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AssigneeCompactGTL plc
InventorsMichael Bowe, David Segal, Clive Lee-Tuffnell, David Blaikley, Jason Maude, John Stairmand, Ian Zimmerman
Estimating the term…
A catalytic reactor (40) comprises a plurality of sheets (42) defining flow channels (44) between them. Within each flow channel (44) is a foil (46) of corrugated material whose surfaces are coated with catalytic material apart from where they contact the sheets (44). At each end of the reactor (40) are headers to supply gas mixtures to the flow channels (44), the headers communicating with adjacent channels being separate. The reactor (40) enables different gas mixtures to be supplied to adjacent channels (44), which may be at different pressures, and the corresponding chemical reactions are also different. Where one of the reactions is endothermic while the other reaction is exothermic, heat is transferred through the sheets (42) separating the adjacent channels (44), from the exothermic reaction to the endothermic reaction. The reactor (40) may be used in a compact plant to perform steam/methane reforming, obtaining the necessary heat by catalytic methane combustion, and also for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, so that the overall process involves conversion of methane to long-chain hydrocarbons.
A stacked assembly of plates, the stack having an inlet (12) and an outlet (14) for a first fluid and an inlet (24) and an outlet (34) for a second fluid, characterised in that a first portion of the length of the assembly is formed of one or more first perforated plates (26), each first perforated plate being perforated to define a first series of slots (36) spaced across the plate and a second series of slots (46) is spaced across the plate, each slot (36) of the first series being positioned between a pair of slots (46) of the second series, whereby the slots of the first series define first passageways through the first portion of the length for a first fluid and the slots of the second series define second passageways through the first portion of the length for a second fluid, the first series of passageways being connected to said inlet (12) and outlet (14) for the first fluid, a second portion of the length of the assembly being formed of one or more second perforated plates (20, 22, 20A), each second perforated plate being perforated to define a first (36A, 36B) and a second (46A, 46B) series of slots corresponding to the slots of the first plate(s) so as to provide continuing passageways in line with the first and second passageways of the first portion, each slot (46A, 46B) of the second series opening at one of its two ends into a feeder slot (50, 50B) extending across the second plate, the feeder slot(s) being connected to an inlet (24) or an outlet (34) for the second fluid.
A stacked assembly according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the plates (20, 26, 22) are square or rectangular in plan and the slots (36, 46, 36A, 46A, 36B, 46B) are linear.
A stacked assembly according to any preceding claim, characterised in that it comprises along the stack a second length portion (20, 22, 20A), a first length portion (26), a baffle plate (28), a further first length portion (26A) and then a further second length portion (30, 32, 30A).
A stacked assembly according to any preceding claim, characterised in that it includes at one or each end thereof a perforated closure plate (18).
A stacked assembly according to any preceding claim, characterised in that it includes a plate (100) having a series of slots (102) corresponding to the first series of slots (36), wherein each slot (102) lies between a pair of injection grooves (104), the injection grooves (104) opening into a feeder groove (106) connected to an injection inlet (108), and the grooves (104) giving access into the slots at a plurality of positions (112) along each slot (102), whereby fluid may be injected into each slot (102), the plate (100) being positioned next to a plate having solid closure regions corresponding to and covering the grooves (104, 106, 108, 112).
A stacked assembly according to any preceding claim, characterised in that all the plates are of the same external dimensions.
A stacked assembly according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the plates are from 1 mm to 12 mm in thickness.
A stacked assembly according to any preceding claim, characterised in that adjacent solid regions of a plate extending between adjacent pairs of first slots are connected together by one or more strengthening tie bars (54, 54B, 206, 258, 278, 298, 308) extending across an intervening second slot (46A, 46B, 204, 254, 274, 294,304).
A stacked assembly according to any preceding claim, characterised in that in at least some of the plates (250, 270, 290, 290A) pressure equalisation means are provided between the first passageways defined by the first series of slots (252, 272, 292, 292A) in each of those plates.
A stacked assembly according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the plates have one or more holes (328, 330) in a margin (332, 334) outside the slots (326), the holes aligning in the stack (320) to provide one or more passages (336, 338) through which a reactant may be injected into the stack, the passages connecting to first passageways through the stack at different levels in the stack.
A heat exchanger, characterised in that it comprises a stacked assembly (103, 320) of plates according to any one of the preceding claims.
A perforated plate for a heat exchanger, characterised in that the plate (20, 22) is perforated to define a first series of slots (36A, 36B) spaced across the plate and a second series of slots (46A, 46B) spaced across the plate, each slot. (36A, 36B) of the first series being positioned between a pair of slots (46A, 46B) of the second series and each slot (46A, 46B) of the second series opening at one of its two ends into a feeder slot (50, 50B) extending across the second plate, the feeder slot thereby connecting those first ends together.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.