surface.  
   
   
       5 . A method of making a reactor structure for an exothermal or endothermal chemical reaction, comprising: 
 forming a plurality of reactor layers filled with reactor catalyst material for catalyzing a chemical reaction,    forming a plurality of tempering layers accommodating a tempering medium flow therethrough,    stacking the reactor layers and tempering layers adjacent one another with a tempering layer disposed between respective pairs of reactor layers,    bounding the reactor layers and the tempering layers with heat-conductive plate elements with adjacent plate elements connected in a fluid tight manner on at least two closed side areas and with the reactor layers having a larger height than the tempering layers.