Patent ID: 6334985
Filing Date: 2002-01-01
Classification: B01J,F28D,F28F

Abstract:
A tubular reactor for the plug flow reaction of one or more reactants in the presence of a gas, liquid, or mixed phase fluids, said apparatus comprising:(a) a containment conduit having an inlet and an outlet end for passing fluid from the inlet end to the outlet end of the conduit and establishing a flow direction through said conduit; (b) at least two spaced apart mixing sections comprising a stack of plates defining heat exchange flow channels and reactant flow channels, said stack of plates retaining turbulence inducing structures that extend transversely across the reactant flow channels, said stack of plates defining reactant channel inlets at the upstream end of the mixing section and reactant channel outlets for the reactant channels at the downstream end of the mixing section and said stack of plates being stacked in a direction transverse to one of the heat exchange flow channels and the reactant flow channels such that plates on transverse sides of the stack of plates press against the inside wall of the containment conduit to obstruct circumferential flow of fluid around the conduit and other plates in the stack of plates having ends that are spaced apart from the inside wall of the containment conduit; (c) a distribution manifold for distributing a heat exchange fluid to the sides of the heat exchange channels defined by an annular volume between the inside wall of the conduit and the ends of the plates that are spaced apart from the inside wall of the containment conduit; (d) a collection manifold for collecting a heat exchange fluid from the sides of the heat exchange channels defined by an annular volume between the inside wall of the conduit and the ends of the plates that are spaced apart from the inside wall of the containment conduit; and (e) annular rings covering the annular volume at the upstream and downstream ends of the mixing sections that are welded to the conduit to hold and seal the mixing sections in place.