Patent ID: 7736604
Filing Date: 2010-06-15
Classification: F16K,F28F

Abstract:
1. A control valve for the delivery of heat transfer fluids in a reaction system having a vessel comprising a batch reactor and a source of heat transfer fluid, the vessel containing a volume of process fluid and a plurality of heat transfer elements disposed in or about the vessel, said valve comprising: a valve body; a plurality of ports in said valve body that are in fluid communication with the plurality of heat transfer elements that are about the surface of the vessel; a movable element disposed in said valve body that permits independent control of the flow of heat transfer fluid through each of said plurality of heat transfer elements to provide heat transfer to the volume of process fluid in a cascade fashion thereby regulating the flow of said heat transfer fluid from the source of heat transfer fluid; and a control system in communication with said movable element that outputs a signal based on the needs of the reaction system to control the movement of said movable element to progressively open and/or close one or more ports to allow or prevent flow of heat transfer fluid in the elements and thus vary the number of heat transfer elements that contain heat transfer fluid.