Patent ID: 6709640
Filing Date: 2004-03-23
Classification: B01J,F28D,F28F,Y10S

Abstract:
A process for contacting reactants with a catalyst in a reaction zone while indirectly heating or cooling the reactants in the reaction zone by indirect heat exchange with a heat exchange fluid, the process comprising:a) passing a reactant-containing stream through a first plurality of channels defined by a stack of plates and recovering a first channel effluent; b) collecting the first channel effluent stream in a manifold volume having direct communication with outlets defined by the plates that define the first plurality of channels; c) injecting an intermediate fluid directly into the manifold volume and mixing at least a portion of the first channel effluent to produce a second channel input stream; d) passing the second channel input stream from the manifold volume directly into inlets of a second plurality of channels defined by said stack of plates and having direct communication with the manifold volume; e) recovering a second channel effluent stream from outlets of the second plurality of channels; f) contacting at least one of the reactant stream and the second channel input stream with a catalyst in the first plurality of channels or the second plurality of channels; and g) indirectly exchanging heat with a heat exchange fluid and at least one of the reactant-containing streams and the second channel input stream, wherein the heat exchange fluid passes through channels defined by said stack of plates.