Multi-tube fixed-bed reactor, especially for catalytic gas phase reactions

US7226567B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• BASF SE

Inventors

• Gerhard Olbert · Dossenheim, DE
• Franz Corr · Ludwigshafen, DE
• Peter Reuter · Bad Dürkheim, DE
• Ludwig Wambach · Schwetzingen, DE
• Ulrich Hammon · Mannheim, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 15, 2000
• Grant date: Jun 5, 2007
• Expiry date: Mar 15, 2020

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B01J2219/00103
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A multitube fixed bed reactor and the use of such a reactor for carrying out catalytic gas-phase reactions, in particular for carrying out exothermic and endothermic catalytic gas-phase reactions such as the preparation of phthalic anhydride (PA), acrylic acid, methacrylic acid (MAA), acrolein, maleic anhydride (MA), glyoxal, phosgene, hydrocyanic acid or vinyl formamide (VFA). In a relatively large multitube reactor in which a large amount of heat of reaction is generated owing to the numerous catalyst tubes (17) and has to be removed, it is proposed that the ratio of tube spacing t to external tube diameter da be made dependent on the reactor diameter or on the external tube bundle diameter dRBa. At an external diameter of the catalyst tube bundle (18) of more than 4 meters, a ratio of tube spacing d to external tube diameter da of at least 1.3 is preferred.