Patent ID: 7498002

Claim:
In a bubble column reactor for reacting a predominately liquid-phase stream with a predominately gas-phase stream, the improvement comprising: a vessel shell defining an elongated reaction zone extending along a normally-upright central shell axis, wherein said reaction zone has a maximum length (L) measured parallel to said shell axis, a maximum diameter (D) measured perpendicular to said shell axis, and an L:D ratio in the range of from about 6:1 to about 30:1; a plurality of liquid openings for introducing said liquid-phase stream into said reaction zone, wherein at least two of said liquid openings are axially spaced from one another by at least about 0.5 D; and a plurality of gas openings for introducing said gas-phase stream into said reaction zone, wherein said reaction zone presents first and second opposite ends spaced from one another by said maximum length (L), wherein a majority of the cumulative open area defined by all of said gas openings is located within about 0.25 D of said first end of said reaction zone, wherein at least about 25 percent of the cumulative open area defined by all of said liquid openings is attributable to liquid openings located in a preferred feed zone, wherein said preferred feed zone is defined by a theoretical upright annulus having an outer diameter of 0.9 D and an inner diameter of 0.2 D, wherein said upright annulus is substantially centered in said reaction zone.