Patent ID: 6939521

Claim:
A reactor for fluorinating an organic compound comprising: an outer vessel; a reactor vessel having a reactor wall which defines an inner volume, said reactor vessel being disposed within said outer vessel to define an annular space between the reactor wall and said outer vessel such that said inner volume and said annular space are separated only by said reactor wall, said reactor wall comprising a rigid member having an interior surface which is at least partially lined with a fluoropolymer liner, said rigid member having at least one weep hole, which is in fluid communication with said annular space but which does not penetrate through said liner; wherein said annular space receives a fluid for effecting heat transfer across said reactor wall; wherein said outer vessel is rated for higher pressure than said reactor vessel; at least one pathway for introducing said fluid into said annular space; at least one pathway for inputting reaction materials into said reactor vessel; at least one pathway for outputting a product stream from said reactor vessel; and wherein said reactor has either a first configuration or a second configuration to equalize pressure between said inner volume and said annular space such that said pressure rating of said reactor vessel is not exceeded and such that pressure in said annular space is no greater than pressure of said inner volume, in said first configuration said annular space and said inner volume are in fluid communication, in said second configuration said inner volume is fluidly isolated from said annular space and said reactor further comprises a pressure balancing device to regulate pressure differential between said inner volume and said annular space.