A catalytic system is provided which comprises a tubular reactor and at least one catalyst particle located within the tubular reactor. The catalyst particles have a particular geometric form which promotes heat transfer with the tubular reactor. Certain specific catalyst particles are also provided.

A method for enabling gas exchange and chemical reactions with one or more liquid streams contained in a reactive process vessel are provided. One or more exchange layers within the process vessel can be composed of both collector media and releaser media. The exchange layers allow elements to facilitate increased performance of vessel operations by promoting gas component mixing and diffusion. Improved rates of gas component exchange mean less coking and more gas components available for reaction.

A support structure for a structured catalytic packing is disclosed. The support structure is in a fixed position relative to the reactor tube containing it. It supports catalyzed casings that are free to move relative to the support structure. The support structure and casings are inserted in the reactor tube such that the support structure is located proximate the longitudinal axis of the tube and the casings are located between the support structure and the reactor tube wall. The support structure comprises a central support tube or rod proximate to, and impervious or perforated discs perpendicular to, the longitudinal axis of the reactor tube, and may comprise spacers separating the discs.

The present invention relates to a catalyst bed comprising silver catalyst bodies and a reactor comprising such a catalyst bed. Further, the invention relates to the use of the catalyst bed and the reactor for gas phase reactions, in particular for the oxidative dehydrogenation of organic compounds under exothermic conditions. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to the preparation of olefinically unsaturated carbonyl compounds from olefinically unsaturated alcohols by oxidative dehydrogenation utilizing a catalyst bed comprising metallic silver catalyst bodies.

A packing member for use in a packed bed, preferably a support for use as a catalyst support in a packed bed reactor. The packing member includes ceramic material and has a geometric surface area per volume of ≥0.7 cm.sup.2/cm.sup.3 and a side crush strength of ≥250 kgf; or a geometric surface area per volume of ≥1.5 cm.sup.2/cm.sup.3 and a side crush strength of ≥150 kgf; or a geometric surface area per volume of ≥3 cm.sup.2/cm.sup.3 and a side crush strength of ≥60 kgf. The packing member optionally has a porosity of at least 6%, such as at least 15% or at least 20%.

A method for facilitating the distribution of the flow of one or more streams within a bed vessel is provided. Disposed within the bed vessel are internal materials and structures including multiple operating zones. One type of operating zone can be a processing zone composed of one or more beds of solid processing material. Another type of operating zone can be a treating zone. Treating zones can facilitate the distribution of the one or more streams fed to processing zones. The distribution can facilitate contact between the feed streams and the processing materials contained in the processing zones.

A catalytic reactor for industrial-scale hydrogenation processes is described. The catalytic reactor contains a catalytic fixed bed that comprises a support structure and a catalyst. During operation of the reaction in the catalytic reactor, the fixed bed is filled with reaction medium to at least 85% by volume. A very high contact area of the catalyst with the reaction medium is at the same time provided. The support structure is formed from material webs having a thickness of 5 to 25 μm, with a crosslinking density of at least 3 mm.sup.−3 present. The support structure consists of metals selected from elements of groups 8, 6 and 11 of the periodic table of the elements and mixtures thereof.

A support structure for a structured catalytic packing is disclosed. The support structure is in a fixed position relative to the reactor tube containing it. It supports catalyzed casings that are free to move relative to the support structure. The support structure and casings are inserted in the reactor tube such that the support structure is located proximate the longitudinal axis of the tube and the casings are located between the support structure and the reactor tube wall. The support structure comprises a central support tube or rod proximate to, and impervious or perforated discs perpendicular to, the longitudinal axis of the reactor tube, and may comprise spacers separating the discs.

A method for facilitating the distribution of the flow of one or more streams within a bed vessel is provided. Disposed within the bed vessel are internal materials and structures including multiple operating zones. One type of operating zone can be a processing zone composed of one or more beds of solid processing material. Another type of operating zone can be a treating zone. Treating zones can facilitate the distribution of the one or more streams fed to processing zones. The distribution can facilitate contact between the feed streams and the processing materials contained in the processing zones.

A method for enabling gas exchange and chemical reactions with one or more liquid streams contained in a reactive process vessel are provided. One or more exchange layers within the process vessel can be composed of both collector media and releaser media. The exchange layers allow elements to facilitate increased performance of vessel operations by promoting gas component mixing and diffusion. Improved rates of gas component exchange mean less coking and more gas components available for reaction.