Patent EA-005001-B1 (EA)
Title: Process and apparatus using plate arrangement for reactant heating and preheating
Inventor: MULVANEY ROBERT C
IPC: C01B3/02
Filed: 2000-10-27
Abstract: 1. A process for contacting reactants with a catalyst in a reaction zone (40) and indirectly heating the reactants by contact with a heating medium, the process comprising: a) passing a reactant stream through a plurality of narrow reaction channels (29) defined by spaces between principal plates (44) and heating the reactant stream in the absence of catalyst in a first portion (29") of the narrow reaction channels; b) passing a heating medium through a plurality of narrow heating channels (49) defined by the principal plates (44) and indirectly heating the reactant stream in the first portion of the reaction channels across the plates with the heating medium in a preheat portion of the heating channels to provide a heated reactant stream in the reaction channels; c) passing the heated reactant stream through a second portion(29') of the reaction channels (29) and contacting the heated reactant stream with a catalyst in the second portion of the reaction channels to produce a reacted stream; and, d) indirectly heating the second portion of the reaction channels with heating medium as it passes through a primary heating portion of the heating channels (49) and e) passing of the reacted stream to the narrow heating channels (49). 2. The process of claim 1 wherein the heating channels contain an oxidation catalyst. 3. The process of claim 1 wherein the principal plates define alternate reaction channels and heating channels. 4. The process of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein the heating medium comprises methane and oxygen and the combustion of methane provides at least a portion of the heat for the reaction channels. 5. The process of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein the plates define corrugation and the corrugations maintain the spacing of the plates. 6. The process of claims 1,2 or 3 wherein the catalyst in the reaction channels comprises a particulate material retained in the channels. 7. The process of claims 1,2 or 3 wherein the reaction channels have an average width of less than 1 inch. 8. The process of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein the heating of the reactants is by contact with combustion gases formed in a heat producing zone. 9. The process of claim 6 wherein a combustion catalyst comprising a particulate material is retained in the heating channels. 10. The process of claim 1 wherein the narrow heating channels (49) contain a catalyst material for the promotion of an exothermic reaction and the catalyst in the second portion (29') of the reaction channels (29) is for the promotion of an endothermic reaction. 11. The process of claim 1 further comprising collecting the reacted stream in a manifold volume (78) having direct communication with outlets defined by the plates that define the second portion (74) of reaction channels: injecting gut intermediate fluid directly into the manifold volume (78) and mixing it with at least a portion of the reacted stream to produce a mixed stream. 12. The process of claim 15 further comprising passing the mixed stream from the manifold volume (78) directly into inlets of said plurality of narrow heating channels (72) defined by plates having direct communication with the manifold volume (78). 13. An apparatus for contacting reactants with a catalyst in a reaction zone while indirectly heating the reactants by contact with combustion gases formed in a heat producing zone, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of alternate reaction channels (29) and heating channels (49) defined by a plurality of primary plates (44) to have a reactant inlet at one end of the reaction channels, a reactant outlet at an opposite end of the reaction channels, a heating fluid inlet at one end of the heating channels and a heating fluid outlet at the opposite end of the heating channels; means for excluding a solid catalyst from a preheat portion of the reaction channels located downstream of the reactant inlet and retaining a solid catalyst in a catalytic portion of the reaction channels located downstream of the preheat portion; means for delivering a reactant stream to the reactant inlet and for withdrawing a reacted stream from the reactant outlet; and means for delivering a heating fluid to the heating fluid inlet and for withdrawing a heating fluid from the heating fluid outlet. 14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the heating channels define a combustion zone and the heating channels retain a combustion promoting catalyst. 15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the combustion promoting catalyst comprises an oxidation catalyst. 16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein comprises an oxygen conduit which supplies oxygen to the heating channels.