TEMPERATURE CONTROL MEANS IN A WASTE HEAT BOILER

Abstract

Assembly comprising a reactor, a waste heat boiler, an actuator, a shaft, a shaft sealing element, an axial bearing and a temperature control means, wherein the waste heat boiler is connected to the reactor, wherein the shaft, the shaft sealing element and the axial bearing are arranged on a common axis, wherein the waste heat boiler has an opening through which the shaft is passed and which is sealed by the shaft sealing element, wherein the actuator is arranged outside the waste heat boiler, wherein the temperature control means is arranged inside the waste heat boiler, wherein the actuator is coupled to the shaft at a first end and wherein the actuator is designed to effect rotational drive of the shaft, wherein the temperature control means is coupled to the shaft at a second end and is designed to be adjusted by rotational motion of the shaft, wherein the axial bearing is designed to counteract a motion of the shaft in the direction of the first end of the shaft.

Claims

1. An assembly comprising a reactor, a waste heat boiler, an actuator, a shaft, a shaft sealing element, an axial bearing and a temperature control device, wherein the waste heat boiler is connected to the reactor, wherein the shaft, the shaft sealing element and the axial bearing are arranged on a common axis, wherein the waste heat boiler has an opening through which the shaft is passed and which is sealed by the shaft sealing element, wherein the actuator is arranged outside the waste heat boiler, wherein the temperature control device is arranged inside the waste heat boiler, wherein the actuator is coupled to the shaft at a first end, wherein the actuator is designed to effect rotational drive of the shaft, wherein the temperature control device is coupled to the shaft at a second end and is designed to be adjusted by rotational motion of the shaft, wherein the axial bearing is designed to counteract a motion of the shaft in the direction of the first end of the shaft.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the axial bearing is arranged inside the waste heat boiler and wherein the axial bearing is arranged between the shaft sealing element and the temperature control device.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the axial bearing is arranged outside the waste heat boiler and wherein the axial bearing is arranged between the actuator and the shaft sealing element.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the shaft sealing element and the axial bearing are arranged on the shaft spaced apart from one another.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the shaft sealing element is arranged in the opening of the waste heat boiler.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the axial bearing is arranged on a stop of the shaft on its first side and held by the waste heat boiler on its second side opposite the first side.

7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the shaft sealing element is a stuffing box comprising a stuffing box packing and a stuffing box flange, wherein a clearance between the shaft and the box is sealed by the stuffing box packing.

8. The assembly of claim 1, comprising a hydrocarbon feedstock source connected to a reactant inlet of the reactor.

9. A process for operating an assembly according to claim 1, wherein a synthesis gas for methanol synthesis is produced in the reactor, wherein a process gas stream from the reactor is passed into the waste heat boiler, wherein a temperature of the process gas stream at an outlet of the waste heat boiler is regulated via the temperature control device by adjusting the temperature control device via the actuator.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0070] The invention will now be more particularly elucidated with reference to the figures. The figures show a particularly preferred exemplary embodiment which is not intended to limit the invention. The figures and the relative sizes shown therein are merely schematic. In the figures:

[0071] FIG. 1: shows a schematic view of an inventive assembly for methanol synthesis,

[0072] FIG. 2: shows a detailed view of an opening of the waste heat boiler of the assembly in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0073] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an inventive assembly 1 for methanol synthesis. The assembly 1 comprises a reactor 2, a waste heat boiler 3, an actuator 4, a shaft 5, a shaft sealing element 6, an axial bearing 7 and a temperature control means 8. The assembly 1 further comprises a hydrocarbonaceous feedstock source 25 connected to a reactant inlet 26 of the reactor 2.

[0074] In assembly 1 hydrocarbonaceous feedstock is converted to synthesis gas in the reactor 2. Reactor 2 is suitable for combined reforming. The synthesis gas produced is passed into the waste heat boiler 3 together with unconverted feedstock as a process gas stream. A temperature of the process gas stream in an outlet chamber 30 of the waste heat boiler 3 is regulated via the temperature control means 8 by adjusting the temperature control means 8 via the actuator 4.

[0075] The reactor 2 is suitable for endothermic and exothermic reactions. The reactor 2 is designed for producing synthesis gas from the feedstock source 25.

[0076] The waste heat boiler 3 is connected to the reactor 2. To this end a process gas stream flows through an inlet 21 into an inlet chamber 29 of the waste heat boiler 3. This process gas stream contains synthesis gas.

[0077] The waste heat boiler 3 comprises heat transfer tubes 22. The waste heat boiler 3 has ports and connections to allow fluidic connection of the heat transfer tubes 22. From the inlet 21 the process gas stream is divided over the heat transfer tubes 22 via the inlet chamber 29. The waste heat boiler 3 further comprises ports and connections so that in a shell space 19 outside and between the heat transfer tubes 22 a coolant may be introduced into the waste heat boiler 3 via a coolant inlet 23 and discharged therefrom via a coolant outlet 24.

[0078] The process gas stream may be cooled in the waste heat boiler 3. While flowing through the heat transfer tubes 22 in the waste heat boiler 3 the process gas stream can transfer the heat energy to the coolant via the tube wall of the heat transfer tubes 22. This can vaporize liquid coolant in the waste heat boiler 3 so that the coolant in the waste heat boiler 3 is biphasic. The coolant is removed from the waste heat boiler 3 via the coolant outlet 24. The coolant employed is water.

[0079] The shaft 5, the shaft sealing element 6 and the axial bearing 7 are arranged on a common axis 9. The waste heat boiler 3 has an opening 10 through which the shaft 5 is passed and which is sealed by the shaft sealing element 6. The actuator 4 is arranged outside the waste heat boiler 3. By contrast, the temperature control means 8 is arranged inside the waste heat boiler 3. The actuator 4 is coupled to the shaft 5 at a first end 11. The actuator 4 is designed to effect rotational drive of the shaft 5. The temperature control means 8 is coupled to the shaft 5 at a second end 12 and is designed to be adjusted by rotational motion of the shaft 5.

[0080] The temperature control means 8 comprises a bypass tube 27, by means of which at least a portion of the partially cooled process gas stream may be conducted separately from the heat transfer tubes 22. The partially cooled process gas stream from the temperature control means 8 may be mixed with the process gas stream cooled by the heat transfer tubes 22 in the outlet chamber 30. The temperature control means 8 makes it possible to adjust the temperature of the process gas stream at the outlet 20 of the waste heat boiler 3.

[0081] The axial bearing 7 is designed to counteract a motion of the shaft 5 in the direction of the first end 11 of the shaft 5. The axial bearing 7 is arranged inside the waste heat boiler 3. The axial bearing 7 is arranged between the shaft sealing element 6 and the temperature control means 8.

[0082] FIG. 2 shows a detailed view of an opening 10 of the waste heat boiler 3 of the assembly in FIG. 1. The shaft sealing element 6 and the axial bearing 7 are arranged on the shaft 5 spaced apart from one another. The shaft sealing element 6 is also arranged in the opening 10 of the waste heat boiler 3. The axial bearing 7 is arranged on a stop 18 of the shaft 5 on its first side 13. The shaft 5, the shaft sealing element 6 and the axial bearing 7 are arranged on the common axis 9. The axial bearing 7 is held on its second side 14 opposite the first side 13 by a box 28 on the waste heat boiler 3. The shaft sealing element 6 is designed as a stuffing box. The shaft sealing element 6 comprises a stuffing box packing 16 and a stuffing box flange 17, wherein a clearance between the shaft 5 and the box 28 is sealed by the stuffing box packing 16. The axial bearing 7 is designed to counteract a motion of the shaft 5 in the direction of the first end 11 of the shaft 5. The axial bearing 7 is arranged inside the waste heat boiler 3. The axial bearing 7 is arranged between the shaft sealing element 6 and the temperature control means 8. The axial bearing 7 is designed as a rolling bearing with rolling elements 15 between the first side 13 and the second side 14. A force is transferable from the first side 13 to the second side 14 and thus to the waste heat boiler 3 via the rolling elements 15.

[0083] While the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims. The present invention may suitably comprise, consist or consist essentially of the elements disclosed and may be practiced in the absence of an element not disclosed. Furthermore, if there is language referring to order, such as first and second, it should be understood in an exemplary sense and not in a limiting sense. For example, it can be recognized by those skilled in the art that certain steps can be combined into a single step.

[0084] The singular forms a, an and the include plural referents, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0085] Comprising in a claim is an open transitional term which means the subsequently identified claim elements are a nonexclusive listing i.e. anything else may be additionally included and remain within the scope of comprising. Comprising is defined herein as necessarily encompassing the more limited transitional terms consisting essentially of and consisting of; comprising may therefore be replaced by consisting essentially of or consisting of and remain within the expressly defined scope of comprising.

[0086] Providing in a claim is defined to mean furnishing, supplying, making available, or preparing something. The step may be performed by any actor in the absence of express language in the claim to the contrary.

[0087] Optional or optionally means that the subsequently described event or circumstances may or may not occur. The description includes instances where the event or circumstance occurs and instances where it does not occur.

[0088] Ranges may be expressed herein as from about one particular value, and/or to about another particular value. When such a range is expressed, it is to be understood that another embodiment is from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value, along with all combinations within said range.

[0089] All references identified herein are each hereby incorporated by reference into this application in their entireties, as well as for the specific information for which each is cited.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0090] 1 Assembly [0091] 2 Reactor [0092] 3 Waste heat boiler [0093] 4 Actuator [0094] 5 Shaft [0095] 6 Shaft sealing element [0096] 7 Axial bearing [0097] 8 Temperature control means [0098] 9 Axis [0099] 10 Opening [0100] 11 First end [0101] 12 Second end [0102] 13 First side [0103] 14 Second side [0104] 15 Rolling elements [0105] 16 Stuffing box packing [0106] 17 Stuffing box flange [0107] 18 Stop [0108] 19 Shell space [0109] 20 Outlet [0110] 21 Inlet [0111] 22 Heat transfer tubes [0112] 23 Coolant inlet [0113] 24 Coolant outlet [0114] 25 Feedstock source [0115] 26 Reactant inlet [0116] 27 Bypass tube [0117] 28 Box [0118] 29 Inlet chamber [0119] 30 Outlet chamber