Reactor and method for equilibrium-limited reactions

A method of implementing equilibrium-limited reactions, the method comprising:

• introducing a catalyst material into a reactor;
• introducing reactants into the reactor;
• stirring the reactants with a stirrer comprising a hollow shaft;
• reacting the reactants resulting in a product;
• and
• transporting a gas mixture from an upper region of the reactor through the hollow shaft into a lower region of the reactor;
• wherein the stirrer sucks in the gas mixture and discharges the gas mixture from gas exit orifices in a first stirrer paddle mounted on the hollow shaft into the catalyst mixture;
• and
• a second stirrer paddle mounted on the hollow shaft disperses the gas mixture throughout the catalyst material.