Patent ID: 8343433
Filing Date: 2013-01-01
Classification: B01J

Abstract:
1. A tube reactor comprising: multiple, substantially parallel reaction tubes arranged within a tube reactor shell, the reaction tubes spaced apart such that a thermal fluid can flow between the reaction tubes and transfer heat between the reaction tubes and the thermal fluid during operation; an inlet head positioned adjacent the tube reactor shell defining an inlet head space, where the inlet head space is in fluid communication with an inlet end of the reaction tubes; an outlet head positioned adjacent the tube reactor shell including an outlet head shell that defines an outlet head space; and at least one insert positioned within the outlet head space, where the insert slopes from an edge region towards an outlet end so that a height of the outlet head space is greater near a center of the outlet than at the edge region and the insert reduces an outlet head volume for reaction product gases by at least twenty-five percent, the outlet head volume being in fluid communication with an outlet end of the reaction tubes and in fluid communication with a reactor outlet.