CATALYTIC REACTOR COMPRISING METAL RADIATION SURFACES

Abstract

The invention relates to a catalytic reactor comprising a combustion reaction chamber with catalytic reactor tubes filled with catalyst elements and metal radiation surfaces arranged in the chamber to improve heat transfer.

Claims

1. Catalytic reactor comprising a combustion reaction chamber which comprises a plurality of catalytic reactor tubes and at least one burner for producing at least one combustion reaction, said catalytic reactor tubes are at least partly filled with catalyst elements, wherein the combustion reaction chamber further comprises one or more metal radiation surfaces, said metal radiation surfaces are arranged between the catalytic reactor tubes having a length of at least half the length of the catalytic reactor tubes arranged with at least a part of the metal radiation surface in a distance from the burner small enough to enable heat absorption from the combustion reaction to the metal radiation surface, whereby the metal radiation surfaces improve the heat transfer and/or even out the heat transfer profile from the combustion reaction to the catalytic reactor tubes and the catalyst elements during operation of the catalytic reactor.

2. Catalytic reactor according to claim 1, wherein said metal radiation surfaces are woven metal radiation surfaces.

3. Catalytic reactor according to claim 1, wherein said metal radiation surfaces are made of metal gauze.

4. Catalytic reactor according to claim 1, wherein said metal radiation surfaces have a length of 80% to 100% of the length of the catalytic reactor tubes.

5. Catalytic reactor according to claim 1, wherein said metal radiation surfaces are arranged so near at least one of said burners that a flame of the burner will make flame attachment to the radiation surfaces.

6. Catalytic reactor according to claim 1, wherein said metal radiation surfaces are arranged within a flame of at least one of said burners.

7. Catalytic reactor according to claim 1, wherein said metal radiation surfaces are arranged as curtains and attached at their top and bottom within said combustion reaction chamber.

8. Catalytic reactor according to claim 1, wherein the metal radiation surfaces comprise a catalytic active coating.

9. Catalytic reactor according to claim 1, wherein the metal radiation surfaces are coated with a catalytic active material.

10. Catalytic reactor according to claim 1, wherein said catalytic reactor is a steam reformer, a methanol reactor, a formaldehyde reactor or an ethylene cracker.

Description

EXAMPLE 1

[0030] A metal wire gauze (or metal sheets) is placed in the furnace box in between tube rows so the direction of the top or bottom burners will be directed along the gauze (preferably divided in two sides by the gauze). The gauze is designed to cover the whole area or there will be made holes, depending on the desired radiation for the specific vertical position. This way the radiation from a solid surface can be varied to obtain a desired radiation profile for the reformer tube having a significant part of the heat released to the gauze conducted to other parts. The gauze is also attached to the lower part in the furnace in order to control the horizontal position to the centre between the reformer tubes. The gauze will be attached by wires connected to anchors both made of high temperature materials placed in the top of the furnace box either in the roof or on the sides close to the top.

EXAMPLE 2

[0031] In a revamp for a top-fired reformer, the capacity is boosted by obtaining a more even temperature profile along the reformer tubes, which has a significant impact on reformer tube life time. The combustion flames are stabilized by attaching these to an internal surface preventing the risk of flame attachment to the tubes minimizing operation risks. As peak temperature in the combustion flame also is be reduced, also the NOx formation in the furnace is lowered. Overall a significant increase in the produced synthesis gas/hydrogen from the reformer is obtained.