Patent Description:
Reactors are known as heat exchanger-type heat treatment devices to heat or cool, using a heat medium, a reaction fluid in a gas or liquid state containing a reaction raw material as a reactant so as to promote a reaction of the reactant. For example, a stacked reactor of this type is known to include a heat exchange unit including first heat transfer bodies and second heat transfer bodies alternatively stacked on one another, each first heat transfer body including reaction flow channels through which a reaction fluid flows, each second heat transfer body including heat medium flow channels through which a heat medium flows.

Such a stacked reactor may include, as a heat transfer structure for improving or keeping heat exchange performance, a heat transfer promoter in the respective heat medium flow channels for promoting heat transfer between the heat medium flowing through the heat medium flow channels and the respective second heat transfer bodies provided with the heat medium flow channels. The stacked reactor may also include a catalyst body for promoting the reaction in the respective reaction flow channels. The heat transfer promoter, which is placed under high temperature conditions during reaction treatment, for example, is inevitably degraded with the passage of time. Similarly, the catalyst body is inevitably degraded with the passage of time when the reaction treatment is continuously performed. The heat transfer promoter and the catalyst body thus each have a service life which is a period after which these elements are not used appropriately for the original purpose.

<CIT> (Patent Document <NUM>) discloses an apparatus for estimating a life of a sintered ceramic body, which is an industrial apparatus differing from a heat treatment device, to deal with the remaining service life of the element included in the apparatus. This apparatus includes a conductive circuit inside the sintered body, and estimates the life of the sintered body in accordance with a change in resistance of the conductive circuit. Attention is also drawn to the disclosure of <CIT> 7A, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT>.

Since no conventional heat treatment devices or methods using elements such as heat transfer promoters as described above can estimate a service life of the heat transfer promoters, the heat transfer promoters are replaced typically at timing roughly estimated from the experience of operators. The timing of replacement thus depends on the operators, and the elements such as the heat transfer promoters are not always replaced at appropriate timing. If an operator replaces the heat transfer promoters too early, the heat transfer promoters are to be discarded with the available service life remaining. If another operator replaces the heat transfer promoters too late, the performance of the heat treatment device decreases, leading to an economic loss.

The technology disclosed in <CIT> could be applied to a heat treatment device. The technology disclosed in <CIT>, however, needs to preliminarily include the conductive circuit in the target to be estimated, which complicates the structure of the target itself. In addition, the technology disclosed in <CIT> cannot be simply applied directly to a heat treatment device such as a reactor, since the target to be estimated in <CIT> fundamentally differs in its technical purpose from the heat transfer structures which are expendable supplies such as the heat transfer promoters.

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a heat treatment device having a configuration capable of estimating a service life of heat transfer structures provided in flow channels so as to improve or keep heat exchange performance.

A heat treatment device according to the present invention is provided as claimed in claim <NUM>.

The present disclosure can provide a heat treatment device having a configuration capable of estimating a service life of heat transfer structures provided in flow channels so as to improve or keep heat exchange performance.

Embodiments according to the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. The following dimensions, materials, and specific numerical values described in the embodiments are shown for illustration purposes only, and the present disclosure is not limited thereto unless otherwise specified. The elements having substantially the same functions and structures illustrated in the description and the drawings are designated by the same reference numerals, and overlapping explanations are not repeated below. The elements described below but not related directly to the present disclosure are not shown in the drawings. In the following explanations of the drawings, a vertical direction is defined as a Z-axis, an extending direction of reaction regions in the first and second reaction flow channels described below on a plane perpendicular to the Z-axis is defined as a Y-axis, and a direction perpendicular to the Y-axis is defined as an X-axis.

Heat treatment devices illustrated in the respective embodiments are each a reactor that utilizes heat exchange between a first fluid and a second fluid, and heats or cools a reaction fluid in a gas state or in a liquid state containing a reaction raw material as a reactant so as to promote the reaction of the reactant. According to the respective embodiments, the first fluid is presumed to be a reaction fluid, and the second fluid is presumed to be a heat medium. In particular, the reaction fluid supplied to a reaction unit <NUM> described in detail below is raw material gas M. A third fluid containing a product and discharged from the reaction unit <NUM> after being subjected to reaction treatment is reaction gas P. The heat medium HC is a heating fluid. In particular, the heating fluid supplied to the reaction unit <NUM> is heating gas HC1, and the heating fluid emitted from the reaction unit <NUM> is heating emission gas HC2.

<FIG> are schematic views each illustrating a structure of a reactor <NUM> according to the first embodiment. <FIG> illustrates a structure of a flow pipe of the heating gas HC1 or the heating emission gas HC2 passing through a second flow channel <NUM> included in a heat exchange unit <NUM> described in detail below. <FIG> illustrates a structure of a flow pipe of the raw material gas M or the reaction gas P passing through a first flow channel <NUM> included in the heat exchange unit <NUM>. The reactor <NUM> includes a first gas supply unit (not shown) and a second gas supply unit (not shown). The first gas supply unit supplies the raw material gas M to the reaction unit <NUM>. The second gas supply unit supplies the heating gas HC1 to the reaction unit <NUM>.

<FIG> is a side view illustrating a structure of the reaction unit <NUM>. The reaction unit <NUM> executes reaction treatment to produce a product from the raw material gas M. The reaction unit <NUM> includes a heat exchange unit <NUM> as a main body.

The heat exchange unit <NUM> includes a plurality of first heat transfer bodies <NUM>, a plurality of second heat transfer bodies <NUM>, and a lid body <NUM>. The first heat transfer bodies <NUM> include reaction flow channels through which the reaction fluid flows. The second heat transfer bodies <NUM> include heat medium flow channels through which the heat medium flows. The heat exchange unit <NUM> has a counter flow-type structure in which the reaction fluid flows in the direction opposite to the heat medium. The first heat transfer bodies <NUM>, the second heat transfer bodies <NUM>, and the lid body <NUM> are each a plate-like member made of a heat transfer material having thermal resistance.

<FIG> is a plan view corresponding to a view taken along line A-A in <FIG>, and showing a structure and a shape of a part including the first heat transfer body <NUM>. Each of the first heat transfer bodies <NUM> includes a plurality of first flow channels <NUM> serving as reaction flow channels including reaction regions. The first flow channels <NUM> include the reaction regions in the middle portions thereof. The first flow channels <NUM> receive heat supplied from the heat medium flowing through second flow channels in the second heat transfer bodies <NUM> described below to cause the heat to react with the raw material gas M, so as to produce a product. Each of the first flow channels <NUM> is a groove having a rectangular shape in cross section. In particular, the upper side of the first flow channels <NUM> in the Z direction is open. Each of the first flow channels <NUM> has a first side surface open on one side of the respective first heat transfer bodies <NUM>. The first flow channels <NUM> extend straight from first introduction ports <NUM> from which the raw material gas M is introduced to a portion immediately in front of a second side surface on the other side of the respective first heat transfer bodies <NUM> in the Y direction. The first flow channels <NUM> are arranged at regular intervals in the X direction. <FIG> each illustrate only one first flow channel <NUM> in the heat exchange unit <NUM> included in the reaction unit <NUM>.

The first heat transfer bodies <NUM> each include a first base <NUM>, two first side walls <NUM>, a plurality of first interposition walls <NUM>, and a first partition wall <NUM>. The first base <NUM> is a rectangular plate wall portion covering the entire X-Y plane of the respective first heat transfer bodies <NUM>. The first side walls <NUM> are wall portions provided on both the right and left sides of the extending direction of the first flow channels <NUM> on one of the main surfaces of the first base <NUM> perpendicular to the Z direction. The respective interposition walls <NUM> are wall portions interposed between the two first side walls <NUM> on one of the main surfaces of the first base <NUM>. The respective interposition walls <NUM> are arranged at regular intervals parallel to the two first side walls <NUM>. The first partition wall <NUM> extends in the X direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the first flow channels <NUM> on the second side surface side on one of the main surfaces of the first base <NUM>. If the first flow channels <NUM> extend to the second side surface, the first flow channels <NUM> would reach a second space S2 described below in which the heating gas HC1 is introduced. The provision of the first partition wall <NUM> changes the flowing direction of the heating gas HC1 passing through the respective first flow channels <NUM>. The height of each of the first side walls <NUM>, the first interposition walls <NUM>, and the first partition wall <NUM> in the Z direction is the same.

The first heat transfer bodies <NUM> each include a first communication flow channel <NUM> extending along the inner surface of the first partition wall <NUM>. The first communication flow channel <NUM> communicates with the respective first flow channels <NUM>. The first communication flow channel <NUM> also communicates at one end with a first discharge port <NUM> provided at one of the first side walls <NUM>, so as to discharge the product to the outside of the respective first heat transfer bodies <NUM>. Although the first communication flow channel <NUM> is indicated separately from the first flow channels <NUM>, for illustration purposes, the first communication flow channel <NUM> and the first flow channels <NUM> are the same kind of channels having the same function to allow the raw material gas M and the product to flow therethrough with no particular difference. The reaction gas P discharged from the first discharge port <NUM> contains the product produced in the first flow channels <NUM>. The reaction gas P discharged from the first discharge port <NUM> may include the raw material gas M not used for the reaction.

<FIG> is a plan view corresponding to a view taken along line B-B in <FIG>, and showing a structure and a shape of a part including the second heat transfer body <NUM>. Each of the second heat transfer bodies <NUM> includes a plurality of second flow channels <NUM> serving as heat medium flow channels. The second flow channels <NUM> supply heat supplied from the heating gas HC1 to the outside, namely, to the first heat transfer bodies <NUM>. Each of the second flow channels <NUM> is a groove having a rectangular shape in cross section. In particular, the upper side of the second flow channels <NUM> in the Z direction is open. Each of the second flow channels <NUM> has a first side surface open on one side of the respective second heat transfer bodies <NUM>. The second flow channels <NUM> extend straight from second introduction ports <NUM> from which the heating gas HC1 is introduced to a portion immediately in front of a second side surface on the other side of the second heat transfer bodies <NUM> in the Y direction. The first side surface of the respective second heat transfer bodies <NUM> is located on the opposite side of the first side surface of the respective first heat transfer bodies <NUM> described above in the Y direction. The second flow channels <NUM> are arranged at regular intervals in the X direction, as in the case of the first flow channels <NUM>. <FIG> each illustrate only one second flow channel <NUM> in the heat exchange unit <NUM> included in the reaction unit <NUM>.

The second heat transfer bodies <NUM> each include a second base <NUM>, two second side walls <NUM>, a plurality of second interposition walls <NUM>, and a second partition wall <NUM>. The second base <NUM> is a rectangular plate wall portion covering the entire X-Y plane of the respective second heat transfer bodies <NUM>. The second side walls <NUM> are wall portions provided on both the right and left sides of the extending direction of the second flow channels <NUM> on one of the main surfaces of the second base <NUM> perpendicular to the Z direction. The respective interposition walls <NUM> are wall portions interposed between the two second side walls <NUM> on one of the main surfaces of the second base <NUM>. The respective interposition walls <NUM> are arranged at regular intervals parallel to the second side walls <NUM>. The second partition wall <NUM> extends in the X direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the second flow channels <NUM> on the second side surface side on one of the main surfaces of the second base <NUM>. If the second flow channels <NUM> extend to the second side surface, the second flow channels <NUM> would reach a first space S1 described below in which the raw material gas M is introduced. The provision of the second partition wall <NUM> changes the flowing direction of the heating gas HC1 passing through the respective second flow channels <NUM>. The height of each of the second side walls <NUM>, the second interposition walls <NUM>, and the second partition wall <NUM> in the Z direction is the same.

The second heat transfer bodies <NUM> each include a second communication flow channel <NUM> extending along the inner surface of the second partition wall <NUM>. The second communication flow channel <NUM> communicates with the respective second flow channels <NUM>. The second communication flow channel <NUM> also communicates at one end with a second discharge port <NUM> provided at one of the second side walls <NUM> so as to discharge the heating emission gas HC2 to the outside of the respective second heat transfer bodies <NUM>.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view of the heat exchange unit <NUM>, corresponding to a view taken along line C-C in <FIG>, illustrating the shape and the arrangement of the first flow channels <NUM> of the first heat transfer bodies <NUM> and the second flow channels <NUM> of the second heat transfer bodies <NUM>. The heat exchange unit <NUM> is fabricated as a connected body or a stacked body such that the lid body <NUM> is arranged on the uppermost side in the Z direction, and the second heat transfer bodies <NUM> and the first heat transfer bodies <NUM> are alternatively connected to and stacked with each other below the lid body <NUM>. The first flow channels <NUM> and the second flow channels <NUM> are arranged adjacent to each other without contact via the first base <NUM> or the second base <NUM>. When the heat exchange unit <NUM> is assembled, the respective members are fixed to each other by a bonding method such as tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding or diffusion bonding, so as to suppress a reduction in heat transfer derived from poor contact between the respective members.

The heat transfer material used for the respective elements included in the heat exchange unit <NUM> is preferably thermally-resistant metal such as an iron alloy or a nickel alloy. More particularly, the thermally-resistant alloy may be an iron alloy such as stainless steel, or a nickel alloy such as Inconel alloy <NUM> (registered trademark), Inconel alloy <NUM> (registered trademark), and Haynes alloy <NUM> (registered trademark). These preferable heat transfer materials have durability or corrosion resistance with respect to the fluid which can be used for promoting the reaction in the first flow channels <NUM> or used as a heat medium. However, the present embodiment is not limited to these materials. Alternatively, the heat transfer material may be iron-based plated steel, metal covered with thermally-resistant resin such as fluororesin, or carbon graphite.

Although the heat exchange unit <NUM> may be composed of at least a pair of one first heat transfer body <NUM> and one second heat transfer body <NUM>, a larger number of the respective heat transfer bodies, as illustrated in the respective drawings, are preferably provided so as to improve the heat exchange performance. The number of the first flow channels <NUM> provided in each first heat transfer body <NUM> and the number of the second flow channels <NUM> provided in each second heat transfer body <NUM> may be determined as appropriate and may be changed in view of the designing conditions or heat transfer efficiency of the heat exchange unit <NUM>. The heat exchange unit <NUM> may be covered with or surrounded by a housing or a heat insulator so as to suppress heat radiation to avoid heat loss.

The first flow channels <NUM> may be removably provided with catalyst bodies <NUM> for promoting the reaction. The catalyst bodies <NUM> are a kind of heat transfer structures capable of improving or keeping the heat exchange performance in the heat exchange unit <NUM> more effectively than a case without the catalyst bodies provided in the first flow channels <NUM>. A catalyst included in the catalyst bodies <NUM> is selected as appropriate from substances mainly containing active metal effective in promotion of a chemical reaction, and suitable for the promotion of the reaction based on a synthesis reaction induced in the reaction unit <NUM>. Examples of active metal as a catalytic component include nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), iron (Fe), platinum (Pt), ruthenium (Ru), rhodium (Rh), and palladium (Pd). These metals may be used singly, or any combination of these metals that is effective in the promotion of the reaction may be used. The catalyst bodies <NUM> are prepared such that the catalyst is supported on a structure material, for example. The structure material is selected as appropriate from thermally-resistant metals which can be molded and support the catalyst. The structure, used as the catalyst bodies <NUM>, may have a corrugated plate-like shape in a wave-like state or a shape in a sharply roughened state in cross section so as to increase the contact area with the reaction fluid. Examples of such thermally-resistant metals include iron (Fe), chromium (Cr), aluminum (Al), yttrium (Y), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), magnesium (Mg), titanium (Ti), molybdenum (Mo), tungsten (W), niobium (Nb), tantalum (Ta), and a thermally-resistant alloy mainly containing one of or some of these metals. The catalyst bodies <NUM> may be obtained such that a thin plate structure made of a thermally-resistant alloy such as Fecralloy (registered trademark) is molded. The catalyst may be supported directly on the structure material by surface modification or the like, or may be supported indirectly on the structure material via a carrier. Practically, the use of the carrier facilitates the process of supporting the catalyst. The carrier is selected as appropriate from materials having durability without impeding the promotion of the reaction and is capable of supporting the catalyst effectively, in view of the reaction induced in the reaction unit <NUM>. The carrier may be a metal oxide such as alumina (Al<NUM>O<NUM>), titania (TiO<NUM>), zirconia (ZrO<NUM>), ceria (CeO<NUM>), or silica (SiO<NUM>). These metal oxides may be used singly, or some of these metal oxides may be selected and combined together. Examples of supporting methods using the carrier include a process of forming a mixed layer of the catalyst and the carrier on the surface of the structure material molded, and a process of forming a carrier layer and then supporting the catalyst on the carrier layer by surface modification or the like.

The second flow channels <NUM> may be removably provided with heat transfer promoters <NUM> for increasing the contact area with the heat medium to promote the heat transfer between the heat medium and the respective second heat transfer bodies <NUM>. The heat transfer promoters <NUM> are also a kind of heat transfer structures capable of improving or keeping the heat exchange performance in the heat exchange unit <NUM> more effectively than a case without the heat transfer promoters <NUM> provided in the second flow channels <NUM>. The heat transfer promoters <NUM> are heat transfer fins, and may have a corrugated plate-like shape in order to ensure the contact area with the respective second heat transfer bodies <NUM>. A heat transfer material used for the heat transfer promoters <NUM> may be metal such as aluminum, copper, stainless steel, and iron-based plated steel.

The reaction unit <NUM> further includes a reaction fluid introduction part <NUM> and a product discharge part <NUM>, and a heat medium introduction part <NUM> and a heat medium discharge part <NUM>.

The reaction fluid introduction part <NUM> is a casing curved concavely. The reaction fluid introduction part <NUM> covers the side surface of the heat exchange unit <NUM> on the side on which the first introduction ports <NUM> of the first flow channels <NUM> are open to define the first space S1 together with the heat exchange unit <NUM>. The reaction fluid introduction part <NUM> is detachable or openable with respect to the heat exchange unit <NUM>. The detachable or openable reaction fluid introduction part <NUM> allows the operator to insert or remove the catalyst bodies <NUM> into or from the first flow channels <NUM>, for example. The reaction fluid introduction part <NUM> includes a first introduction pipe <NUM> through which the raw material gas M is introduced from the first gas supply unit (not shown). The first introduction pipe <NUM> is located in the middle on the side surface of the heat exchange unit <NUM>, in particular, located in the middle on the X-Z plane, and is connected to the reaction fluid introduction part <NUM> in the same direction as the open direction of the respective first introduction ports <NUM>. Such a structure can distribute the raw material gas M introduced from one portion to the respective first introduction ports <NUM>.

The product discharge part <NUM> is a box-shaped casing with one surface open. The product discharge part <NUM> is arranged on a third side surface of the heat exchange unit <NUM> such that the open surface faces to the respective first discharge ports <NUM> of the first heat transfer bodies <NUM>. The product discharge part <NUM> includes a first discharge pipe <NUM> at a part of the wall portion thereof for discharging the reaction gas P containing the product to the outside of the reaction unit <NUM>. The first discharge pipe <NUM> is connected to another external treatment device (not shown) for executing aftertreatment of the reaction gas P. The reaction gas P discharged from the respective first discharge ports <NUM> is thus recovered through the single first discharge pipe <NUM>.

The heat medium introduction part <NUM> is a casing curved concavely, as in the case of the reaction fluid introduction part <NUM>. The heat medium introduction part <NUM> covers the side surface of the heat exchange unit <NUM> on the side on which the second introduction ports <NUM> of the second flow channels <NUM> are open to define the second space S2 together with the heat exchange unit <NUM>. The heat medium introduction part <NUM> is detachable or openable with respect to the heat exchange unit <NUM>. The detachable or openable heat medium introduction part <NUM> allows the operator to insert or remove the heat transfer promoters <NUM> into or from the second flow channels <NUM>, for example. The heat medium introduction part <NUM> includes a second introduction pipe <NUM> through which the heating gas HC1 is introduced from the second gas supply unit <NUM>. The second introduction pipe <NUM> is located in the middle on the side surface of the heat exchange unit <NUM>, in particular, located in the middle on the X-Z plane, and is connected to the heat medium introduction part <NUM> in the same direction as the open direction of the respective second introduction ports <NUM>. Such a structure can distribute the heating gas HC1 introduced from one portion to the respective second introduction ports <NUM>.

The heat medium discharge part <NUM> is a box-shaped casing with one surface open, as in the case of the product discharge part <NUM>. The heat medium discharge part <NUM> is arranged on the third side surface of the heat exchange unit <NUM> such that the open surface faces to the respective second discharge ports <NUM> of the second heat transfer bodies <NUM>. The heat medium discharge part <NUM> includes a second discharge pipe <NUM> at a part of the wall portion thereof for discharging the heating emission gas HC2 to the outside of the reaction unit <NUM>. The second discharge pipe <NUM> is connected to another external treatment device (not shown) for reusing the heating emission gas HC2. The heating emission gas HC2 discharged from the respective second discharge ports <NUM> is thus recovered through the single second discharge pipe <NUM>.

The heat exchange body <NUM> may be any of a liquid-liquid heat exchanger, a gas-gas heat exchanger, and a gas-liquid heat exchanger, and the reaction fluid and the heat medium supplied to the reaction unit <NUM> may be either gas or liquid. The reaction unit <NUM> can cause chemical synthesis through various kinds of thermal reactions such as an endothermic reaction and an exothermic reaction. Examples of such thermal reactions causing synthesis include: a steam reforming reaction of methane as represented by the following chemical equation (<NUM>); an endothermic reaction such as a dry reforming reaction of methane as represented by the following chemical equation (<NUM>); a shift reaction as represented by the following chemical equation (<NUM>); a methanation reaction as represented by the following chemical equation (<NUM>); and a Fischer Tropsch synthesis reaction as represented by the following chemical equation (<NUM>). The reaction fluid used in these reactions is in a gas state.

CH<NUM> + H<NUM>O → <NUM><NUM> + CO.

CH<NUM> + CO<NUM> → <NUM><NUM> + 2CO.

CO + H<NUM>O → CO<NUM> + H<NUM>.

CO + <NUM><NUM> → CH<NUM> + H<NUM>O.

(2n + <NUM>)H<NUM> + nCO → CnH2n+<NUM> + nH<NUM>O.

The heat medium is preferably a substance not corroding the constituent materials of the reaction unit <NUM>, and may be a gaseous substance such as combustion gas or heating air in the case of the heating gas according to the present embodiment. Alternatively, the heat medium may be a liquid substance such as water or oil. The gaseous substance used as the heat medium is easier to handle than the liquid medium.

The first gas supply unit (not shown) as a constituent element of the reactor <NUM> is connected to the first introduction pipe <NUM> to supply the raw material gas M toward the respective first flow channels <NUM> in the reaction unit <NUM>. Hereinafter, a temperature of the raw material gas M passing through the first introduction pipe <NUM> before being introduced to the reaction unit <NUM> is indicated by "Te1".

The second gas supply unit (not shown) is connected to the second introduction pipe <NUM> to supply the heating gas HC1 toward the respective second flow channels <NUM> in the reaction unit <NUM>. The heating gas HC1 is combustion gas, for example. In this case, the second gas supply unit includes a combustor for mixing fuel and air as appropriate to produce combustion gas.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the reactor <NUM> includes a first temperature measurement unit <NUM> for measuring a temperature of the heating gas HC1 flowing through the pipe, and a flow rate measurement unit <NUM> for measuring a flow rate of the heating gas HC1. The first temperature measurement unit <NUM> and the flow rate measurement unit <NUM> are arranged in the second introduction pipe <NUM>. Hereinafter, the temperature of the heating gas HC1 measured by the first temperature measurement unit <NUM> and passing through the second introduction pipe <NUM> before being introduced to the reaction unit <NUM> is indicated by "Te3". The flow rate of the heating gas HC1 measured by the flow rate measurement unit <NUM> is indicated by "F".

The reactor <NUM> also includes a second temperature measurement unit <NUM> for measuring a temperature of the heating emission gas HC2 flowing through the pipe. The second temperature measurement unit <NUM> is arranged in the second discharge pipe <NUM>. Hereinafter, the temperature of the heating emission gas HC2 measured by the second temperature measurement unit <NUM> is indicated by "Te4".

As illustrated in <FIG>, the reactor <NUM> includes a third temperature measurement unit <NUM> for measuring a temperature of the reaction gas P flowing through the pipe, and a composition analysis unit <NUM> for analyzing a composition of the reaction gas P. The third temperature measurement unit <NUM> and the composition analysis unit <NUM> are arranged in the first discharge pipe <NUM>. Hereinafter, the temperature of the reaction gas P measured by the third temperature measurement unit <NUM> is indicated by "Te2", and the corresponding reaction rate is indicated by "r".

The composition analysis unit <NUM> is a gas chromatograph, for example. The gas chromatograph is an analysis instrument that identifies and quantitates compounds by chromatography. The gas chromatograph can be used when a stationary phase and a mobile phase are both gas, and is thus preferably used for analyzing the composition of the product contained in the reaction gas P in the present embodiment.

The reactor <NUM> further includes a control unit <NUM> for controlling the entire operation of the reactor <NUM>. The control unit <NUM> according to the present embodiment is in particular electrically connected to the first temperature measurement unit <NUM>, the second temperature measurement unit <NUM>, the third temperature measurement unit <NUM>, the flow rate measurement unit <NUM>, and the composition analysis unit <NUM>. The control unit <NUM> estimates a service life of each of the the catalyst bodies <NUM>.

Next, the operations according to the present embodiment are described below.

A first operation of estimating a service life of the heat transfer promoters <NUM> which is not part of the invention is described below with reference to <FIG>. The control unit <NUM> estimates a service life of the heat transfer promoters <NUM> in accordance with the information on the temperature or the flow rate acquired from the first temperature measurement unit <NUM>, the flow rate measurement unit <NUM>, or the second temperature measurement unit <NUM>. First, the operator determines reference conditions for time-course measurement for the estimation, so as to cause the control unit <NUM> to start estimating the service life of the heat transfer promoters <NUM>. According to the present embodiment, the respective values as examples of the reference conditions for the time-course measurement are determined as follows: the temperature Te3 of the heating gas HC1 is set to <NUM>, the flow rate F of the heating gas HC1 is set to <NUM>,<NUM>/h, and specific heat Cp is set to <NUM> kJ/(kg·°C).

The control unit <NUM> then leads the reactor <NUM> to be in operation, acquires the information on the temperature from the first temperature measurement unit <NUM>, and determines whether the temperature Te3 of the heating gas HC1 reaches the preliminarily set temperature. The control unit <NUM> also acquires the information on the flow rate from the flow rate measurement unit <NUM>, and determines whether the flow rate F of the heating gas HC1 reaches the predetermined flow rate. For the estimation of the service life of the heat transfer promoters <NUM>, the first temperature measurement unit <NUM> and the flow rate measurement unit <NUM> serve as a first information acquisition unit for acquiring the information about the reference conditions at the time elapsed.

When the control unit <NUM> determines that the reference conditions are fulfilled, the control unit <NUM> starts the normal operation to execute the reaction treatment. The control unit <NUM> then acquires the information on the temperature of the heating emission gas HC2 from the second temperature measurement unit <NUM> sequentially after each lapse of <NUM> hours, <NUM>,<NUM> hours, <NUM>,<NUM> hours, <NUM>,<NUM> hours, and <NUM>,<NUM> hours from the start of the operation, and stores the temperature Te4 at each point. For the estimation of the service life of the heat transfer promoters <NUM>, the second temperature measurement unit <NUM> serves as a second information acquisition unit for acquiring the information after each lapse of time. The values of the temperature Te4 measured after each lapse of time are <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>.

The control unit <NUM> then calculates the heat exchange amount q based on the temperature Te4 of the heating emission gas HC2 measured after each lapse of time. The heat exchange amount q can be calculated according to the following equation (<NUM>). <MAT> where w is a mass flow rate, Cp is the specific heat, and ΔT is a difference between the temperature Te3 of the heating gas HC1 and the temperature Te4 of the heating emission gas HC2.

The heat exchange amounts q after each lapse of time calculated according to the equation (<NUM>) are <NUM>,<NUM> kW, <NUM>,<NUM> kW, <NUM>,<NUM> kW, <NUM>,<NUM> kW, and <NUM>,<NUM> kW. The control unit <NUM> calculates an approximate equation representing a relation between the lapse of time t and the heat exchange amount q using the respective values. The approximate equation thus obtained is expressed by the following equation (<NUM>).

<FIG> is a graph showing the relation between the lapse of time t (h) and the heat exchange amount q (kW). <FIG> indicates the respective measured values of the heat exchange amounts q after each lapse of time t. <FIG> also indicates an approximate curve representing the equation (<NUM>) calculated using the respective measured values.

A threshold of the heat exchange amount q at the time when the heat transfer promoters <NUM> need to be replaced is set to be <NUM>,<NUM> kW, for example. This threshold is preliminarily determined by the operator, and is stored in the control unit <NUM>. The control unit <NUM> applies the threshold to the equation (<NUM>) to calculate the corresponding time t<NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>. In this example, the time t<NUM> thus obtained is <NUM>,<NUM> hours, which is the service life of the heat transfer promoters <NUM> when the reactor <NUM> executes the reaction treatment under the predetermined conditions. The operator recognizes the service life so as to presume the remaining time during which the heat transfer promoters <NUM> can be used. If the reactor <NUM> has been operated for <NUM>,<NUM> hours at the moment, for example, the remaining time allowed then can be presumed to be <NUM>,<NUM> hours.

A second operation of estimating a service life of the catalyst bodies <NUM> is described below with reference to <FIG>. The control unit <NUM> estimates a service life of the catalyst bodies <NUM> in accordance with the information on the temperature acquired from the third temperature measurement unit <NUM> and the composition of the product in the reaction gas P analyzed by the composition analysis unit <NUM>. First, the operator determines reference conditions for time-course measurement for the estimation, so as to cause the control unit <NUM> to start estimating the service life of the catalyst bodies <NUM>. According to the present embodiment, the temperature Te2 of the reaction gas P as an example of the reference conditions for the time-course measurement is set to <NUM>.

The control unit <NUM> then leads the reactor <NUM> to be in operation, acquires the information on the temperature from the third temperature measurement unit <NUM>, and determines whether the temperature Te2 of the reaction gas P reaches the preliminarily set temperature. For the estimation of the service life of the catalyst bodies <NUM>, the third temperature measurement unit <NUM> corresponds to the first information acquisition unit for acquiring the information about the reference conditions of the time elapsed.

When the control unit <NUM> determines that the reference conditions are fulfilled, the control unit <NUM> starts the normal operation to execute the reaction treatment. The control unit <NUM> then causes the composition analysis unit <NUM> to analyze the composition of the reaction gas P sequentially after each lapse of <NUM> hours, <NUM>,<NUM> hours, <NUM>,<NUM> hours, <NUM>,<NUM> hours, and <NUM>,<NUM> hours from the start of the operation, and stores the information at each point. For the estimation of the service life of the catalyst bodies <NUM>, the composition analysis unit <NUM> corresponds to the second information acquisition unit for acquiring the information after each lapse of time. Table <NUM> lists the respective compositions of the reaction gas P specified after each lapse of time.

The control unit <NUM> then calculates the reaction rate r based on the respective compositions of the reaction gas P specified after each lapse of time. As used herein, the term "reaction rate r" refers to the amount of the raw material contained in the reaction gas P as a product with respect to the amount of the raw material contained in the raw material gas M, namely, refers to the amount of the raw material actually used in the reaction for producing the product. The reaction rate r according to the present embodiment is expressed by the following equation (<NUM>). The reaction rate r varies depending on the type of the reaction. The reaction rate r is determined as appropriate while taking account of a yield calculated on the basis of selectivity of a plurality of reactions when the reactions are executed simultaneously, for example.

The reaction rates after each lapse of time calculated according to the equation (<NUM>) are <NUM>%, <NUM>%, <NUM>%, <NUM>%, and <NUM>%. The control unit <NUM> calculates an approximate equation representing a relation between the lapse of time t and the reaction rate r using the respective values. The approximate equation thus obtained is expressed by the following equation (<NUM>).

<FIG> is a graph showing the relation between the lapse of time t (h) and the reaction rate r (%). <FIG> indicates the respective measured values of the reaction rates r after each lapse of time t. <FIG> also indicates an approximate curve representing the equation (<NUM>) calculated using the respective measured values.

A threshold of the reaction rate at the time when the catalyst bodies <NUM> need to be replaced is set to be <NUM>%, for example. This threshold is preliminarily determined by the operator, and is stored in the control unit <NUM>. The control unit <NUM> applies the threshold to the equation (<NUM>) to calculate the corresponding time t<NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>. In this example, the time t<NUM> thus obtained is <NUM>,<NUM> hours, which is the service life of the catalyst bodies <NUM> when the reactor <NUM> executes the reaction treatment under the predetermined conditions. The operator recognizes the service life so as to presume the remaining time during which the catalyst bodies <NUM> can be used. If the reactor <NUM> has been operated for <NUM>,<NUM> hours at the moment, for example, the remaining time allowed then can be presumed to be <NUM>,<NUM> hours.

The advantageous effects according to the present embodiment are described below.

The heat treatment device according to the present embodiment causing the first fluid and the second fluid to flow therethrough, includes the heat exchange unit <NUM> including the first flow channels through which the first fluid flows and the second flow channels through which the second fluid flows, the heat transfer structures removably placed in the first flow channels, the first information acquisition unit connected to the inlet side or the outlet side of the first flow channels to acquire the information for specifying the temperature, the flow rate, and the composition of the first fluid which are the reference conditions after the predetermined lapses of time, the second information acquisition unit connected to the outlet side of the first flow channels to acquire the information for specifying the temperature, the flow rate, and the composition of the first fluid after each lapse of time, and the control unit <NUM> that calculates the heat exchange amount, the reaction rate, or the yield after each lapse of time in accordance with the temperature, the flow rate, or the composition specified according to the information acquired by the first information acquisition unit and the second information acquisition unit, so as to estimate the service life of the heat transfer structures in accordance with the heat exchange amount, the reaction rate, or the yield.

The specific material used as the first fluid or the second fluid varies depending on the type of the heat treatment device employed and the type of the target of which the service life is estimated. In the case in which the heat treatment device employed is the reactor <NUM> as illustrated above, and when the heat transfer structures as a target for the estimation is the catalyst bodies <NUM>, the first fluid is the reaction fluid coming into contact with the catalyst bodies <NUM>, and the second fluid is the heat medium. The first fluid and the second fluid both may be the reaction fluid depending on the type of the reactor.

Although the first flow channels and the second flow channels illustrated above are respectively the first flow channels <NUM> and the second flow channels <NUM> defined in relation to the first fluid and the second fluid, the respective reference numerals may be replaced with each other.

With regard to the inlet side and the outlet side defined in the first flow channels, the first introduction pipe <NUM> corresponds to the inlet side of each first flow channel, and the first discharge pipe <NUM> corresponds to the outlet side of each first flow channel when the first flow channels are the first flow channels <NUM> in which the catalyst bodies <NUM> are placed.

The heat treatment device illustrated above as the reactor <NUM> is provided with the heat transfer structures that are placed in the respective flow channels in the heat exchange unit <NUM> and inevitably need to be replaced in due course due to degradation with the passage of time. The heat treatment device according to the present embodiment can estimate a service life of the heat transfer structures, which is a barometer indicating the most efficient timing of replacement to the operator, in accordance with the heat exchange amount, the reaction rate, or the yield after a certain lapse of time of the heat transfer structures actually used under the predetermined conditions. Accordingly, the operator can replace the heat transfer structure at the most efficient timing afterward upon the heat treatment executed under the same conditions. Namely, an economic loss, which may be caused due to a decrease in performance of the heat treatment device derived from deviation of the timing when the heat transfer structures are actually replaced from the most efficient timing of replacement, can be minimized.

The particular advantage of suppressing the economic loss can be explained according to the following two points of view. The following is a case in which at least either the first fluid or the second fluid is presumed to be the reaction fluid which is the raw material gas M, for example. First, the amount of the product contained in the reaction gas P discharged from the reaction unit <NUM> after the reaction treatment is barely decreased, while the same amount of the raw material gas M is constantly supplied to the reaction unit <NUM> during the reaction treatment in the reactor <NUM>. Second, the supply amount of the raw material gas M necessary for producing the product or the amount of heat in the reactor <NUM> can be decreased even though the constant amount of the product should be produced after the reaction treatment. Since the reactor <NUM> can avoid supplying the excessive amount of the raw material gas M, an increase in operating cost of the reactor <NUM> can be minimized.

The heat treatment device according to the present embodiment uses the first information acquisition unit and the second information acquisition unit so as to estimate the service life of the heat transfer structures. The use of these units eliminates a great modification to the structure of the heat treatment device, or does not require any change to the heat transfer structures. Accordingly, the cost required for the heat treatment device itself can be minimized.

The heat treatment device not according to the present embodiment includes the second information acquisition unit which is the second temperature measurement unit <NUM> for measuring the temperature of the first fluid discharged from the first flow channels. The control unit <NUM> stores the temperature measured by the second temperature measurement device <NUM> after each lapse of time, obtains the heat exchange amount after each lapse of time in accordance with the temperature measured by the second temperature measurement device <NUM>, calculates a first approximate equation representing the relation between the lapse of time and the heat exchange amount, and applies, to the first approximate equation, the predetermined threshold of the heat exchange amount at the time when the heat transfer promoters <NUM> need to be replaced, so as to estimate the service life of the heat transfer promoters <NUM>.

The first approximate equation corresponds to the equation (<NUM>) described above, for example.

The heat treatment device not according to the present embodiment can estimate particularly the service life of the heat transfer promoters <NUM> with greatest possible accuracy.

The heat treatment device according to the present embodiment also includes the first information acquisition unit which includes the first temperature measurement unit <NUM> for measuring the temperature of the first fluid introduced to the first flow channels and the flow rate measurement unit <NUM> for measuring the flow rate of the first fluid introduced to the first flow channels. The control unit <NUM> determines whether the reference conditions are fulfilled in accordance with the temperature measured by the first temperature measurement unit <NUM> and the flow rate measured by the flow rate measurement unit <NUM>.

The heat treatment device not according to the present embodiment can determine whether the reference conditions are fulfilled using the first temperature measurement unit <NUM> and the like particularly when estimating the service life of the heat transfer promoters <NUM>, so as to improve the accuracy of the estimation.

The heat treatment device according to the present embodiment uses the reaction fluid as the first fluid, and the catalyst bodies <NUM> as the heat transfer structures.

The heat treatment device according to the present embodiment can achieve the above effects efficiently when using the first fluid and the heat transfer structures as described above.

The heat treatment device according to the present embodiment includes the second information acquisition unit which is the composition analysis unit <NUM> for analyzing the composition of the first fluid discharged from the first flow channels. The control unit <NUM> stores the composition analyzed by the composition analysis unit <NUM> after each lapse of time, obtains the reaction rate or yield after each lapse of time in accordance with the composition analyzed by the composition analysis unit <NUM>, calculates a second approximate equation representing the relation between the lapse of time and the reaction rate or yield, and applies, to the second approximate equation, the predetermined threshold of the reaction rate or yield at the time when the catalyst bodies <NUM> need to be replaced, so as to estimate the service life of the catalyst bodies <NUM>.

The second approximate equation corresponds to the equation (<NUM>) described above, for example.

The heat treatment device according to the present embodiment can estimate particularly the service life of the catalyst bodies <NUM> with greatest possible accuracy.

The heat treatment device according to the present embodiment also includes the first information acquisition unit which is the third temperature measurement unit <NUM> for measuring the temperature of the first fluid discharged from the first flow channels. The control unit <NUM> determines whether the reference conditions are fulfilled in accordance with the temperature measured by the third temperature measurement unit <NUM>.

The heat treatment device according to the present embodiment can determine whether the reference conditions are fulfilled using the third temperature measurement unit <NUM> particularly when estimating the service life of the catalyst bodies <NUM>, so as to improve the accuracy of the estimation.

The heat treatment device according to the present embodiment includes the heat exchange unit <NUM> which includes the heat transfer bodies, in which the first flow channels and the second flow channels are grooves or penetration holes provided in the respective heat transfer bodies.

The heat exchange unit <NUM> according to the present embodiment includes two kinds of heat transfer bodies alternately stacked, including the first heat transfer bodies <NUM> provided with the first flow channels <NUM> through which the first fluid flows and the second heat transfer bodies <NUM> provided with the second flow channels <NUM> through which the second fluid flows, for example. The respective flow channels in the heat transfer bodies described above are preferably grooves in view of the facilitation of manufacture.

The present disclosure is not limited to the heat exchange unit <NUM> including the heat transfer bodies having the above configuration. For example, the present disclosure may be applicable to a case in which the heat exchange unit <NUM> includes a single cuboidal heat transfer body provided with both of the first flow channels through which the first fluid flow and the second flow channels through which the second fluid flows. The respective flow channels in this case are penetration holes.

The heat treatment device according to the present embodiment can achieve the effects described above particularly when the heat exchange unit <NUM> includes either a single cuboidal heat transfer body or a plurality of heat transfer bodies directly stacked on one another to be integrated together.

A heat treatment device according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure is described below. The reactor <NUM> illustrated above as the heat treatment device according to the first embodiment includes the reaction unit <NUM> that includes only one heat exchange unit <NUM>. The present disclosure is not limited to the reactor including a single heat exchange unit, and may be applied to a reactor including a plurality of heat exchange units provided independently.

<FIG> is a schematic view illustrating a structure of a reactor <NUM> according to the second embodiment. The reactor <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> includes three heat exchange units 3A to 3C, for example. <FIG> illustrates a structure of flow pipes for a raw material gas M and a reaction gas P communicating with the first flow channels <NUM> included in the respective heat exchange units 3A to 3C. The present embodiment is illustrated below with a case in which a service life of the catalyst bodies <NUM> placed in the respective heat exchange units 3A to 3C is estimated individually. <FIG> omits the indication of the second flow channels included in the respective heat exchange units 3A to 3C and the flow channel pipes for a heat medium communicating with the respective second flow channels for brevity to describe the purpose of the present embodiment.

The reactor <NUM> includes three reaction units 201A to 201C each including one of the heat exchange units 3A to 3C. The first introduction pipe <NUM> includes three introduction branch parts of a first introduction branch part 47A to a third introduction branch part 47C, each branching to be connected to one of the reaction units 201A to 201C. Similarly, the first discharge pipe <NUM> includes three discharge branch parts of a first discharge branch part 51A to a third discharge branch part 51C, each branching to be connected to one of the reaction units 201A to 201C. Each of the reaction units 201A to 201C may have the same structure as the reaction unit <NUM> according to the first embodiment.

The reactor <NUM> includes, with regard to the reaction unit 201A, a first flow rate measurement unit <NUM> for measuring the flow rate of the raw material gas M flowing through the pipe, and a first composition analysis unit <NUM> for analyzing the composition of the raw material gas M. The first flow rate measurement unit <NUM> and the first composition analysis unit <NUM> are arranged in the first introduction branch part 47A. The reactor <NUM> also includes a first flow rate regulation valve <NUM> capable of regulating the flow rate of the raw material gas M. The first flow rate regulation valve <NUM> is arranged between the first composition analysis unit <NUM> in the first introduction branch part 47A and the reaction unit 201A. The reactor <NUM> further includes a first temperature measurement unit <NUM> for measuring the temperature of the reaction gas P flowing through the pipe, and a second composition analysis unit <NUM> for analyzing the composition of the reaction gas P. The first temperature measurement unit <NUM> and the second composition analysis unit <NUM> are arranged in the first discharge branch part 51A.

The reactor <NUM> includes, with regard to the reaction unit 201B, a second flow rate measurement unit <NUM> for measuring the flow rate of the raw material gas M flowing through the pipe, and a third composition analysis unit <NUM> for analyzing the composition of the raw material gas M. The second flow rate measurement unit <NUM> and the third composition analysis unit <NUM> are arranged in the second introduction branch part 47B. The reactor <NUM> also includes a second flow rate regulation valve <NUM> capable of regulating the flow rate of the raw material gas M. The second flow rate regulation valve <NUM> is arranged between the third composition analysis unit <NUM> in the second introduction branch part 47B and the reaction unit 201B. The reactor <NUM> further includes a second temperature measurement unit <NUM> for measuring the temperature of the reaction gas P flowing through the pipe, and a fourth composition analysis unit <NUM> for analyzing the composition of the reaction gas P. The second temperature measurement unit <NUM> and the fourth composition analysis unit <NUM> are arranged in the second discharge branch part 51B.

The reactor <NUM> includes, with regard to the reaction unit 201C, a third flow rate measurement unit <NUM> for measuring the flow rate of the raw material gas M flowing through the pipe, and a fifth composition analysis unit <NUM> for analyzing the composition of the raw material gas M. The third flow rate measurement unit <NUM> and the fifth composition analysis unit <NUM> are arranged in the third introduction branch part 47C. The reactor <NUM> also includes a third flow rate regulation valve <NUM> capable of regulating the flow rate of the raw material gas M. The third flow rate regulation valve <NUM> is arranged between the fifth composition analysis unit <NUM> in the third introduction branch part 47C and the reaction unit 201C. The reactor <NUM> further includes a third temperature measurement unit <NUM> for measuring the temperature of the reaction gas P flowing through the pipe, and a sixth composition analysis unit <NUM> for analyzing the composition of the reaction gas P. The third temperature measurement unit <NUM> and the sixth composition analysis unit <NUM> are arranged in the third discharge branch part 51C.

The flow rate regulation valves <NUM> to <NUM> are each an electromagnetic valve, for example. The respective flow rate regulation valves <NUM> to <NUM> change the aperture in accordance with a signal from a control unit <NUM> described below. The respective flow rate measurement units <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, the respective temperature measurement units <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and the respective composition analysis units <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> according to the present embodiment have substantially the same structures as the corresponding units according to the first embodiment.

The reactor <NUM> further includes the control unit <NUM> for controlling the entire operation of the reactor <NUM>. The control unit <NUM> according to the present embodiment is in particular electrically connected to all of the respective flow rate measurement units <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, the respective temperature measurement units <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, the respective composition analysis units <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, and the respective flow rate regulation valves <NUM> to <NUM>.

The control unit <NUM> estimates the service life of the catalyst bodies <NUM> placed in the respective heat exchange units <NUM> individually. The fundamental operation of estimating the service life of the catalyst bodies <NUM> placed in the respective heat exchange units <NUM> is substantially the same as that illustrated as the second operation in the first embodiment. According to the present embodiment, the first introduction pipe <NUM> located on the upstream side branches into the three introduction branch parts 47A to 47C along the pipe. The control unit <NUM> thus needs to particularly specify the composition of the raw material gas M flowing through the respective introduction branch parts 47A to 47C to use as the basis when the respective composition analysis units <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> placed in the respective discharge branch parts 51A to 51C analyze the composition of the reaction gas P.

Since the reactor <NUM> includes the respective flow rate regulation valves <NUM> to <NUM>, the control unit <NUM> can regulate the flow rate of the raw material gas P by the respective flow rate regulation valves <NUM> to <NUM> in accordance with the estimation results of the service life, so as to control a load in the respective reaction units 201A to 201C. The control of the load can lead the service life of the catalyst bodies <NUM> placed in the respective heat exchange units <NUM> to conform to each other to some extent. The control unit <NUM> can also recognize the flow rate of the raw material gas P currently flowing through the respective introduction branch parts 47A to 47C or determine whether the flow rate of the raw material gas P flowing through the respective introduction branch parts 47A to 47C is appropriate, in accordance with the flow rate measured by the respective flow rate measurement units <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>.

The reactor <NUM> according to the present embodiment can individually estimate the service life of the catalyst bodies <NUM> independently placed in the respective heat exchange units <NUM>, as in the case illustrated in the first embodiment.

Although the present embodiment has been illustrated with the case in which the reactor <NUM> estimates the service life of the catalyst bodies <NUM>, the reactor <NUM> can estimate the service life of the heat transfer promoters <NUM>. Although the reactor <NUM> according to the present embodiment includes the three reaction units <NUM>, namely, the three heat exchange units <NUM>, the number of the units may be two or more than three.

The respective embodiments described above have been illustrated with the reactors <NUM> and <NUM> that execute the reaction treatment through the exothermic reaction, but may be applicable to a case of executing reaction treatment through an endothermic reaction. The second fluid thus may be either a heating fluid or a cooling fluid.

The respective embodiments described above have been illustrated with the gas chromatograph used as the composition analysis unit <NUM> and the other analysis units for analyzing the composition of the reaction gas P. The composition analysis unit <NUM> and the other analysis units are not limited to the gas chromatograph, and may be a gas analyzer for particular gas, such as an oxygen analyzer or a methane analyzer, so as to analyze the concentration of each gas contained in the reaction gas.

The respective embodiments described above have been illustrated with the case in which the control unit <NUM> stores the information acquired from the temperature measurement unit or the composition analysis unit corresponding to the second information acquisition unit after each lapse of time. The control unit <NUM> does not necessarily acquire and store the information after the predetermined lapses of time, but may continuously acquire and store the information from the second information acquisition unit, and extract the information after a particular lapse of time so as to use the corresponding information for the estimation of the service life of the structures.

The respective embodiments described above have been illustrated with the case in which the heat exchange unit <NUM> has a counter flow-type structure in which the first fluid flows in the first flow channels <NUM> in the direction opposite to the flowing direction of the second fluid flowing in the second flow channels <NUM>, but the heat exchange unit <NUM> may have a parallel flow-type structure in which the respective fluids flow in the same direction. The present disclosure thus can be applicable to any case in which the first fluid and the second fluid flow in either direction.

The respective embodiments described above have been illustrated with the case in which the first heat transfer bodies <NUM> and the second heat transfer bodies <NUM> composing the heat exchange unit <NUM> are alternately stacked on one another in the Z direction which is the vertical direction, but the present disclosure is not limited to this case. For example, several sets of the respective heat transfer bodies composing the heat exchange unit <NUM> and transversely connected to each other may be stacked in the Z direction.

Claim 1:
A heat treatment device (<NUM>) configured with a first fluid that is a reaction fluid and a second fluid flowing therethrough, the device (<NUM>) comprising:
a heat exchange unit (<NUM>) including a first flow channel (<NUM>) through which the first fluid flows and a second flow channel (<NUM>) through which the second fluid flows; and
a heat transfer structure removably placed in the first flow channel (<NUM>),
characterized in that the device (<NUM>) further comprises:
a first information acquisition unit (<NUM>) connected to an outlet side of the first flow channel (<NUM>) to acquire temperature information for specifying a temperature, and configured to cause comparison of the temperature information with a temperature of the first fluid, preset as a reference condition, after lapses of time;
a second information acquisition unit (<NUM>) connected to the outlet side of the first flow channel (<NUM>) to acquire compositional information for specifying a composition of the first fluid after each lapse of time; and
a control unit (<NUM>) that is configured to confirm that the reference condition is fulfilled in accordance with the temperature information acquired by the first information acquisition unit (<NUM>), and to cause the second information acquisition unit (<NUM>) to acquire the compositional information when the reference condition is fulfilled, and to calculate a reaction rate, or a yield, after each lapse of time in accordance with the composition specified according to the compositional information acquired by the second information acquisition unit (<NUM>), so as to estimate a service life of the heat transfer structure in accordance with the reaction rate, or the yield,
wherein the heat transfer structure is a catalyst body (<NUM>).