Patent ID: 6926873

Claim:
A reactor for exothermic reactions, comprising: a shell ( 2 ) of substantially cylindrical shape; at least one catalytic bed ( 3 ) in the shell, comprising a perforated cylindrical outer side wall ( 4 ), which forms a free space ( 8 ) with said shell, and an inner side wall ( 5 ) coaxial to the outer side wall; a heat exchanger ( 13 ) in said bed ( 3 ), said heat exchanger being formed by a plurality of tubes ( 15 ) in the form of a spiral or a coil in fluid communication with feed and discharge collectors ( 14 , 16 ) for a cooling fluid, wherein said heat exchanger ( 13 ) comprises a plurality of superimposed and structurally independent modular units ( 20 ), each of which includes at least two tubes ( 15 ) in the form of a spiral or a coil arranged transversally to the shell ( 2 ) axis and wrapping around a corresponding portion ( 25 ) of said inner side wall ( 5 ) of said catalytic bed, and provided with respective connecting portions ( 22 , 23 ) to said feed and discharge collectors ( 14 , 16 ).