Apparatus and method for examining heterogeneously catalyzed reactions

An apparatus for analyzing heterogeneously catalyzed reactions, comprising:

• a tubular reactor through which, in operation, a particulate catalyst flows from top to bottom;
• and
• a reactant feed;
• wherein:
• arranged downstream of the tubular reactor is a separation apparatus for separating the particulate catalyst from a reaction product comprising condensable gases;
• the separation apparatus is connected to a catalyst withdrawal apparatus configured to transfer the particulate catalyst into sample vessels arranged on a carousel;
• the separation apparatus is further connected to a distributor channel to which a plurality of liquid separators are connected, the liquid separators being configured to separate liquid constituents from the reaction product;
• each liquid separator comprises a metallic tube and a deflection body, wherein the metallic tube is closed at its ends, the deflection body is accommodated in the metallic tube, and the metallic tube comprises a side feed at a first end and a gas outlet at a second end;
• and
• the liquid separators are connected to sample vessels for accommodating the gaseous reaction product such that at least one of the following is achieved:
• the gas outlet of one liquid separator is connected to one sample vessel for accommodating the gaseous reaction product;
• the gas outlets of a plurality of the liquid separators are connected to a plurality of the sample vessels for accommodating the gaseous reaction product via a further distributor channel;
• and
• at least one of the liquid separators is connected to at least one of the sample vessels for accommodating the gaseous reaction product such that, for each of these liquid separators, one of the liquid separators is connected with one of the sample vessels for accommodating the gaseous reaction product, and a plurality of the remaining liquid separators are connected to a plurality of the sample vessels for accommodating the gaseous reaction product via the further distributor channel.