Tube And Shell Type Patents (Class 422/201)
  • Patent number: 8257669
    Abstract: A chemical reactor is provided that includes: a plurality of tubes having a catalytic reactor substrate therein, each of the tubes having an inlet at one end for receiving a fluid flow and an outlet at an opposing end for discharging fluid flow, and a longitudinal axis parallel to the direction of fluid flow through the tube, the longitudinal axis of each tube being parallel to one another; and a plurality of heat exchange fins disposed on and extending radially from the exterior surface of each tube; the heat exchange fins on each tube independently having a profile along a cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of each tube, and the tubes being arranged with respect to one another, such that the heat exchange fin profiles together form a tessellated pattern in a plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul E. Jankowski
  • Patent number: 8246915
    Abstract: Disclosed is a removable cooling module (1), for use in a reactor (20) for carrying out an exothermic reaction, comprising a coolant feed tube (2); a distribution chamber (4); a plurality of circulation tubes (5); and a collection chamber (6); said coolant feed tube (2) having at its first end an inlet (3), for charging the coolant module (1) with coolant, and communicating with said distribution chamber (4) at its second end; each of said circulation tubes (5) communicating with the distribution chamber (4) through a first end and communicating with said collection chamber (6) through a second end; the collection chamber (6) having an outlet for discharging coolant. The modular nature of the invention facilitates removal of individual cooling module (1) from a reactor shell (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Anne Boer, Franciscus Johannes Maria Schrauwen
  • Patent number: 8216531
    Abstract: Disclosed are a syngas production process and a reforming exchanger 100. The process involves passing a first portion of hydrocarbon feed mixed with steam and oxidant through an autothermal catalytic steam reforming zone to form a first reformed gas of reduced hydrocarbon content, passing a second portion of the hydrocarbon feed mixed with steam through an endothermic catalytic steam reforming zone to form a second reformed gas of reduced hydrocarbon content, and mixing the first and second reformed gases and passing the resulting gas mixture through a heat exchange zone for cooling the gas mixture and thereby supplying heat to the endothermic catalytic steam reforming zone. The endothermic catalytic steam reforming zone and the heat exchange zone are respectively disposed tube side and shell side within a shell-and-tube reforming exchanger 100.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Kellogg Brown & Root LLC
    Inventors: Robert Burlingame, Thomas Czuppon, Larry G. Hackemesser
  • Patent number: 8153075
    Abstract: The invention provides a gas hydrate production apparatus which can eliminate the need for an agitator in a generator, and at the same time, can make constant the percentage of gas hydration of the product. A shell-and-tube-type generator 2 is provided downstream of an ejector-type mixer 1 that stirs and mixes a raw-material gas g and a raw-material water w. In addition, partition walls 41 to 43 each causing a gas hydrate slurry to turn around are provided in each of end plates 37 and 38 placed respectively in the front and rear ends of the generator 2. Moreover, a dehydrator 3 including a cone-shaped filter 48 is provided downstream of the generator 2, and a drainage pipe 11 is provided to the dehydrator 3. Further, a flow regulating valve 12 is provided to the drainage pipe 11.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeru Nagamori, Tetsuro Murayama, Hidenori Moriya, Takashi Arai, Nobutaka Oya
  • Publication number: 20120076704
    Abstract: A system for producing hydrogen features a reactor including a reaction channel adapted to receive a reaction stream including a mixture of supercritical water and a hydrocarbon fuel. A catalyst is positioned in the reaction channel so that a product stream containing hydrogen is produced by a reaction in the reaction channel when the mixture is exposed to the catalyst; wherein the catalyst contains a catalytically active metal and a promoter in a metal format, selected from the group consisting of potassium, sodium, rubidium, lithium, cesium, beryllium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, and barium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: CHART, INC.
    Inventors: ZHIJUN JIA, Mark Wood, Clay Thiele
  • Patent number: 8133445
    Abstract: This invention relates to a chamber in which a chemical reaction is carried out in the presence of catalyst and reagents, comprising at least one catalytic tube (10) into which is placed an internal tube (12) for evacuating the gas that is produced, means for introducing reagents (15) and means for introducing the catalyst (16) that are located in the upper portion of the chamber (1), means for heating the catalytic tube (10) that are arranged in the lower portion of the chamber (1), and in which the catalytic tube (10) comprises, in its upper portion above the catalyst (13), means that promote heat exchange between the reagents and the gas that is produced. The invention also relates to the process that uses this chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: IFP Energies Nouvelles
    Inventors: Christophe Boyer, Fabrice Giroudiere
  • Patent number: 8105400
    Abstract: A process for treating biomass comprises providing a material that contains an amount of residual moisture. The material is heated to a torrefying temperature in a low-oxygen atmosphere in a torrefaction reactor to convert it into a torrefied material. The material with the contained residual moisture is essentially fully dried in a drying chamber by evaporation of residual moisture. The torrefaction reactor comprises a torrefying chamber, in which the torrefaction of this dried material is essentially carried out. The material is conveyed through the torrefaction reactor. The drying of the material in the drying chamber is carried out by introducing into it a hot drying gas that flows therethrough cocurrently with the material. The torrefaction of the material in the torrefying chamber of the torrefaction reactor is carried out by introducing into it a hot torrefying gas that flows through the torrefying chamber countercurrently with the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Stichting Energieonderzoek Centrum Nederland
    Inventor: Peter Christiaan Albert Bergman
  • Patent number: 8088344
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Arend Jan Te Raa, Mathias Jozef Paul Slapak, Alouisius Nicolaas Rene Bos
  • Patent number: 8080215
    Abstract: Flow reactor having a plurality of walled conduits each having an outer surface disposed for contact with a heat-transfer medium, an inlet distribution manifold in flow communication with a downstream manifold through channels formed by heterogeneous catalytic material disposed within each conduit during operation, and a sequence of zones comprising at least two zones, the zones including the walled conduits. The walled conduits within each zone have the same or different length measured along a longitudinal coordinate of the zone, the walled conduits within each zone have essentially uniform cross-section measured in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal coordinate thereby defining volume of the zone, and in the sequence of zones, the total cross-sectional area of the conduits in each downstream zone varies from the prior upstream zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: BP Corporation North America Inc.
    Inventors: Hassan Taheri, Curtis D. Dickinson, Paul A. Jacobson
  • Patent number: 8075845
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a heat-exchanger reactor comprising a vessel, at least one dividing member selected from plates, walls, or spiral sheets, which dividing member separates heat exchanging fluids into at least one heat exchanging zone from fluids into at least one mixing zone, and at least one flow-directing device having one or more ports or one or more injection ports, which flow-directing device is inserted into the mixing zone. The present invention relates also to uses of the heat-exchanger reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Alfa Laval Corporate AB
    Inventor: Selim Gülener
  • Patent number: 8071059
    Abstract: A chemical reactor for catalytic reactions, comprises a substantially cylindrical shell (2) closed at the opposite ends by respective covers (3 and 4), at least one reaction zone (7, 8) in which a respective catalytic bed (9, 10) and a plurality of heat exchangers (25) placed in said at least one reaction zone (7, 8) are supported.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Methanol Casale S.A.
    Inventors: Ermanno Filippi, Enrico Rizzi, Mirco Tarozzo
  • Patent number: 8066954
    Abstract: A plug flow reactor having an inner shell 27 surrounded by outer shell 21 and having at least one annular flow passage 35 therebetween can be used to prepare compositions, including polymers. The plug flow reactor also includes inlet port 36, an outlet port 37 and a plurality of exchanger tubes 26 wherein the exchanger tubes are in fluid communication to the at least one annular flow passage. Polystyrene and high impact polystyrene can be prepared using the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Fina Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Thanh T. Nguyen, Jay L. Reimers
  • Patent number: 8062605
    Abstract: A cooling system for use in a shell-type reactor includes vertically extending double tubes with an inner tube and an outer tube closed at its lower end. The system also includes a distributor for supplying a fluid cooling medium into the upper end of the inner tubes and a horizontally extending plate, which on its upper surface includes at least two upwardly open, parallel grooves. Two adjacent grooves are separated by a common inner wall. At least one outer tube, having an upper end, is disposed in each groove, through the plate. Each outer tube is tightly welded to the plate on the groove base. The upper, open side of each groove is closed with a lid, so that each groove forms a collector for discharging the cooling medium from the outer tubes. Each inner tube opens through the lid into a distributor and is tightly attached to the lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: MAN DWE GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Lehr, Wolfgang Primbs
  • Patent number: 8057747
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for integrating the heat transfer zones of plate fin and tube and finned tube exchangers and a catalytic mass transfer zone. The invention also provides a method for in situ regeneration of existing coated surface and augmentation of existing coated surface, or catalyst performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: SME Products, LP
    Inventors: Larry Lewis, Jeff Diaz
  • Patent number: 8038960
    Abstract: A reformer that produces reformed gas from a hydrocarbon material includes a reforming chamber having an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder; a reforming catalyst filled in the reforming chamber; a burner that heats the reforming catalyst and fuel of reformed gas; a combustion gas outer flow channel through which combustion gas of the burner flows along an outer side surface of the reforming chamber; a combustion gas inner flow channel through which the combustion gas of the burner flows along an inner side surface of the reforming chamber; and a plurality of return pipes as a reformed gas flow channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuyuki Higashino
  • Patent number: 8007734
    Abstract: The present invention concerns an isothermal reactor (1) for carrying out exothermal or endothermal heterogeneous reactions comprising: —a substantially cylindrical outer shell (2) with longitudinal axis (X), —at least one catalytic bed (6) extending in the shell (2) and comprising opposite perforated side walls (7, 8) respectively for the inlet of a gaseous flow of reactants and for the outlet of a gaseous flow comprising reaction products, and —a heat exchange unit (12) immersed in said at least one catalytic bed (6) and crossed by a heat exchange fluid, characterized in that said heat exchange unit (12) comprises at least one succession of heat exchangers (13) arranged substantially parallel to each other and substantially parallel to the direction in which said at least one catalytic bed (6) is crossed by said gaseous flow of reactants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Methanol Casale S.A.
    Inventors: Ermanno Filippi, Enrico Rizzi, Mirco Tarozzo
  • Patent number: 7988927
    Abstract: A method of varying the temperature of a tube bundle reactor for catalytic gas phase reactions upon start-up and shut-down, the tube bundle reactor comprising a major reactor portion which includes a bundle of vertically disposed reactor tubes, upper and lower tubesheets tightly connected to the upper and lower ends, respectively, of the reactor tubes, and a reactor shell enclosing the tube bundle, a heat transfer medium having a melting temperature in the range of from 100° C. to 450° C. flowing around the outer surfaces of the reactor tubes during normal operation and being circulated in at least one circuit through the major reactor portion, comprising the steps: (a) varying the heat transfer medium temperature during circulation of the heat transfer medium; and (b) passing a temperature gas through the reactor tubes at least when the heat transfer medium is not yet or no longer circulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: MAN DWE GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Lehr, Josef Dachs, Wolfgang Schuster
  • Patent number: 7981374
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for treating the effluent from a hydrocarbon pyrolysis process unit to recover heat and remove tar therefrom. The method comprises passing the gaseous effluent to at least one primary heat exchanger, thereby cooling the gaseous effluent and generating high pressure steam. Thereafter, the gaseous effluent is passed through at least one secondary heat exchanger having a heat exchange surface maintained at a temperature such that part of the gaseous effluent condenses to form in situ a liquid coating on said surface, thereby further cooling the remainder of the gaseous effluent to a temperature at which tar, formed by the pyrolysis process, condenses. The condensed tar is then removed from the gaseous effluent in at least one knock-out drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Robert David Strack, John R. Messinger
  • Patent number: 7981271
    Abstract: Pseudo-isothermal radial chemical reactor for catalytic reactions, comprising a substantially cylindrical shell closed at the opposite ends by respective base plates, comprising a reaction zone in which a respective catalytic bed is supported and a plurality of heat exchangers placed in said reaction zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Methanol Casale S.A.
    Inventors: Ermanno Filippi, Enrico Rizzi, Mirco Tarozzo
  • Patent number: 7972572
    Abstract: A reactor vessel liner system includes a liner having a plurality of first conduits and a plurality of second conduits for conveying a coolant. The plurality of second conduits is located at least partially within corresponding ones of the plurality of first conduits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven P. Fusselman, Stephen Arthur Yows, Bryan William McEnerney, Kenneth M. Sprouse
  • Patent number: 7947232
    Abstract: An improved reactor for an HF alkylation unit of the shell-and-tube heat exchanger type has an axial tube bundle to provide cooling for the reactor and a centrally-located axial sparger system for injecting and dispersing the hydrocarbon reactants into the flow path in the reactor. The sparger comprises an axially-extensive tube with outlet nozzles for the hydrocarbon reactants arranged around the tube, preferably with differing radial angles, at different locations along the length of the sparger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research & Engineering Company
    Inventors: Ramon A. Strauss, Ramesh R. Hemrajani
  • Publication number: 20110104019
    Abstract: A polyester production system employing a vertically elongated esterification reactor. The esterification reactor of the present invention is an improvement over conventional CSTR esterification reactors because, for example, in one embodiment, the reactor requires little or no mechanical agitation. Further, in one embodiment, the positioning of the inlets and outlets of the reactor provides improved operational performance and flexibility over CSTRs of the prior art.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventor: Bruce Roger DeBruin
  • Patent number: 7914749
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems directed to clathrate hydrate modular storage, applications and utilization processes. In one implementation, the present invention provides a method of creating scalable, easily deployable storage of natural gas and thermal energy by assembling an array of interconnecting, modular gas clathrate hydrate storage units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Solid Gas Technologies
    Inventors: Christopher Carstens, Wade Dickinson, Wayne Dickinson, Jon Myers
  • Publication number: 20110008218
    Abstract: Disclosed is a shell-and-tube heat exchanger type reactor that can be used for a process of producing unsaturated acids from olefins via fixed-bed catalytic partial oxidation, which comprises at least one reaction tube, each including at least one first-step catalyst layer, in which olefins are oxidized by a first-step catalyst to mainly produce unsaturated aldehydes, and at least two second-step catalyst layers, in which the unsaturated aldehydes are oxidized by a second-step catalyst to produce unsaturated acids, wherein a first catalyst layer of the second-step catalyst layers, disposed right adjacent to the first-step catalyst layer, has an activity corresponding to 5˜30% of the activity of the catalyst layer having a highest activity among the second-step catalyst layers. A method of producing unsaturated acids from olefins by using the reactor is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Boo Gon WOO, Jun Seok KO, Kyoung Su HA, Seong Pil KANG, Seok Hwan CHOI, Young Bae KIM
  • Patent number: 7867460
    Abstract: Systems and methods for producing ammonia. The system can include a first shell having two or more discrete catalyst beds disposed therein, a second shell disposed about the first shell, a first heat exchanger disposed external to the first shell and in fluid communication therewith, a second heat exchanger disposed external to the second shell and in fluid communication therewith, and a flow path disposed within the first shell. A first portion can be reacted in the presence of the catalyst to provide an ammonia effluent. The heat of reaction from the ammonia effluent can be exchanged within the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger. The heated second portion of the feed gas can be introduced to the first shell and can be reacted in the presence of the catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Kellogg Brown & Root LLC
    Inventors: Shashi P. Singh, Yue Jing
  • Patent number: 7854906
    Abstract: A reactor for carrying out a reaction between two fluid starting materials over a catalyst bed with premixing of the fluid starting materials before introduction into the catalyst bed within a delay time of less than 150 ms in a mixing-in device, wherein the mixing-in device is made up of the following elements which are arranged essentially transverse to the inflow direction of the first fluid starting material stream: two or three rows arranged behind one another of tubes which have turbulence generators on the outside and constrict the flow cross section for the first fluid starting material stream to from ½ to 1/10, with the second fluid starting material stream being passed through the interiors of the tubes and injected via openings in the tubes into the first fluid starting material stream; a perforated plate upstream of the tubes; and a perforated plate downstream of the tubes, is proposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Gerhard Olbert, Franz Corr, Sven Crone
  • Patent number: 7850928
    Abstract: The present invention provides: a fixed-bed shell-and-tube reactor, which can stably produce an aimed product for a long period when a solid particulate material such as a catalyst is packed and used for each substance; and its usage. The fixed-bed shell-and-tube reactor comprises a plurality of reaction tubes that are packed with a solid particulate material and arranged in parallel, wherein the solid particulate material is weighed so as to be uniform volume, and is packed in each reaction tube in a packing time of not shorter than 30 seconds per liter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Michio Tanimoto, Hideto Hashiba
  • Publication number: 20100312021
    Abstract: Improved design of a catalytic reactor for the production of methanol at equilibrium conditions whereby methanol as it is formed is separated from the gaseous phase into the liquid phase within the reactor, without reducing the catalytic activity of the methanol catalysts This is achieved by adjusting the boiling point of a liquid cooling agent being in indirect contact with the catalyst particles and by providing a specific ratio of catalyst bed volume to cooling surface area. Thereby, condensation of methanol as it is formed in the gaseous phase takes place at the cooling surface arranged evenly distributed within the reactor and within a very limited region of the catalyst bed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Inventor: Max Thorhauge
  • Patent number: 7842107
    Abstract: Carbonaceous materials are thermally upgraded in a pressurized steam environment to remove moisture and other byproducts. A variety of water/solid separation devices may be employed in a process vessel to maximize moisture removal from the upgraded charge. Heating media inlet nozzles and process chamber vents are strategically positioned at the process vessel wall to minimize short circuiting of heating media to vessel outlet vents and to continuously separate hot water removed from the charge and condensed steam, such that the upgraded material removed from the process vessel is not discharged with accompanying free moisture. After upgrading, the charge may be rehydrated to improve its stability during shipping and storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Evergreen Energy Inc.
    Inventors: Robert F. Hogsett, Philippus J. Meyer, Michael F. Ray, Michael L. Schlegel, Sheldon L. Schultz
  • Patent number: 7842254
    Abstract: An ammonia converter is disclosed. The converter can alter the conversion of ammonia by controlling the reaction temperature of the exothermic reaction along the length of the reactor to parallel the equilibrium curve for the desired product. The converter can comprise a shell 101 and internal catalyst tubes 109. The feed gas stream enters the reactor, flows through the shell 101, and is heated by indirect heat exchange with the catalyst tubes 109. The catalyst tubes 109 comprise reactive zones 122 having catalyst and reaction limited zones 124 that can comprise inert devices that function to both separate the reactive zones, increase heat transfer area, and reduce the temperature of the reaction mixture as the effluent passes through the catalyst tube 109.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Kellogg Brown & Root LLC
    Inventors: Shashi P. Singh, David P. Mann, Anant Pisut
  • Patent number: 7842255
    Abstract: Method for carbamate condensation of a carbon dioxide/ammonia gaseous phase in a liquid phase in a condensation unit of the so-called submerged type comprising a heat exchange tube bundle having a predetermined number of tubes intended for carbamate condensation, wherein the gaseous phase and the liquid phase are fed contemporaneously and independently to each of the tubes intended for condensation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Urea Casale S.A.
    Inventor: Lorenzo Pennino
  • Patent number: 7837954
    Abstract: A set of prefabricated tube bundle reactor subassemblies is proposed which are adapted to be assembled at a construction site to provide a tube bundle reactor for carrying out catalytic gas and/or liquid phase reactions. In accordance with the invention, the reactor shell and the reactor heads, on the one hand, and the tube bundle and the tube sheets, on the other hand, form separate subassemblies, more specifically at least one shell/head subassembly, at least one head subassembly, and at least one tube bundle subassembly. The subassemblies comprise means for vertically supporting the tube bundle subassembly and for pressure tightly connecting the shell/head subassembly to the tube sheets without requiring heat treatment during assembly of the subassemblies. Likewise proposed are a tube bundle reactor for carrying out catalytic gas and/or liquid phase reactions and an arrangement of the kind of tube bundle reactors mentioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Man DWE GmbH
    Inventor: Manfred Lehr
  • Patent number: 7837856
    Abstract: A reactor for carrying out a continuous oxydehydrogenation of a feed gas stream of saturated hydrocarbons after premixing with an oxygen-comprising gas stream over a moving catalyst bed which is introduced in the longitudinal direction of their reactor between two concentric cylindrical holding devices so as to leave a central interior space and an intermediate space between the moving catalyst bed and the interior wall of the reactor to give a reaction gas mixture, wherein the reactor has two or more reactor sections which are separated from one another by disk-shaped deflection plates arranged alternately in the central interior space and divided in subregions by annular deflection plates arranged in the intermediate space between the moving catalyst bed and the interior wall of the reactor, in each case with a mixing-in device which is located upstream of the moving catalyst bed in the flow direction of the reaction gas mixture and comprises the following elements: two or three rows arranged behind one
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Gerhard Olbert, Franz Corr, Sven Crone
  • Patent number: 7833498
    Abstract: Process and apparatus for the continuous preparation of a chemical compound in at least one reactor, where at least one of the reactors is a shell-and-tube reactor which has a shell and at least one internal tube located within the shell, wherein at least one of the internal tubes has, at least in part, a noncircular cross section and a helical configuration in the region in which it is surrounded by the shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hans-Georg Goebbel, Peter Bassler, Joaquim Henrique Teles, Peter Rudolf
  • Patent number: 7815874
    Abstract: A reactor including a reactor vessel and heat exchange tubes provided in the reactor vessel. The reactor vessel includes a tubesheet and is configured to receive a reaction fluid. The tubesheet has a first plate member configured to contact the reaction fluid and a second plate member configured to not contact the reaction fluid. Heat exchange tubes are provided in the reactor vessel and fixed to the first plate member. The heat exchange tubes are configured to receive a heat exchange medium. At least a portion of the first plate member configured to contact the reaction fluid is made of a metal that has a high corrosion-resistance against the reaction liquid, and the second plate member is made of a metal that has a low corrosion-resistance against the reaction liquid. The second plate member is detachably fixed to a remainder of the reactor vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Toyo Engineering Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Sakai, Yasuhiko Kojima
  • Publication number: 20100260651
    Abstract: A cooling system for use in a shell-type reactor includes vertically extending double tubes with an inner tube and an outer tube closed at its lower end. The system also includes a distributor for supplying a fluid cooling medium into the upper end of the inner tubes and a horizontally extending plate, which on its upper surface includes at least two upwardly open, parallel grooves. Two adjacent grooves are separated by a common inner wall. At least one outer tube, having an upper end, is disposed in each groove, through the plate. Each outer tube is tightly welded to the plate on the groove base. The upper, open side of each groove is closed with a lid, so that each groove forms a collector for discharging the cooling medium from the outer tubes. Each inner tube opens through the lid into a distributor and is tightly attached to the lid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Applicant: MAN DWE GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Lehr, Wolfgang Primbs
  • Patent number: 7811524
    Abstract: A multi-tubular reaction apparatus, a control system, and a method are provided for controlling temperature change of a heat medium in the reaction apparatus, and quickly adjusting fluctuation in temperature, to thereby properly control a reaction. In particular, the apparatus and system apply to a catalytic gas-phase oxidation reaction such as in producing (meth)acrylic acid or the like. The reaction apparatus includes a multi-tubular reactor having a plurality of reaction tubes in a shell in which a heat medium circulates, and a heat medium cooling apparatus outside the reactor. The reaction apparatus includes a process for primarily cooling the heat medium taken out outside the shell, a process for secondarily cooling a part of the primarily cooled heat medium, and a line for enabling the secondarily cooled heat medium and the primarily cooled heat medium, which is not secondarily cooled, to circulate in the shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Kanamaru, Shuhei Yada, Kimikatsu Jinno
  • Publication number: 20100254891
    Abstract: The present invention describes an exchanger-reactor for carrying out endothermic reactions, comprising a shell inside which a heat transfer fluid moves, said shell enclosing a plurality of tubes inside which the reactant fluid moves, the tubes being of the bayonet type, and the reactor not having a tube plate. This reactor may operate with a pressure difference between the tube side and the shell side which may be up to 100 bars.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2008
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: IFP
    Inventors: Fabrice Giroudiere, Bernard Langlois, Jean Christian Tricard
  • Patent number: 7807116
    Abstract: A shell-and-tube reactor is disclosed. Contact tubes are disposed within a cylindrical housing and are secured to tube plates. Gas and liquid phases are received via a feed opening in a lower end cap and discharged via an upper end cap in the housing. A distributor device is disposed in the housing, such that the tube plates serve as a horizontal plate for the distributor device to back up the gas phase and form a gas cushion, and vertical elements extend from the contact tubes. The vertical elements are adapted to conduct the liquid phase, are open in the upstream direction, and project outward in the direction of the feed opening through the gas cushion. The vertical elements further include at least one first opening on the circumference for the gas phase and at least one second opening for the liquid phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Wolfgang Gerlinger, Torsten Mattke, Oliver Bey
  • Patent number: 7803332
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a reactor system comprising at least one reactor wherein makeup water for said system is preheated by water/steam exiting said reactor. In a preferred embodiment the system comprises plural reactors and the invention provides for each reactor to independently achieve isothermal operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Harold Brown, Paul Hamilton, Keith Holroyd Kuechler
  • Publication number: 20100240780
    Abstract: A method of converting synthesis gas into Fischer-Tropsch products comprises: (a) charging synthesis gas to a reactor comprising a shell, having an inlet nozzle near one end for receiving synthesis gas and an outlet nozzle near the opposite end for discharging products, with a plurality of heat transfer tubes inside the shell, having associated therewith means to pass heat transfer fluids through the inside of said heat transfer tubes to remove heat, and whereby the outside surfaces of said tubes have a layer of Fischer-Tropsch catalyst, (b) converting exothermically on said catalyst layer at least a portion of said synthesis gas to produce heat and Fischer-Tropsch products, (c) removing heat from said catalyst layer by passage of a heat transfer fluid through the inside of said tubes, and (d) recovering Fischer-Tropsch products from said reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2010
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Inventor: Thomas Charles Holcombe
  • Patent number: 7776285
    Abstract: A heat exchange reactor for carrying out endothermic or exothermic reactions comprising: a housing defining an external reactor wall (1), a plurality of heat transfer tubes (2) arranged within said housing for the supply or removal of heat in catalyst beds (3, 3?) disposed at least outside (3) said heat transfer tubes (2), and built-in elements (4) disposed in the outer periphery of said catalyst bed (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Haldor Topsøe A/S
    Inventors: Søren Gyde Thomsen, Michael Boe, Niels Erikstrup, Olav Holm-Christensen
  • Patent number: 7776287
    Abstract: This present invention describes a novel type of internal exchanger intended to carry out Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. This exchanger has a modular design and comprises a central tube with partitions allowing at the same time the supply of coolant to the hairpins of the module and the recovery of the partially vaporized fluid from these same hairpins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignees: Institut Francais du Petrole, ENI S.p.A.
    Inventors: Francois Hugues, Bertrand Szymkowiak, Jean-Christophe Viguie, Jean-Marc Schweitzer, Michel Munier, Dominique Chretien, Eric Caprani, Damien Douziech
  • Patent number: 7771674
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a multitubular catalytic gas-phase reaction apparatus, comprising a plurality of reaction tubes arranged in parallel, a baffle capable of changing the direction of movement of a heat medium introduced into a reactor shell to a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the reaction tubes, a space that is disposed in a region including a part of a section where the heat medium flows in the direction of the face of the baffle and does not have the reaction tubes arranged therein, and flow-adjusting rods, disposed in between the space and the reaction tubes, having the same longitudinal direction as that of the reaction tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited
    Inventors: Tetsuya Suzuta, Yasuhiko Mori, Takaaki Tanaka, Tadashi Abe
  • Patent number: 7767171
    Abstract: The object of the present utility model is to cope with the problems of large volume of the presently known cellpacking type of reactor and the poor effect of heat transfer, and to provide a shell-type reactor with radial baffle, which transfers heat well and reduce the volume of the reactor, comprising a shell (1) and an internal cold plate assembly (2), the internal cold plate assembly (2) fixed within the shell (1); wherein a gas radial distribution vessel (9) and a radial gas cylinder (10) fixed within the shell (1); the radial distribution vessel (9) and the radial gas cylinder (10) could counterchange according to the difference of the gas flow direction; several circles of radial baffling assemblies (12) are provided between the radial distribution vessel (9) and the radial gas cylinder (10), the radial baffling assemblies (12) consisting of several baffling components fixed in an interval mode, an axial baffling through groove or hole is provided between the adjacent baffling components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Inventor: Zhongming Lv
  • Patent number: 7767172
    Abstract: The object of the present utility model is to cope with the problems of large volume of the presently known cellpacking type of reactor and the poor effect of heat transfer, and to provide a shell-type reactor with radial baffle, which transfers heat well and reduce the volume of the reactor, comprising a shell (1) and an internal cold plate assembly (2), the internal cold plate assembly (2) fixed within the shell (1); wherein a gas radial distribution vessel (9) and a radial gas cylinder (10) fixed within the shell (1); the radial distribution vessel (9) and the radial gas cylinder (10) could counterchange according to the difference of the gas flow direction; several circles of radial baffling assemblies (12) are provided between the radial distribution vessel (9) and the radial gas cylinder (10), the radial baffling assemblies (12) consisting of several baffling components fixed in an interval mode, an axial baffling through groove or hole is provided between the adjacent baffling components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Inventor: Zhongming Lv
  • Publication number: 20100189638
    Abstract: The present invention describes a novel exchanger-reactor intended to implement highly endothermic reactions such as natural gas or naphtha steam reforming, using in situ porous burners.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: IFP
    Inventors: Fabrice Giroudiere, Beatrice Fischer
  • Patent number: 7758824
    Abstract: The present invention describes a novel type of internal exchanger for a gas-liquid-solid fluidized bed reactor employing a strongly thermal reaction. Said exchanger is modular in concept and comprises a central tube with separations allowing both supply of cooling fluid to the pins of the module and collection of partially vaporized fluid from said same pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Francois Hugues, Bertrand Szymkowiak, Jean-Christophe Viguie, Jean-Marc Schweitzer, Michel Munier, Dominique Chretien, Eric Caprani, Damien Douziech
  • Patent number: 7758662
    Abstract: A reformer includes a burner that generates thermal energy, and a reforming reaction unit that is supplied with thermal energy from the burner to generate a hydrogen-rich gas from a fuel, wherein the burner includes a burner main body having first and second portions that are constructed by bending the burner main body to form bended portions and coupling the bended portions together, wherein the burner main body is disposed in an inner portion of the reforming reaction unit, and wherein a first catalyst is filled in an inner portion of the burner main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: In-Hyuk Son, Zin Park, Dong-Myung Suh
  • Patent number: 7758823
    Abstract: A quench exchanger and quench exchanger tube with increased heat transfer area on the process side of the tube are provided. The exchanger provides increased heat transfer efficiency relative to a fixed tube length and at the same time eliminates stagnant and low velocity areas as well as recirculation eddies. The tubes incorporate a fin profile on the process side of the tube with alternating concave and convex surfaces. Additionally, the fins are preferably aligned with the tube center line as opposed to being twisted or spiraled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: David B. Spicer, Wallace L. Ottersbach