Patent ID: 6333011
Filing Date: 2001-12-25
Classification: B01J

Abstract:
A reactor apparatus comprising at least two tubular reactors each of the tubular reactors defining a reaction volume enclosed within a tube through which fluid may flow, the tubular reactors being filled with solid particles,at least one tubular reactor, termed a thermotube, containing a temperature measuring unit in a protection sleeve placed centrally and in an axial position, which occupies a portion of, and thereby reduces the free cross-sectional area and reaction volume of the tubular reactor measured in the absence of the protection sleeve and the temperature measuring unit therein, thereby defining a reduced reaction volume in the tubular reactor, and at lease one tubular reactor, termed a reaction tube, not containing said temperature measuring unit and protection sleeve,wherein the tubular reactors filled with such solid particles are designed such that(a) the ratio of the mass of the solid particles to the free cross-sectional area of one tubular reactor is substantially identical to said ratio of every other tubular reactor of said reactor apparatus, and(b) the pressure drop of one tubular reactor measured by a gas being conducted proportionately transversely to the free cross-sectional area to maintain constant mean flow velocity, is substantially identical to said pressure drop of every other tubular reactor of said reactor apparatus, the free cross-sectional area of the reaction tube being the cross-sectional area of its defined reaction volume and the free cross-sectional area of the thermotube being the cross-sectional area of the defined reduced reaction volume measured at the location of the temperature measuring unit and its protection sleeve.