Radial or axial-radial chemical reactor with a fine catalyst

A reactor for catalytic chemical reactions, the reactor comprising:

• a catalyst bed with an annular-cylindrical form and a radial or mixed axial-radial crossing flow;
• at least a first cylindrical wall and a second cylindrical wall that delimit the catalyst bed being in direct with the catalyst, the second cylindrical wall being coaxial and internal relative to the first wall;
• wherein the first wall and the second wall include passages to make the first and second walls gas-permeable;
• wherein the passages are slits having an elongated form in a longitudinal direction of the slit and a respective transverse dimension in a transverse direction that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction;
• wherein the catalyst bed is formed by particles of catalyst that have a nominal minimum size such that:
• a) a ratio between the transverse dimension of the slits and the nominal minimum size of the particles of catalyst is less than or equal to 0.6;
• b) the catalyst bed contains no more than 3% by weight of particles with a size smaller than the nominal size,
• wherein a minimum size of the catalyst is defined as a square root of a maximum square free flow area of a sieve that retains the catalyst, the sieving of the catalyst being performed according to the standard test method of ASTM D4513-11.

A method for loading catalyst into a reactor for catalytic chemical reactions wherein:

• the reactor includes at least a first cylindrical wall and a second cylindrical wall that delimit a space able to contain the catalyst, the second wall being coaxial and internal relative to the first wall, so that loading of the catalyst between the two walls forms a cylindrical-annular catalyst bed with a radial or axial-radial crossing flow;
• the first wall and the second wall comprise passages to make them gas-permeable, one of the walls being adapted to act as a distributor of a gaseous flow containing the reagents and the other wall being adapted to act as a collector of a gaseous flow containing the reaction products;
• wherein the passages are slits having an elongated form with a respective longitudinal dimension in a longitudinal direction of the slit and a respective transverse dimension in a transverse direction which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction;
• wherein the catalyst to be loaded is formed by particles of catalyst which have a nominal minimum size;
• wherein a ratio between the transverse dimension of the slits and the nominal minimum size of the particles of catalyst is less than or equal to 0.6;
• wherein a minimum size of the catalyst is defined as a square root of a maximum square free flow area of a sieve which retains the catalyst, the sieving of the catalyst being performed according to the standard test method of ASTM D4513-11,
• the method comprising:
• sieving the catalyst before introducing the catalyst into the reactor so that the introduced catalyst contains no more than 3% by weight of particles with a size smaller than the nominal size.