Patent ID: 6969505
Filing Date: 2005-11-29
Classification: B01J,C01B,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A process for conducting an equilibrium limited chemical reaction in a single stage process channel to make a desired product, the single stage process channel comprising a microchannel, the process comprising: (A) flowing reactants through a first reaction zone in the single stage process channel under a first set of reaction conditions to produce an intermediate product, the first set of reaction conditions being suitable for producing a first theoretical equilibrium product, the intermediate product comprising the desired product; and (B) flowing reactants not reacted during step (A) and the intermediate product through a second reaction zone in the single stage process channel under a second set of reaction conditions to produce the final product, the second set reaction conditions being suitable for producing a second theoretical equilibrium product, the second theoretical equilibrium product having a higher concentration of the desired product than the first theoretical equilibrium product, the final product comprising the desired product; the chemical reaction being an exothermic reaction giving off heat or an endothermic reaction absorbing heat, the single stage process channel being cooled with added cooling when the chemical reaction is an exothermic reaction, the single stage process channel being heated with added heating when the chemical reaction is an endothermic reaction, the heat given off or absorbed as a result of the exothermic or endothermic chemical reaction in combination with the added cooling or added heating providing a first temperature in the first reaction zone and a second temperature in the second reaction zone, the first temperature and the second temperature differing by at least about 20° C.