Fluid-sparged helical channel reactor and associated methods

Abstract

A fluid-sparged helical channel reactor can include a constrained flow unit located within a reactor body. The unit has an inner wall and an outer wall which produces a helical constrained flow along a substantially enclosed helical flow path around an axial interior volume. At least part of the outer wall includes a sparging portion to allow fluid reactant to be sparged into the helical constrained flow. A liquid inlet fluidly connected to the reactor body and configured to allow addition of a liquid into the enclosed helical flow path. A sparging fluid inlet is fluidly connected to the reactor body which supplies a sparging fluid to the sparging portion of the constrained-flow unit. A liquid outlet fluidly is connected to the reactor body to allow removal of liquid from the constrained-flow unit. A gas outlet is fluidly associated with the enclosed helical flow path to allow removal of gases from the enclosed helical flow path.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fluid-sparged helical channel reactor, comprising:
 a) a constrained-flow unit located within a reactor body, said unit having an inner wall and an outer wall configured to produce a helical constrained flow along a substantially enclosed helical flow path around an axial interior volume, wherein at least part of the outer wall includes a sparging portion to allow fluid reactant to be sparged into the helical constrained flow;   b) a liquid inlet fluidly connected to the reactor body and configured to allow addition of a liquid into the enclosed helical flow path;   c) a sparging fluid inlet fluidly connected to the reactor body for supply of a sparging fluid to the sparging portion of the constrained-flow unit;   d) a liquid outlet fluidly connected to the reactor body to allow removal of liquid from the constrained-flow unit; and   e) a gas outlet fluidly associated with the enclosed helical flow path to allow removal of gases from the enclosed helical flow path.   
     
     
         2 . The fluid-sparged helical channel reactor of  claim 1 , further comprising a plenum chamber oriented between the sparging fluid inlet and the constrained-flow unit to allow distribution of the sparging fluid into the sparging portion. 
     
     
         3 . The fluid-sparged helical channel reactor of  claim 1 , further comprising a cooling mantle thermally associated with the reactor body and configured for removing heat from the liquid during exothermic reactions. 
     
     
         4 . The fluid-sparged helical channel reactor of  claim 1 , wherein the sparging portion is at least one of a porous material or a perforated wall. 
     
     
         5 . The fluid-sparged helical channel reactor of  claim 1 , further comprising a separation unit fluidly connected between the helical flow path and the liquid outlet and gas outlet, said separation unit allowing at least partial separation of gases and liquids. 
     
     
         6 . The fluid-sparged helical channel reactor of  claim 5 , further comprising a gas preheater operatively coupled to provide sparging fluid to the sparging fluid inlet and thermally associated with the separation unit such that the sparging fluid is heated by heat transferred from the separation unit before introduction into the sparging fluid inlet. 
     
     
         7 . The fluid-sparged helical channel reactor of  claim 1 , further comprising a demister fluidly connected to the gas outlet. 
     
     
         8 . The fluid-sparged helical channel reactor of  claim 1 , wherein the helical constrained flow unit further comprises a helical mixing section oriented downstream of the sparging portion. 
     
     
         9 . The fluid-sparged helical channel reactor of  claim 8 , wherein the helical mixing section includes at least one alternating clockwise and counter-clockwise helical rotation. 
     
     
         10 . The fluid-sparged helical channel reactor of  claim 1 , wherein the gas outlet is fluidly connected to the axial interior volume such that gases can be withdrawn up through the axial interior volume. 
     
     
         11 . A method of reacting compounds, comprising the steps of:
 a) directing a liquid into a helical constrained flow having an outer circumferential flow surface, said liquid containing at least one of a catalyst and a reactant;   b) sparging a fluid reactant into the helical constrained flow from the outer circumferential flow surface to form a fluid product; and   c) removing the fluid product.