Abstract:
Process and apparatus for methanol reforming in producing hydrogen gas for electric vehicle fuel cells in which the gas mixture to be reformed is passed through a catalyst-containing reaction compartment. The active length and/or the active inlet cross-section of an intake-side reaction compartment section which is temperature-controlled for high methanol conversion can be set as a function of the throughput of gas mixture to be reformed. Thereby, an essentially constant residence period of the gas mixture to be reformed results in the reaction compartment section which is temperature-controlled for high methanol conversion. The methanol reforming may thus be carried out even in the case of markedly fluctuating throughputs of gas mixture to be reformed with a constant level of methanol conversion rate and constantly low formation of undesirable carbon monoxide.
Abstract:
This invention relates to a process and an apparatus for the catalytic water vapor reforming of methanol. The reforming process is carried out in two stages. The methanol is incompletely reacted in the first stage in a heat-transfer-optimized process with a high specific catalyst load. In a reaction-optimized second stage, while the specific catalyst load is lower, a further reaction is carried out which completes the methanol reaction. In addition, a tube bundle reactor is disclosed in which the first, heat-transfer-optimized stage takes place in reaction tubes which, for constructing heat transfer medium ducts, are each surrounded by a concentric outer tube, while the second, reaction-optimized stage is carried out after the return of the reform gas in the housing. The reaction tubes as well as the area between the outer tubes are filled with catalyst material.
Abstract:
A plate reformer has a pair of combustion chambers, a reforming chamber in between the combustion chambers, and heat transfer plates sandwiched between the reforming chamber and the combustion chambers. The reforming chamber includes an inlet end for introduction of reforming gas and an outlet end for emission of reformed gas. The combustion chamber includes an inlet end for introduction of air and fuel and an outlet end for emission of combusted gas. A gas permeable partition wall is provided in the reforming chamber to partition it into a reforming reaction section having the inlet end and a heat exchange section having the outlet end. A gas permeable partition wall is provided in each combustion chamber to partition each into a combustion reaction section having the inlet end and a heat exchange section having the outlet end. The inlet end of the combustion chamber is aligned to the outlet end of the reforming chamber and the inlet end of the reforming chamber is aligned to the outlet end of the combustion chamber. The partition walls of the reforming chamber and the combustion chamber are provided such that they are approximately lined up and thus the reforming reaction section of the reforming chamber generally overlaps the heat exchange .section of the combustion chamber, while the combustion reaction section of the combustion chamber generally overlaps the heat exchange section of the reaction chamber.
Abstract:
A catalytic chemical reactor of a sandwiched configuration is described. The reactor has at least one plate with a major surface and two minor ends opposite one another across the major surface. A plurality of reaction chambers are present in the plate, parallel to one another and the major surface, extending from one of the minor ends to the other. The reactor additionally comprises at least one heating panel adjacent and parallel to the flat plate. The plates may be configured in modular pairs with a heating panel in between each pair. The reactor is particularly adapted to produce organic chemicals, such as acrolein, in significant, but moderate quantities. Additionally, the reactor is of such a size that it is readily portable. Unusually, the reactor plates, or at least their inner surfaces, may be made from materials such as aluminum, tantalum, titanium, tungsten, niobium and mixtures thereof.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a process and to an apparatus for effecting chemical syntheses in gaseous phase, under pressure, in the presence of a solid catalyst, for instance for ammonia synthesis from hydrogen and nitrogen or for the synthesis of methanol or higher homolog alcohols from hydrogen and at least one carbon oxide.The reactor of substantially cylindrical shape contains a plurality of elongate compartments of parallelipiped shape, adjacent to each other, the adjacent walls of the compartments or the common walls of the adjacent compartments being gas-tight walls, said tight walls forming hollow plates wherein are provided channels for the flow of a fluid heat carrier flowing through said walls under a pressure substantially equal to the pressure to which are subjected the reaction gases.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a reactor for the catalytic conversion of reaction media (1) in a reaction chamber (4) with the aid of a catalyst, wherein the reactor is equipped with at least one plate heat exchanger (6) in a reactor container (2). The plate heat exchanger (6) is substantially composed of heat-exchange plates (5) separated from each other by packings (7). The heat-exchange plates (5) define, between each other, the reaction chamber (4) through which the reaction medium (1) flows. According to the invention, the respective packing (7) is constructed as a catalyst support (7) that is structurally independent of the plate heat exchanger (6). In this case, the support (7) in question may be optionally inserted into a plate interstice (4) defining the reaction chamber (4) and removed again therefrom.
Abstract:
A hydrogen generation system is disclosed that includes an integrated steam reforming reactor. The reactor has an overall cylindrical shape, receives a reformate and separately receiving a combustion gas mixture. The reactor includes a plurality of reforming stages arranged in a stacked series of disc shaped stage configuration, wherein each reforming stage has a disc shaped combustion portion adjacent a disc shaped catalyst pack through which the reformate passes, wherein the reformate is directed axially between stages and radially within each stage; and the combustion mixture is directed radially between groups of stages and circumferentially within each stage.
Abstract:
Plate heat exchange unit (12) for isothermal or pseudo-isothermal chemical reactors, for the heat exchange between a fluid circulating inside the plates and an outer flow of reactant gases, wherein the walls (14, 15), of the plates (13) have notches (14s, 15s) surrounded by suitable joining lines (105), obtaining openings (104) passing through the plates (13) themselves, the plates resulting substantially permeable in the transversal direction to the reactant gases.
Abstract:
Plate type heat exchanger (20,120) for a isothermal chemical reactor (60), of the type comprising a substantially box-shaped flattened body (22), defining an internal chamber (24) and equipped with an inlet connection (28) and an outlet connection (29) for a first flow of a heat exchanger operative fluid into and from said chamber (24), at least one supplying-distributing device (26, 126) of a second fluid flow, associated with said body (22) and in fluid communication with the internal chamber (24) thereof, in order to regulate the temperature of said operative fluid, said at least one supplying-distributing device (26,126) being supported inside said internal chamber (24) and in fluid communication therewith.
Abstract:
The invention concerns a reactor for carrying out an endothermic gas phase reaction having a cylindrical shape along a vertical axis and comprising at least four annular zones, centred on the vertical axis and in succession from the edge towards the centre of the reactor, namely a first zone 201 termed the supply zone, a second zone 202 termed the catalytic zone, a third zone 203 termed the collection zone and a fourth zone 204 termed the exchange zone. The reactor also comprises vertical hermetic panels 65 located along the radii of the cylindrical reactor which divide the reactor into sectors, said sectors each comprising at least one exchange section 61 and at least one catalytic section 62. The two first exchange sections are connected and a conduit 64 connects the collection section of each sector, with the exception of the first and last sector, to the exchange section of the next sector.The invention also concerns the process employing the reactor of the invention.