Patent ID: 7276214

Claim:
A chemical reactor comprising: a) a core including at least one stack of metal plates bonded in face-to-face relationship, b) a plurality of reaction zones located within the core, c) a plurality of catalyst receiving zones located within the core, d) a first channel arrangement provided in at least some of the plates for transporting a first reactant to and between the reaction zones, portions of the first channel arrangement that interconnect the reaction zones being formed over at least a portion of their length as heat exchange channels, e) a second channel arrangement provided in at least some of the plates and arranged to deliver a second reactant to each of the reaction zones, and f) a third channel arrangement provided in at least some of the plates for transporting a third reactant to and between the catalyst receiving zones, portions of the third channel arrangement that interconnect the catalyst receiving zones being formed over at least a portion of their length as heat exchange channels that are positioned in heat exchange proximity to the heat exchange channels of the first channel arrangement so that in use, heat exchange of the chemical reactor takes place substantially between the heat exchange channels of the first channel arrangement and the heat exchange channels of the third channel arrangement.