Annular catalyst carrier container for use in a tubular reactor

Abstract

A catalyst carrier for insertion in a reactor tube of a tubular reactor, said catalyst carrier comprising: a container for holding catalyst in use, said container having a bottom surface closing the container, and a top surface; a carrier outer wall extending from the bottom surface to the top surface; a seal extending from the container by a distance which extends beyond the carrier outer wall; said carrier outer wall having apertures located below the seal.

Claims

1. A catalyst carrier for insertion in a reactor tube of a tubular reactor, said catalyst carrier comprising: a container for holding a monolith catalyst in use, said container having a bottom surface closing the container, and a top surface; a carrier outer wall extending from the bottom surface to the top surface; a seal extending from the container by a distance which extends beyond the carrier outer wall; said carrier outer wall having apertures located below the seal.

2. The catalyst carrier according to claim 1 comprising feet on the bottom surface such that, in use, the monolith catalyst is supported on the feet and there is a gap between the bottom of the monolith catalyst and the bottom surface of the container.

3. The catalyst carrier according to claim 1 wherein the top surface is an annulus which extends over at least a portion of the monolith catalyst and to the carrier outer wall.

4. The catalyst carrier according to claim 1 wherein the monolith catalyst has a channel extending longitudinally therethrough.

5. The catalyst carrier according to claim 4, wherein the channel is located on a central axis of the monolith catalyst such that the monolith catalyst is of annular cross-section.

6. The catalyst carrier according to claim 4, wherein the top surface extends over the monolith catalyst but leaves the channel uncovered.

7. The catalyst carrier according to claim 1 wherein the carrier outer wall is smooth or shaped.

8. The catalyst carrier according to claim 1 wherein the apertures in the carrier outer wall are slots.

9. The catalyst carrier according to claim 1 wherein carrier outer wall material is left partially attached to the carrier outer wall when the apertures are formed.

10. The catalyst carrier according to claim 9 wherein the attached material is configured to induce direction for the fluid flow.

11. The catalyst carrier according to claim 1 additionally including the monolith catalyst.

12. A reactor tube comprising a plurality of catalyst carriers according to claim 11.

13. A reactor including one or more reactor tubes according to claim 12.

14. A process for carrying out a reaction comprising introducing reactants into a catalyst carrier according to claim 11.

15. A process for carrying out a reaction comprising introducing reactants into a reactor tube of claim 12.

16. A process for carrying out a reaction comprising introducing reactants into a reactor of claim 13.

Description

(1) The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the catalyst carrier of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a cross section viewed from the side;

(4) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one configuration of apertures of the carrier outer wall;

(5) FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of the gas flow through the apertures; and

(6) FIG. 5 is a cross section of one alternative arrangement.

(7) One example of a catalyst carrier 1 of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3. The carrier 1 comprises an annular container 2 which has perforated inner and outer container walls 3, 4. The perforated wall 3 defines an inner channel 5. A top surface 6 closes the annular container at the top. It is located at a point towards the top of the inner and outer container walls 3, 4 of the annular container 2 such that a lip 7 is formed. A bottom surface 8 closes the bottom of the annular container 2 and a surface 9 closes the inner channel 5 formed by the inner container wall 3. The surface 9 is located in a higher plane that that of the bottom surface 8.

(8) A seal 10 extends from the upper surface 6 and an upstanding collar 11 is provided coaxial with the inner channel 5.

(9) A cap 12 closes the top of inner channel 5. Apertures 13 in the cap allow for fluid ingress.

(10) A carrier outer wall 14 surrounds the container 2. Apertures 16 allow fluid egress from the catalyst carrier.

(11) A catalyst carrier 1 of the present invention is located in a reactor tube 15. The flow of gas is illustrated schematically in FIG. 2 by the arrows.

(12) As illustrated in FIG. 3, some of the carrier outer wall material may be left connected to the carrier outer wall. This flange causes the gas to swirl on its exit from the catalyst carrier as illustrated in FIG. 4.

(13) In the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 5, a spacer 20 may be located above the catalyst carrier, the side walls of the spacer 20 may be integral with the carrier outer wall or may be a separate item. Apertures 21 are located in the spacer wall to allow flow into the space above the top surface of the catalyst carrier.

(14) In this arrangement, the reactants flow through the apertures 21 in the spacer 20 and into the space above the top surface 6. The flow is then the same as illustrated in FIG. 2.