REACTOR FOR PRODUCING SYNTHESIS GAS

Abstract

The present invention relates to a reactor for production of synthesis gas that optionally has a fluid-tight connection to a heat exchanger, and to a process for producing synthesis gas, preferably under high pressure.

Claims

1.-18. (canceled)

19. A reactor for the preparation of synthesis gas, wherein the reactor comprises a mixer, a mixing space, a reactor space, separate inlets for at least two fluid reactants and an outlet for at least one fluid product, and a reactor shell surrounding these, and wherein the reactor further comprises an outer fluid-tight inlet for at least one reactant between reactor shell and mixer inside the reactor, within which there is disposed at least one fluid-tight inlet for a further reactant, and a countercurrent construction with regard to a flow of the reactants in the inlet between the mixing space and the outlet.

20. The reactor of claim 19, wherein the separate inlets are a concentric double tube.

21. The reactor of claim 19, wherein the mixer has a fluid-tight connection to the inlets.

22. The reactor of claim 19, wherein the mixer comprises a mixer base, at least one mixer disk with channels for a first fluid, at least one mixer disk with channels for a second fluid, a mixer closure, and a mixer lid.

23. The reactor of claim 19, wherein the reactor further comprises at least one catalyst-functionalized monolithic body.

24. The reactor of claim 19, wherein the reactor further comprises at least one heat shield of at least one monolithic body.

25. The reactor of claim 19, wherein the reactor further comprises at least one catalyst-functionalized monolithic body and/or at least one heat shield of at least one monolithic body and wherein the at least one catalyst-functionalized monolithic body and/or the heat shield of at least one monolithic body are each arranged as a ply/layer around the inlets within the reactor shell.

26. The reactor of claim 19, wherein the reactor is connected in a fluid-tight manner to a heat exchanger.

27. The reactor of claim 26, wherein the heat exchanger comprises at least two inlets for a fluid cooling medium and at least one inlet and one outlet for the fluid product from the reactor.

28. The reactor of claim 26, wherein the heat exchanger comprises at least two chambers of different size.

29. A process for the production of synthesis gas, wherein the method comprises making the synthesis gas by using the reactor of claim 19.

30. The process of claim 29, wherein synthesis gas is produced under high pressure.

31. The process of claim 29, wherein a first fluid reactant is guided into a mixing chamber through openings in a first mixer disk via channels for the first fluid in a second mixer disk, and a second fluid reactant, after an internal reversal of flow in a mixer lid, is guided into the mixing space through openings in a second mixer disk via channels for a second medium in the first mixer disk.

32. The process of claim 29, wherein reactants are guided into the mixer in a separate flow regime in two concentric inlets, and then guided as a mixture in countercurrent through a first heat shield to a reaction space, and a product formed therein is likewise guided in countercurrent to a feeding of the reactants to discharge the product.

33. The process of claim 32, wherein the product thus formed is guided into a heat exchanger.

34. The process of claim 33, wherein in the heat exchanger the product is cooled in crosscurrent with a fluid medium.

35. The process of claim 29, wherein in an inlet to the reactor a mixture of fuel and water vapor is introduced as a first reactant and, in another separate inlet air is introduced as a second fluid reactant.

36. The process of claim 35, wherein the mixture of fuel and water vapor is introduced in an inner inlet and air is introduced in an outer inlet.

37. The process of claim 35, wherein the air that has been heated beforehand as cooling medium in the heat exchanger.

38. The process of claim 35, wherein a cooling surface of the heat exchanger is adapted to an amount of product by opening up at least one further inlet.

Description

EXAMPLES

[0150] For the experiments, a reactor with a first heat shield, a reaction space with 2 monoliths having identical catalysts (commercial) in series, a second heat shield was used.

[0151] Monoliths for the heat shields and in the reaction space made of cordierite.

Experimental Conditions

[0152]

TABLE-US-00001 Experiment 1 2 3 4 x.sub.i [%] 17.24; 11.50; 17.24; 11.50; 16.67; 11.11; 17.24; 11.50; CH4, CO2, 10.77; 43.25; 10.77; 43.25; 11.11; 44.44; 10.77; 43.25; O2, N2, 17.24 17.24 16.67 17.24 H2O v [m/s] at 0.52 0.42 0.43 0.52 0 C. and 1.013 bar p [bar] 30 20 20 1 T.sub.in [ C.] about 340 about 340 about 340 about 320 T.sub.max [ C.] 834 832 865 800 X.sub.CH4 [%] 79 79 83 88 S.sub.H2 [%] 83 79 81 92 S.sub.CO [%] 81 72 77 81 Xi: proportions of the reactants in the mixer space in % v: flow rate p: pressure in inlets or reactor Tin: temperature of the reactants in inlet Tmax: maximum temperature in the reactor/reactor space X(CH4): CH4 conversion S(H2): selectivity for hydrogen S(CO): selectivity for carbon monoxide

LEGEND

[0153] The figures are merely a schematic representation; the size ratios may vary.

[0154] 1-01reactor

[0155] 1-02outer inlet for fluid reactant, preferably air

[0156] 1-03inner inlet for fluid reactant, preferably gas+steam

[0157] 1-04outlet for product, preferably synthesis gas (reformate)

[0158] 1-05concentric inlets, preferably double tube

[0159] 1-06mixer

[0160] 1-07mixer space, preferably filling with ceramic foam

[0161] 1-08heat shield (monolith)

[0162] 1-09reaction space, functionalized monolithic (catalyst)

[0163] 1-10heat shield (monolith)

[0164] 1-11screws for opening and closing the reactor and the reactor shell

[0165] 2-01outer inlet, preferably outer tube

[0166] 2-02mixer base with passage for reactant in outer inlet, preferably air

[0167] 2-03inner inlet, preferably inner tube

[0168] 2-04disk allowing reactant in the inner inlet, preferably gas+steam, to exit mixer

[0169] 2-05disk allowing reactant in the outer inlet, preferably air, to exit mixer

[0170] 2-06mixer closure with passage of reactant in the inner outlet, preferably gas+steam

[0171] 2-07mixer lid with deflection of flow for reactant in the inner inlet, preferably gas+steam

[0172] 3-01inlet for product from reactor, preferably synthesis gas (reformate)

[0173] 3-02inlet 1 for cooling medium, preferably air

[0174] 3-03inlet 2 for cooling medium, preferably air

[0175] 3-04outlet 1 for heated cooling medium, preferably air

[0176] 3-05outlet 2 for heated cooling medium, preferably air

[0177] 3-06outlet for cooled product, preferably synthesis gas (reformate)

[0178] 4-01reactor=1-01

[0179] 4-02inner and outer inlet, preferably in the form of a double tube

[0180] 4-03reactant in inner inlet, preferably gas+steam

[0181] 4-04mixer=1-06

[0182] 4-05heat shield=1-08

[0183] 4-06reaction space, functionalized monolith (catalyst)=1-09

[0184] 4-07heat shield=1-10

[0185] 4-08product, preferably synthesis gas (reformate)=1-04

[0186] 4-09heat exchanger

[0187] 4-10cooling medium, preferably air,=3-03 and/or 3-04

[0188] 4-11heated cooling medium, preferably air, 3-04 and/or 3-05 and 1-02

[0189] 4-12cooled product, preferably synthesis gas (reformate)

[0190] 4-13valves