Patent EA-001900-B1 (EA)
Title: Heat exchange apparatus and method of use
Inventor: FONT-FREIDE JOSEPHUS JOHANNES
IPC: B01J19/24
Filed: 1998-06-24
Abstract: 1. A heat exchanger, which comprises a plurality of first heat exchange tubes extending through the exchanger and through a plurality of laterally extending heat exchanger chambers axially laterally adjacent thereto and on either side thereof, each chamber being separated from each adjacent chamber by a partition, in which there are a plurality of discrete openings, and each chamber having a plurality of transverse interconnecting zones, each of which is defined by at least three of said tubes and partitions separating them, each chamber has at least two entries, each of which has openings for enry from the second chamber and at least two exit zones each of which has openings for passing only to a subsequent chamber, wherein at least one entry zone is adjacent to at least exit zone or separated from the exit zone by one intermediate zone having no openings in partitions neither for entrance, nor for exit in another chamber. 2. The heat exchanger according to claim 1 in which each of transverse interconnecting zone is limited by at least four tubes. 3. The heat exchanger according to claim 1 or 2 in which an entry zone and an exit zone are separated by an intermediate zone, which itself is separated by another intermediate zone from a subsequent entry zone. 4. The heat exchanger according to claim 1 or 2 in which the entry zone is adjacent to the exit zone, which itself is adjacent to another entry zone. 5. The exchanger according to any one of the preceding claims in which each chamber comprises at least four zones spaced in line and an intermediate zone between each entry and each exit zone. 6. The exchanger according to any one of the preceding claims in which entry and exit zones in each third chamber are substantially in one axially extending plane to allow movement of first fluid. 7. The exchanger according to any one of the preceding claims which which comprises a first regular array of said first exchange tubes and a second regular array of second heat exchange tubes axially extending through the exchanger. 8. The exchanger according to claims 1 to 6 wherein two rows of first tubes are spaced by a row of second tubes, said first and second tubes being in rows which are parallel in two directions at right angles to one another. 9. The exchanger according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the diameter of the second tubes differs from the diameter of the first tubes. 10. The exchanger according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the partitions are substantially parallel. 11. The exchanger according to any one of the preceding claims in which entry and exit openings are made as slots i sheets or plates or as space between separate partitions  12. The heat exchanger according to claim 11 wherein at least some of said partitions are plates with transverse slots therein. 13. A process according to claim 1 for effecting heat exchange in a vessel between a first fluid passing through a plurality of laterally extending heat exchange chambers and a second fluid passing in a plurality of first tubes, which comprises passing at least two streams of said first fluid into different zones in a first chamber, effecting contact of each of said first streams and more than one of said tubes to form two streams, mixing said streams in a different zone to produce a mixed stream and passing said mixed stream effecting contact of each of said first streams and more than one of said tubes to give second and third streams, mixing said second and third stream in a different zone to produce a mixed stream and passing said mixed stream into a next chamber axially adjacent to said first chamber, wherein said first streams enter zones in said chamber adjacent the zone from which the mixed stream leaves said chamber or enters those zones which are interspaced from the zones from which a stream mixed in one of zones is removed so that said fluid passes through said chambers in an axial and lateral direction. 14. A process according to claim 13 wherein at least two mixed streams enter said adjacent chamber and each mixed stream in said adjacent chamber divides to form at least two divided streams, and at least one of said divided streams meets a divided stream from said other mixed stream to produce a further stream which passes from said adjacent chamber into a further chamber adjacent thereto. 15. A process according to any one of claims 13-14 wherein in any chamber the first fluid contacts at least 8 heat exchange tubes which axially extend through said chambers. 16. A process according to any one of claims 13-15 wherein a third fluid passes through axially extending second tubes in said vessel, the overall directions of flow of said first and third fluids being countercurrent to the direction of flow of said second fluid, in order to effect heat exchange between said second fluid, and said first and/or third fluid. 17. A process according to claim 16 wherein said first fluid which is a gas and said third fluid which is a liquid are heated by heat exchange with a second fluid in said first tubes. 18. A process according to claim 16 or 17 wherein said first fluid passes through at least 2 chambers substantially in a first plane. 19. A process according to claim 16 or 17 wherein said first fluid subsequently passes through at least 2 subsequent chambers substantially in a second plane which is different from said first plane.0 20. A process according to any one of claims 13-19 wherein said vessel is a heat exchanger as defined in any one of claims 1-18. 21. A method according to claim 13 wherein a first fluid is axially passed through a vessel from an upstream to downstream location, wherein the fluid passes axially around successive rows of baffles laterally extending across the vessel, each successive row being in a different spatial relationship across the vessel, so that at least some of said fluid has lateral as well as axial movement. 22. A method according to claim 21 wherein the first fluid passes through at least some baffles which are perforated. 23. A method according to claim 21 or 22 wherein said vessel, also comprises a plurality of first tubes axially extending through said vessel said tubes being in a first regular array and a plurality of second tubes axially extending through said vessel, said second tubes being in a second regular array. 24. A method according to claim 23 wherein at least a portion of a first stream of fluid passes axially between first tubes in a first row, and then passes axially and laterally between first and second tubes in a second row, and optionally through at least one perforated baffle in said second row. 25. A method according to claim 26 wherein at least a portion of said first stream passes axially and laterally between first and second tubes in a third row and optionally through at least one perforated baffle in said third row. 26. Apparatus comprising a heat exchanger for said first fluid according to any one of claims 1-12 and a vessel comprising a distributor for distributing streams of said first fluid. 27. Apparatus for heat exchange comprising a heat exchange for the first fluid according to any one of claims 1-12 wherein comprises first tubes for passing hot endothermic reaction products, second tubes for passing a third fluid which is an exothermic reactant, wherein the first tubes are positioned so that they are in heat interaction with the second tubes and with the first fluid which is a second exothermic reactant, wherein the apparatus is adapted to provide the first and third fluids being for subsequent exothermic reaction to provide heat for said endothermic reaction. 28. A vessel for distributing at least one stream of a first fluid passing axially from an upstream to a downstream location, which comprises transverse baffles across said vessel in at least two successive rows, which rows of baffles define an open transverse chamber, the baffles in successive rows having a different spatial distribution across the vessel. 29. A vessel according to claim 28 wherein at least one of said baffles is perforated. 30. A vessel according to any one of claims 28 or 29 wherein said second tubes pass through said baffles. 31. A vessel according to any one of claims 28-30 wherein said baffles have laterally extending parallel sides, extend across substantially the width of the vessel, and are located between at least some of the first tubes. 32. A vessel according to claim 31 wherein the sides of said baffles in a first row of baffles are at an angle to the sides of said baffles in a second adjacent row of baffles. 33. A vessel according to claim 32 wherein the second row of baffles is substantially at right angles to the first row. 34. A vessel according to any one of claims 31-33 wherein the number of baffles in one row is one more or less than the number of the adjacent row. 35. A vessel according to any one of claims 24-34 wherein with respect to a first row of baffles first and second tubes are in parallel rows interspaced between one another, and rows of parallel sided baffles have alternate rows of second tubes passing through them. 36. A vessel according to claim 35 wherein with respect to a second row of baffles adjacent to said first row of baffles, rows of parallel sided baffles in said second row have each row of second tubes passing through them and each row of first tubes passing between them, the direction of the sides of said baffles in the second row being substantially at right angles to the direction of the sides of the baffles in the first row. 37. A vessel according to claim 36, wherein with respect to a third row of baffles adjacent to said second row of baffles, rows of parallel sided baffles in said third row have each row of second tubes passing through them and each row of first tubes passing between them, the direction of the sides of said baffles in the third row being substantially at right angles to the direction of the sides of the baffle