Patent ID: 7645428
Filing Date: 2010-01-12
Classification: B01F,B01J,F28D

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for isothermally cooling contents of a reaction vessel having a top and a bottom, by allowing a two-phase fluid, which fluid may have a boiling point lower than the melting point of the reactor content, to separate into two phases, first a saturated or subcooled liquid to boil inside an isothermal mixing baffle immersed in said reactor contents, and second a gas phase inside a portion of said isothermal mixing baffle, not immersed in the reactor contents, comprising: means for initially depressurizing and separating any entrained vapor in the two-phase fluid as well as vapor generated by depressurization of liquid phase in two-phase fluid; a vertically, oriented, elongated generally cylindrical or ellipsoidal isothermal mixing baffle having a top and a bottom, said isothermal mixing baffle immersed in said contents in said reaction vessel; means for introducing said liquid into the top of said isothermal mixing baffle to a predetermined level while separating liquid phase from gas phase above the maximum intended liquid level inside the isothermal mixing baffle; means for removing gas from said isothermal mixing baffle so as to counterflow evolved gas against incoming two-phase liquid without significant direct contact between the two phases in order to effect subcooling of the incoming two-phase liquid; means for controlling the level of liquid in said isothermal mixing baffle; and means for controlling the convective heat transfer coefficient on the outer surface of the isothermal mixing baffle, h