Abstract:
Apparatus for high pressure-exothermic and catalytic reactions in the gaseous phase, for instance the synthesis of ammonia or methanol, has a substantially cylindrical shape and contains more than one superimposed catalyst bed and a cooling heat exchanger of the tube bundle type, the tube bundle is contained in a substantially cylindrical and coaxial shell and is longitudinally and completely partitioned into first and second separate halves by a plane baffle which substantially contains the axis of said tube bundle. The outlet opening on the shell side of the first half is directly connected to the inlet of a first catalyst bed. The inlet opening on the shell side of the second half is directly connected to the outlet of said first catalyst bed. The outlet opening on the shell side of the second half is directly connected to the inlet of a subsequent catalyst bed.