Method of starting up loop reactor systems in which at least one exothermic reaction is to be carried out

US6303825A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Phenolchemie GmbH & Co. KG · DE

Inventors

• Otto Gerlich · Gladbeck, DE
• Michael Kleine-Boymann · Bottrop, DE
• Hermann Schmidt · Linz, DE
• Juergen Volke · Gladbeck, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 13, 2000
• Grant date: Oct 16, 2001
• Expiry date: Mar 13, 2020

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C07C45/53
• WIPO field: Organic fine chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

The present invention provides a method of starting up a loop reactor system, which method includes heating a reaction mixture present in the loop reactor system with the heat of reaction of at least one exothermic reaction occurring in the loop reactor system. The method of the invention makes possible an inexpensive, reliable and simple start-up of loop reactor systems, since the heat liberated when carrying out an exothermic reaction is utilized for heating the reaction mixture present in the loop reactor. Use of the method of the invention makes it unnecessary to switch heat exchangers over from coolant to heat transfer media such as steam. Since the method of the invention is able to heat up the reaction mixture in the loop reactor system more rapidly than in conventional methods, the number and the amount of by-products formed by secondary reactions during the start-up phase is reduced. In addition, the method of the invention reduces the corrosive stress on the heat exchangers since none of the heat exchangers need be at a temperature significantly higher than the temperature of the reaction mixture in the loop reactor system.