An improved reactor comprising a shell and at least one reactor internal component. The reactor internal component includes a tube bundle comprising a plurality of tubes attached by at least one tube support plate comprising at least one radial strut and at least one bracket configured to secure to at least one tube of the tube bundle. The tubes are arranged in concentric bands about a longitudinal axis of the reactor. The reactor comprises a gas inlet plate, a catalyst support plate, and a top plate.

The present invention relates to a nitro compound hydrogenation reaction process and hydrogenation reaction apparatus, which can achieve the objects of the continuous reaction of the nitro compound and the long-period run of regeneration and activation. The nitro compound hydrogenation reaction process comprises a hydrogenation step, a regeneration step, an optional activation step and a recycling step. There exists at least one step of degassing the spent catalyst between the hydrogenation step and the regeneration step. According to circumstances, there exists at least one step of degassing the regenerated catalyst between the regeneration step and the activation step.

An improved reactor comprising a shell and at least one reactor internal component. The reactor internal component includes a tube bundle comprising a plurality of tubes attached by at least one tube support plate comprising at least one radial strut and at least one bracket configured to secure to at least one tube of the tube bundle. The tubes are arranged in concentric bands about a longitudinal axis of the reactor. The reactor comprises a gas inlet plate, a catalyst support plate, and a top plate.

A gas replacement process and a gas replacement apparatus are employed, in the nitro compound hydrogenation reaction process. The gas replacement process at least includes a first step of subjecting a stream to be replaced to the gas replacement in presence of a first replacement gas, and then a second step of subjecting to the gas replacement in presence of the second replacement gas. Assuming the superficial velocity of the first replacement gas is V1, and the superficial velocity of the second replacement gas is V2, then V2/V1≥1.5.

A cooling tower (2) for cooling a liquid (4) with a gas (6), which cooling tower (2) comprises: (i) a vessel (8) for receiving the gas (6) passing upwardly and the liquid (4) passing downwardly, with the liquid (4) being hotter than the gas (6); (ii) a gas outlet (4) which is at a top portion (16) of the vessel (8) and which is for allowing the gas (6) to pass out of the vessel (8), (iii) a support member (20) which is positioned across a bottom portion (22) of the vessel (8): (iv) a plurality of apertures (24) which are in the support member (20) and through which the gas (6) and the liquid (4) are able to pass; (v) a fluidised bed (26) of packing elements (28) on the support member (20); (vi) liquid emitting means (30) which is positioned in the vessel (8) above the fluidised bed (26), and which is for emitting alas liquid (4) to be cooled such the liquid (4) passes downwardly towards the fluidised bed (26); (vii) pump means (32) for pumping the liquid to the liquid emitting means (30); and (viii) a fan (34) for blowing the pas upwardly through the fluidised bed (26), and the cooling tower (2) being such that it includes (ix) control means (31) for controlling (a) the velocity of the gas through die vessel (8), and (b) the liquid to gas ratio in the vessel (8), whereby the fluidised bed (26) is caused to operate at a tumbling rate which when combined with selected pre-fluidised packing height causes an approach temperature of below 10° F. (5.6° C.); (x) wherein the tumbling rate is controlled by a combination of controlled gas velocity and liquid to gas ratio creating turbulent mixing and tumbling of packing elements (28) in the fluidised bed (26); (xi) and wherein the pre-fluidised height of the fluidised bed (26) is from 0.15-1.0 m.

In a method of manufacturing objects, extrudable ceramic forming material is extruded through multiple dies arrayed around an extrusion axis, the dies mounted to permit controlled movement of the dies during the course of extrusion to vary the position of several extrudate streams exiting the dies. Extruded objects are defined by spokes corresponding to the extrudate streams with the streams having a varying spacing from a central axis.

A cooling tower (2) for cooling a liquid (4) with a gas (6), which cooling tower (2) comprises: (i) a vessel (8) for receiving the gas (6) passing upwardly and the liquid (4) passing downwardly, with the liquid (4) being hotter than the gas (6); (ii) a gas outlet (4) which is at a top portion (16) of the vessel (8) and which is for allowing the gas (6) to pass out of the vessel (8), (iii) a support member (20) which is positioned across a bottom portion (22) of the vessel (8): (iv) a plurality of apertures (24) which are in the support member (20) and through which the gas (6) and the liquid (4) are able to pass; (v) a fluidised bed (26) of packing elements (28) on the support member (20); (vi) liquid emitting means (30) which is positioned in the vessel (8) above the fluidised bed (26), and which is for emitting alas liquid (4) to be cooled such the liquid (4) passes downwardly towards the fluidised bed (26); (vii) pump means (32) for pumping the liquid to the liquid emitting means (30); and (viii) a fan (34) for blowing the pas upwardly through the fluidised bed (26), and the cooling tower (2) being such that it includes (ix) control means (31) for controlling (a) the velocity of the gas through die vessel (8), and (b) the liquid to gas ratio in the vessel (8), whereby the fluidised bed (26) is caused to operate at a tumbling rate which when combined with selected pre-fluidised packing height causes an approach temperature of below 10 F. (5.6 C.); (x) wherein the tumbling rate is controlled by a combination of controlled gas velocity and liquid to gas ratio creating turbulent mixing and tumbling of packing elements (28) in the fluidised bed (26); (xi) and wherein the pre-fluidised height of the fluidised bed (26) is from 0.15-1.0 m.

In a fixed-bed flow reaction using a multitubular heat exchange type reactor, an object of the present invention is to provide a novel packing for a reaction tube, which can control the reaction ratio in the vicinity of the reaction tube inlet, reduce the load unevenly placed on the catalyst in the reaction region, and distribute the load on the entire catalyst layer, a heat exchange type reactor, and a reaction method using the reaction tube. The packing for a reaction tube of the present invention is characterized in that the volume is continuously or step-by-step decreased from one end part or midway toward the other end part.

In a method of manufacturing objects, extrudable ceramic forming material is extruded through multiple dies arrayed around an extrusion axis, the dies mounted to permit controlled movement of the dies during the course of extrusion to vary the position of several extrudate streams exiting the dies. Extruded objects are defined by spokes corresponding to the extrudate streams with the streams having a varying spacing from a central axis.

An object is extruded to have the form of a cage, the cage defined by spokes corresponding to several extrudate streams. The spokes bound a hollow interior and extend between opposed hub regions where the spokes are fused together. In manufacturing the objects, ceramic material is extruded through multiple dies arrayed around an extrusion axis, the dies mounted to permit controlled movement of the dies during the course of extrusion to vary the position of extrudate streams exiting the dies.