Bi-modal radial flow reactor

A bi-modal radial flow guard bed reactor comprising:

• a cylindrical outer housing surrounding at least five cylindrical, concentric zones, including at least two annulus vapor zones, at least two catalyst zones, and a bed separation zone, wherein the at least two catalyst zones comprise an outer catalyst zone and an inner catalyst zone, wherein the at least two annulus vapor zones comprise an outer annulus vapor zone, and a central annulus vapor zone, wherein the central annulus vapor zone extends along a centerline of the bi-modal radial flow guard bed reactor, and wherein the outer catalyst zone is intercalated with the outer annulus vapor zone and the bed separation zone, and wherein the inner catalyst zone is intercalated with the bed separation zone and the central annulus vapor zone,
• wherein each of the at least five cylindrical, concentric zones has a top end and a bottom end;
• and
• wherein the outer annulus vapor zone has an opening at the bottom end thereof, operable as a process inlet or process outlet of the bi-modal radial flow guard bed reactor, and the central annulus vapor zone has an opening at the bottom end thereof, operable as a process inlet or process outlet of the bi-modal radial flow guard bed reactor.

A bi-modal radial flow reactor comprising:

• a cylindrical outer housing surrounding five cylindrical, concentric zones, including three annulus vapor zones and two catalyst zones, wherein the two catalyst zones comprise an outer catalyst zone and an inner catalyst zone, wherein the inner catalyst zone and the outer catalyst zone are configured as removable catalyst baskets, and wherein the three annulus vapor zones comprise an outer annulus vapor zone, a middle annulus vapor zone, and a central annulus vapor zone, wherein the central annulus vapor zone extends along a centerline of the bi-modal radial flow reactor, and wherein the outer catalyst zone is intercalated with the outer annulus vapor zone and the middle annulus vapor zone, and wherein the inner catalyst zone is intercalated with the middle annulus vapor zone and the central annulus vapor zone,
• wherein each of the at least five cylindrical, concentric zones has a top end and a bottom end;
• and
• (a) wherein each of the three annulus vapor zones has an opening at the bottom end thereof, operable as a process inlet or process outlet of the bi-modal radial flow reactor;
• or (b) wherein (i) the middle annulus vapor zone has an opening at the bottom end thereof, operable as a process inlet or process outlet of the bi-modal radial flow reactor, and (ii) the central annulus vapor zone and the outer annulus vapor zone each have an opening at the top end thereof, operable as a process inlet or process outlet of the bi-modal radial flow reactor.

A reactor system comprising a bi-modal radial flow guard bed reactor, at least one removable catalyst basket bi-modal radial flow reactor, and at least one fixed bed bi-modal radial flow reactor, wherein the bi-modal radial flow guard bed reactor is upstream of the at least one removable catalyst basket bi-modal radial flow reactor, and wherein the at least one removable catalyst basket bi-modal radial flow reactor is upstream of the at least one fixed bed bi-modal flow radial reactor,

• wherein the at least one removable catalyst basket bi-modal radial flow reactor and the at least one fixed bed bi-modal flow radial flow reactor each comprise:
• a cylindrical outer housing surrounding at least five cylindrical, concentric zones, including at least three annulus vapor zones and at least two catalyst zones, wherein the at least two catalyst zones comprise an outer catalyst zone and an inner catalyst zone, and wherein the at least three annulus vapor zones comprise an outer annulus vapor zone, a middle annulus vapor zone, and a central annulus vapor zone, wherein the central annulus vapor zone extends along a centerline of the bi-modal radial flow reactor, and wherein the outer catalyst zone is intercalated with the outer annulus vapor zone and the middle annulus vapor zone, and wherein the inner catalyst zone is intercalated with the middle annulus vapor zone and the central annulus vapor zone;
• and
• wherein the inner catalyst zone and the outer catalyst zone of the fixed bed bi-modal radial flow reactor are configured as fixed beds;
• and wherein the inner catalyst zone and the outer catalyst zone of the at least one removable catalyst basket bi-modal radial flow reactor are configured as removable catalyst baskets, with the inner catalyst zone provided by an inner removable catalyst basket and the outer catalyst zone provided by an outer removable catalyst basket, and
• wherein the bi-modal radial flow guard bed reactor comprises:
• a cylindrical outer housing surrounding at least five cylindrical, concentric zones, including at least two annulus vapor zones, at least two catalyst zones, and a bed separation zone, wherein the at least two catalyst zones comprise an outer catalyst zone and an inner catalyst zone, wherein the at least two annulus vapor zones comprise an outer annulus vapor zone, and a central annulus vapor zone, wherein the central annulus vapor zone extends along a centerline of the bi-modal radial flow guard bed reactor, and wherein the outer catalyst zone is intercalated with the outer annulus vapor zone and the bed separation zone, and wherein the inner catalyst zone is intercalated with the bed separation zone and the central annulus vapor zone.