Abstract: A control system controls the temperature of a chemical process vessel by recirculating a heat transfer medium through a jacket surrounding the vessel. In order to control the temperature of the recirculating medium, the control system uses an internal cooling heat exchanger connected in series with an internal heating heat exchanger and can also connect the recirculating loop to a central refrigeration system. Operation of the heat exchangers and connections to the central refrigeration system are automatically controlled by a computer which selects the cooling method in order to minimize energy use while maintaining the selected temperature. The computer also monitors the inlet and internal temperatures of the vessel and the outlet temperature of the cooling heat exchanger to prevent thermal shock damage when the system changes between heating and cooling during operation.

Abstract: A gas-liquid reactor includes a cylindrical vessel containing a liquid with a head space defined above the liquid surface, a submerged jet nozzle positioned on the vessel axis for injecting liquid and gas upwardly into the vessel, and at least two free jet nozzles positioned at the top of the vessel in the head space for injecting a liquid jet downwardly into the liquid in the vessel such that gas in the head space is entrained into the liquid jet and mixed into the liquid in the vessel. The reactor is provided with a cylindrical guide tube coaxial with the vessel sidewall and terminating below the liquid surface for directing circulation. A baffle system directs reactive gas rising from the liquid surface to the head space for entrainment in the liquid jet and directs reacted gas rising from the liquid surface to a vent. Diffuser tubes extend downwardly from each of the free jet nozzles into the liquid for delivering the gas-liquid mixture into the lower portion of the vessel outside the guide tube.