AN ELECTRICALLY HEATED APPARATUS

Abstract

The present invention provides an electrically heated apparatus (1) at least comprising: an electrically heated furnace (2) having walls (2A, 2B) defining a space (3); a first row (4) of tubes (10) running through the space (3), wherein the tubes (10) have an inlet (11) and outlet (12) outside of the space (3); a second row (14) of tubes (10) running through the space (3), wherein the tubes (10) have an inlet (11) and outlet (12) outside of the space (3); a first set (5) of electrical radiative heating elements (20) located in the space (3), wherein the first set (5) comprises electrical radiative heating elements (20) located between the first (4) and second rows (14) of tubes (10).

Claims

1. An electrically heated apparatus (1) at least comprising: an electrically heated furnace (2) having walls (2A, 2B) defining a space (3); a first row (4) of tubes (10) running through the space (3), wherein the tubes (10) have an inlet (11) and outlet (12) outside of the space (3); a second row (14) of tubes (10) running through the space (3), wherein the tubes (10) have an inlet (11) and outlet (12) outside of the space (3); a first set (5) of electrical radiative heating elements (20) located in the space (3), wherein the first set (5) comprises electrical radiative heating elements (20) located between the first (4) and second rows (14) of tubes (10).

2. The apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein the first set (5) of electrical radiative heating elements (20) comprises electrical radiative heating elements (20) between a side wall (2A) of the space (3) and the first row (4) of tubes (10).

3. The apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus (1) comprises third (24) and further rows of tubes (10), with electrical radiative heating elements (20) positioned between the rows (4,14,24).

4. The apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein each row (4,14,24) of tubes (10) comprises at least ten tubes (10).

5. The apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein the tubes (10) extend in a substantially vertical manner.

6. The apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus (1) further comprises a second set (6) of electrical radiative heating elements (20) located in the space (3), wherein the heating elements (20) of the second set (6) run substantially perpendicular to the heating elements (20) of the first set (5).

7. The apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein the electrical radiative heating elements (20) extend in a substantially horizontal manner.

8. The apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein the electrical radiative heating elements (20) are not in direct contact with the tubes (10).

9. The apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein the electrical radiative heating elements (20) are tubular heating elements.

10. A method for performing a fluid conversion reaction or heating using the electrically heated apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises at least the steps of: a) feeding a feed stream via the inlets of the tubes; b) subjecting the feed stream flowing through the tubes to a fluid conversion reaction or heating in the space of the apparatus using heating as generated by the electrical radiative heating elements, thereby obtaining one or more reaction products or a heated feed stream; c) removing the one or more reaction products or a heated feed stream from the apparatus via the outlets of the tubes.

Description

[0036] Hereinafter the present invention will be further illustrated by the following non-limiting drawings. Herein shows:

[0037] FIG. 1 schematically a side view of a first embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention;

[0038] FIG. 2 schematically a top view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

[0039] FIG. 3 schematically a side view of a second embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention; and

[0040] FIG. 4 schematically a top view of the apparatus of FIG. 3.

[0041] For the purpose of this description, same reference numbers refer to same or similar components.

[0042] In the embodiment of FIG. 1 (and FIG. 3), the electrically heated apparatus of FIG. 1, generally referred to with reference number 1, is shown as a reactor. However, the person skilled in the art will readily understand that the apparatus can also be used for heating fluids, i.e. without a reaction taking place.

[0043] Reactor 1 of FIG. 1 comprises: an electrically heated furnace 2 having walls defining a furnace space 3 therein; a first row 4, a second row 14 and a third row 24 of reactor tubes 10; a first set 5 of electrical radiative heating elements 20. In FIG. 1 only side walls 2A and 2B have been indicated; however, the person skilled in the art will understand that in case of a rectangular reactor, four side walls, a top and a bottom are present.

[0044] The first set 5 of electrical radiative heating elements 20 is located in the space 3. The first set 5 comprises several electrical radiative heating elements 20 placed above each other between the first row 4 and second row 14 of reactor tubes 10. Furthermore, the first set 5 comprises further electrical radiative heating elements 20 between the side wall 2A of the space 3 and the first row 4 of reactor tubes 10, as well as between the side wall 2B and the third row 24 of reactor tubes 10.

[0045] As can be seen in FIG. 1, the reactor tubes 10 run through the space 3 and have an inlet 11 and outlet 12 outside of the space 3. Further, the reactor tubes 10 extend in a substantially vertical manner.

[0046] As can be further seen in FIG. 1, the electrical radiative heating elements 20 are tubular and extend in a substantially horizontal manner. Furthermore, the electrical radiative heating elements 20 are not in direct contact with the reactor tubes 10.

[0047] The walls 2A,2B of the furnace 2 are typically made from a heat-resistant and structural material and may be insulated to avoid undue leakage of heat from the inside of the furnace 2 to the outside thereof.

[0048] During use of the reactor of FIGS. 1 and 2, a fluid stream (typically a gas) is fed via the inlets 11 of the reactor tubes 10. The feed stream flowing through the reactor tubes 10 is then subjected to a fluid conversion reaction in (the reactor tubes 10 and in) the space 3 of the reactor 1 using heating as generated by the electrical radiative heating elements 20, thereby obtaining one or more reaction products.

[0049] Subsequently, the one or more reaction products are removed from the reactor 1 via the outlets 12 of the reactor tubes 10.

[0050] FIGS. 3 and 4 show side and top views of a second embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention (again in the form of a reactor), wherein the reactor 1 further comprises a second set 6 of electrical radiative heating elements 20 located in the space 3. The heating elements 20 of the second set 6 run substantially perpendicular to the heating elements 20 of the first set 5, thereby obtaining a grid-like pattern of heating elements (when seen from above).

[0051] The person skilled in the art will readily understand that many modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.