Patent ID: 8092747

Claim:
A modular reactor for exothermic/endothermic chemical reactions which take place in three-phase systems, wherein a solid phase in finely subdivided form is dispersed in a continuous liquid phase and is maintained in suspension by a gaseous phase which passes through the liquid phase in the form of bubbles, which comprises: a. a series of substantially cylindrical bodies which can be superimposed; b. a covering element positioned on a head of an upper body of the reactor; c. a closing element positioned at a base of a lower body of the reactor; d. a gas distributor, situated in correspondence with the base of the lower body, which substantially rests on the closing element and is connected to means for feeding a reagent gas; e. discharge tubes of the liquid reaction product, situated in correspondence with one or more of the cylindrical bodies; f. thermal-exchange devices, inserted in each cylindrical body and comprising a series of thermal-exchange units, each unit consisting of a series of bundles, each bundle consisting of a series of parallel, vertical tubes, connected in series, according to the flow of a heat-exchange fluid, above and below, one after another, by means of U-connectors; g. at least one distribution collector and at least one collector for the collection of the heat-exchange fluid, which flows in the tubes of the thermal-exchange units, having a tubular form and situated internally, on a horizontal plane, in the upper part or, alternatively, in the lower part of each cylindrical body; and h. at least one pair of openings situated externally and peripherically around an upper part or, alternatively, a lower part of each cylindrical body, one opening of said pair of openings being connected to the distribution collector and the other to the collection collector of the thermal-exchange fluid.