Patent ID: 7442353

Claim:
A process for performing an intermediate reaction process on a fluid at a lower temperature than the prior and next steps, the process comprising: a) providing a first conduit and a second conduit adjacent to the first conduit, wherein the first conduit and the second conduit are separated by a substrate which is common to both the first conduit and the second conduit and permits the transfer of heat between the first conduit and the second conduit; b) passing the fluid through a first conduit and into a reaction chamber, whereby heat is removed from the reactant fluid as the reactant fluid passes through the first conduit and the heat is transferred through the substrate to the second conduit; c) lowering the temperature of the reactant fluid; d) performing the intermediate reaction with the reactant fluid in the reaction chamber to create a product fluid; e) passing the product fluid out of the reaction chamber and through a second conduit in fluid communication with the reaction chamber; and f) applying heat transferred from the reactant fluid in the first conduit through the substrate to the product fluid as the product fluid passes through the second conduit, wherein the first conduit is positioned adjacent to the second conduit with a substrate intermediate the conduits.