Abstract: A multi-tubular reactor system for catalytically reacting a fluid reactant mixture to form a fluid product comprising a shell and a plurality of reactor tubes housed therein. The reactor system is adapted to allow heat-exchange fluid to flow between the shell and the external surface of the reactor tubes. A reactor tube comprises a reaction zone, and also a heating zone and/or a cooling zone. The reaction zone is positioned downstream of the heating zone. The cooling zone is positioned downstream of the reaction zone. The reactor tube contains a bed of solid particulate catalyst in the reaction zone. The reactor tube additionally contains a heat-exchanging essentially rod-shaped insert having a length of from 1 to 20%, preferably 1 to 5%, of the total length of the reactor tube in the heating zone and/or the cooling zone.

Abstract: Loading device for loading particles through the entries of an array of tubes, the device comprising of a plate having a pattern of loading holes, which pattern corresponds to the array of tube entries, the opening of the loading holes being smaller in size than the opening of the tube entries and larger in size than the particles to be loaded, characterized in that the plate comprises sieving means between the loading holes, the sieving means comprising sieving openings.

Abstract: A process for catalytically reacting a fluid reactant mixture in a multi-tubular reactor system to form a fluid product, whereby the reactant mixture is led through at least one reactor tube containing a fixed bed of solid particulate catalyst and surrounded by a heat-exchange fluid, and whereby an upstream portion of the reactor tube is dedicated to pre-heating the reactant mixture and/or a downstream portion of the reactor tube is dedicated to post-cooling the product, characterized in that the upstream portion and/or downstream portion of the reactor tube contains a heat-exchanging essentially rod-shaped insert, the insert having a length of from 1 to 20%, preferably 1 to 5%, of the total length of the reactor tube.

Abstract: A method for the start-up of a process for the epoxidation of an olefin, which method comprises contacting a catalyst bed comprising a silver-based highly selective epoxidation catalyst, or a precursor of the catalyst comprising the silver in cationic form, with a feed comprising oxygen at a temperature of the catalyst bed above 260° C. for a period of at most 150 hours, and subsequently decreasing the temperature of the catalyst bed to a value of at most 260° C., and a process for the epoxidation of an olefin, which process, comprises contacting a catalyst bed comprising a silver-based highly selective epoxidation catalyst, or a precursor of the catalyst comprising the silver in cationic form, with a feed comprising oxygen at a temperature of the catalyst bed above 260° C. for a period of at most 150 hours, and subsequently decreasing the-temperature of the catalyst bed to a value of at most 260° C. and contacting the catalyst with the feed comprising the olefin and oxygen.

Abstract: A method for the start-up of a process for the epoxidation of an olefin, which method comprises

Abstract: A process for catalytically reacting a fluid reactant mixture in a multi-tubular reactor system to form a fluid product, whereby the reactant mixture is led through at least one reactor tube (20) containing a fixed bed of solid particulate catalyst and surrounded by a heat-exchange fluid, and whereby an upstream portion of the reactor tube is dedicated to pre-heating the reactant mixture and/or a downstream portion of the reactor tube is dedicated to post-cooling the product, characterised in that the upstream portion and/or downstream portion of the reactor tube (20) contains a heat-exchanging essentially rod-shaped insert (50), the insert having a length of from 1 to 20%, preferably 1 to 50%, of the total length of the reactor tube.

Abstract: A process for the catalytic vapor-phase oxidation of ethylene with a molecular oxygen-containing gas, in a reactor comprising a multitude of reaction tubes containing a supported silver catalyst and surrounded by a heat-exchange fluid which enters the reactor in liquid form and leaves the reactor in vapor form, characterized in that between 5 and 100 wt % of the liquid heat-exchange fluid is introduced to the reactor at its downstream end, at a temperature which is at least 20.degree. C. below the temperature of the heat-exchange fluid on leaving the reactor.