Abstract: A horizontal, cold wall, multi-bed ammonia converter having two, shell and tube interchangers for cooling reaction gas streams leaving respectively the first and second catalyst beds with incoming reactant gases wherein each of the interchangers is vertically oriented and physically located between catalyst beds. The catalyst beds are adiabatic, slab-shape beds defined in part by side portions of the inner wall of the converter and are arranged for downward, transverse flow of reacting gases. Longitudinal conduits and baffling in cooperation with the arrangement of catalyst beds and interchangers provide serial flow of gas through the cold side of each of the interchangers, a first catalyst bed, the hot side of one of the interchangers, a second catalyst bed, the hot side of the other interchanger, a third catalyst bed, and, optionally, a fourth catalyst bed.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the auto-thermal production of hydrogen rich synthesis gas wherein a mixture of steam and a hydrocarbon feed gas is reacted by passing through a catalyst counter-currently to the flow of the combustion reaction effluent of the process. Reaction tubes are mounted within a heat exchange chamber of the reactor and are adapted to contain catalyst to effect the reaction of the mixture. Oxygen or oxygen-enriched air is introduced into a combustion chamber within the reactor to effect combustion, and the combustion reaction effluent is passed through a second catalyst zone to provide additional reaction and is thereafter passed about the exterior of the reaction tubes to effect heat exchange with the mixture passing through the tubes. The exothermic heat of reaction from combustion thus provides the heat for the endothermic reaction occurring within the reaction tubes and within the second catalyst zone.

Abstract: A process for synthesizing ammonia with improved efficiency is disclosed. The increase in efficiency is achieved by regulation of the temperature of at least three catalyst beds connected in series by a combination of influent/affluent heat exchange and high pressure heat sinks.

Abstract: An improved process for making synthetic ammonia wherein a make-up synthesis gas is added to recycled unreacted gas from a catalytic conversion loop including the steps of introducing a volatile anti-icing compound into the hot make-up gas to vaporize the compound, cooling the gas and vaporized anti-icing compound to condense part of the anti-icing compound, separating the condensed anti-icing compound and dissolved impurities from the make-up gas, further cooling the make-up gas to a temperature at which the remaining anti-icing compound condenses essentially completely, separating the condensed remaining anti-icing compound from the make-up gas, mixing the resulting make-up gas at the low temperature with liquid ammonia to saturate the make-up gas with ammonia, separating unvaporized liquid ammonia from the saturated make-up gas, mixing the saturated make-up gas with recycle and passing the mixed gases directly to the catalytic ammonia synthesis converter.

Abstract: Apparatus for synthesizing ammonia from an ammonia feed gas passing to an ammonia synthesis converter from a horizontally disposed heat exchanger. The synthesis converter comprising a shell and catalyst holder positioned within and spaced slightly from the shell to provide an annular passageway therebetween, is close coupled through a channel to a heat exchanger and a conduit extends through the channel and is adapted to be connected to the tube side of the heat exchanger.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and to an apparatus for effecting chemical syntheses in gaseous phase, under pressure, in the presence of a solid catalyst, for instance, for ammonia synthesis from hydrogen and nitrogen or for the synthesis of methanol or higher homolog alcohols from hydrogen and at least one carbon oxide.The reactor (8) of substantially cylindrical shape, (see FIG. 4) contains a plurality of elongate compartments (9) of parallelipiped shape, adjacent to each other, the adjacent walls of the compartments or the common walls of the adjacent compartments being gas-tight walls (1), said tight walls forming hollow plates wherein are provided channels for the flow of a fluid heat carrier flowing through said walls under a pressure substantially equal to the pressure to which are subjected the reaction gases.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to an improved process and apparatus for the production of gaseous products such as ammonia by catalytic, exothermic gaseous reactions and is specifically directed to an improved process which utilizes a gas-phase catalytic reaction of nitrogen and hydrogen for the synthesis of ammonia. This improved process for the production of ammonia utilizes an ammonia converter apparatus designed to comprise at least two catalyst stages and a reheat exchanger so arranged as to provide indirect heat exchange of the gaseous effluent from the last reactor catalyst stage with the effluent from at least one other reactor catalyst stage having a higher temperature level in order to reheat the effluent from the last reactor catalyst stage prior to exiting the reactor vessel, thereby facilitating higher level heat recovery from the reactor effluent.

Abstract: A process for synthesizing ammonia with improved efficiency is disclosed. The increase in efficiency is achieved by regulation of the temperature of at least three catalyst beds connected in series by a combination of influent/affluent heat exchange and high pressure steam generation.

Abstract: Processes for carrying out catalytic exothermic and endothermic high-pressure gas reactions with a single-walled pressure vessel or shell containing cross-flow (e.g., radial flow) heat transfer exchangers, a continuous catalytic bed having at least two stages, and means for effecting "cross-over" material flows from "outside" to "inside" (for exothermic reactions) and vice versa (for endothermic reactions), whereby conditions of: maximum gas temperature always being in the core of said vessel or shell, minimal pressure drop, and minimal compression of catalyst particles are achieved, along with significant economic savings in cost of the pressure vessel or shell and catalyst (through extension of catalyst life).

Abstract: An outer enclosed pressure container is formed of a simple steel material. An inner enclosed container is positioned within the pressure container such that there is an intermediate space therebetween. Catalyst layers are provided within the inner container. A gas containing a reducing component and water vapor are introduced into the inner container and are therein reacted by means of the catalyst to perform a desired reducing reaction. At least part of the water vapor is alone introduced into the intermediate space to thereby pressurize the intermediate space to substantially the same pressure as occurs within the inner container. The water vapor in the intermediate space operates to protect the wall of the pressure container from the temperatures occurring due to the catalytic reaction within the inner container. The water vapor is removed from the intermediate space and is at least partially added to the gas containing a reducing component before the introduction thereof into the inner container.

Abstract: An improved process for the synthesis of ammonia utilizing three catalyst beds wherein the temperature of the synthesis feed gas and the effluent of at least one of the catalyst beds is controlled without the addition of quench gas.

Abstract: A chemical plant, wherein gaseous reactants are converted in an exothermic chemical reaction to a reaction product, is combined with a semi-closed Brayton-cycle power plant to utilize the heat of reaction to generate power. Specifically, in one embodiment, an ammonia synthesis plant, wherein gaseous nitrogen and hydrogen are catalytically converted to ammonia, is combined with a semi-closed Brayton-cycle power plant to utilize the heat of reaction of the ammonia synthesis reaction to generate power.

Abstract: An exothermic gas phase reaction, especially synthesis of ammonia or methanol, is carried out by passing the reactant gas over a catalyst in a first zone in heat exchange with a coolant and then in a second, adiabatic zone and then passing reacted gas directly to a heat recovery zone. Such a sequence of zones affords a higher output of product and better heat recovery than in many previously used sequences, especially when the heat available from the cooled zone is used to pre-heat reactant gas and the heat removed from the gas leaving the adiabatic zone is used in high-grade recoveries such as high pressure steam generation.

Abstract: Ammonia converter for radial flow through two catalyst beds has a central heat exchanger mounted centrally in one of the beds. The process stream of synthesis gas is obtained by combining inside the converter separate feed streams: a shell stream serving to cool the converter shell, an exchange stream serving to cool the central heat exchanger, and a by-pass stream for final adjustment of the temperature of the process stream. The process stream passes in succession radially through the first catalyst bed in inwards direction through the central heat exchanger for being cooled, and radially through the second catalyst bed.

Abstract: In a reactor suitable for gas-phase catalytic exothermic synthesis, in particular of ammonia or methanol the synthesis gas is reacted in an upstream adiabatic catalytic zone, is cooled in a heat exchanger and then reacted further in a downstream catalytic zone, whereafter preferably it is cooled again, suitably in a boiler or feed water heater, and reacted further in a further catalytic zone. The gas flow through the catalyst is mainly in an axial direction and the pressure drop is kept low by disposing the catalyst in each zone in a plurality of beds fed in parallel from an inlet header and delivered in parallel into an outlet header. The beds may be separately removable from the reactor to facilitate catalyst charging and discharging.

Abstract: Exothermic reaction of a fluid stream is carried out with recycle and addition of hot reacted fluid to the colder feed fluid stream, so as to raise the feed fluid stream to operable reaction temperatures and produce optimum reaction rate. The addition of hot reacted fluid is carried out by reactor-internal ejector-effected aspiration of a portion of the hot reacted fluid discharged from the reaction zone into the cold feed fluid. The resulting combined fluid stream is passed to the reaction zone. The balance of the hot reacted fluid not aspirated into the cold feed fluid is passed to product recovery or utilization. The invention is especially applicable to exothermic catalytic reactions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for controlling the operation of a reforming furnace used to decompose at least a portion of a feed stream. A by-product fuel from subsequent process steps, which is a result of decomposition of the feed in the furnace, is used as one fuel source to fire the furnace. The control system monitors the byproduct fuel stream and the feed stream to a decomposition side of the furnace and determines the feed rate of additional fuel required to fire the furnace, which feed rate is correspondingly controlled. The control system includes means for determining various selected variables as sensed by suitable analyzers and flow rate meters and comparing certain variables to determine the flow rate of the additional fuel required to fire the furnace.

Abstract: In an ammonia synthesis column, the combination of a tube bundle heat exchanger and a boiler with two superposedly arranged catalyst beds permits to recover considerable amounts of reaction heat, the flow of the gases being reacted running in a radial direction.

Abstract: A plant for producing, eg ammonia or methanol by catalytic synthesis at superatmospheric temperature and pressure comprises a vessel equipped internally with all the high-temperature units required for the synthesis, namely means for heating synthesis gas to synthesis inlet temperature, admitting it to the catalyst, withdrawing it and cooling it. Preferably all the high-pressure units are also inside the vessel. The plant makes possible extremely high outputs of product, such as 8000 metric tons per day.

Abstract: Exothermic reaction of a fluid stream is carried out with recycle and addition of hot reacted fluid to the colder feed fluid stream, so as to raise the feed fluid stream to operable reaction temperatures and produce optimum reaction rate. The addition of hot reacted fluid is carried out by reactor-internal ejector-effected aspiration of a portion of the hot reacted fluid discharged from the reaction zone into the cold feed fluid. The resulting combined fluid stream is passed to the reaction zone. The balance of the hot reacted fluid not aspirated into the cold feed fluid is passed to product recovery or utilization. The invention is especially applicable to exothermic catalytic reactions.

Abstract: A reactor for the catalytic synthesis of ammonia at high temperature and pressure from nitrogen and hydrogen wherein the intertubular spaces of the heat exchange zone are filled with metallic balls; the tubular spaces contain metal bars with square cross section; triple concentric tubes are present in the preheating and reaction zone to reach optimal temperature conditions; a demister is provided for the retention of oil at the entrance of the synthesis gas into the intertubular spaces of the heat-exchange zone; and a bag-shaped distribution chamber is provided between the reaction and preheating zone and the heat exchange zone.

Abstract: A catalytic process and apparatus for synthesizing ammonia wherein from 30 to 80% of the effluent gases containing at least 12 molar percent ammonia are recycled to the inlet of the catalyst bed.