Back to results
US 2024/0375077 A1Published application
Process intensive reactors with reduced thermal stress
AssigneeBattelle Memorial Institute
InventorsWard E. TeGrotenhuis, Paul H. Humble, Timothy G. Veldman, Richard F. Zheng, Robert S. Wegeng, Dennis Walters, Daryl Brown
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Reactors subject to large variations in temperatures are subject to thermal stresses that can lead to failure or process disruption. In the present invention, reactors designs are provided that protect the reactor from thermal stress. Thermal stress can be reduced by providing expansion joints, or varying wall thickness or stiffness to adjust for thermal expansion.
Claims20
A disk-shaped apparatus, comprising:
- a central axis;
- a disk comprising a first set of channels radiating from the central axis toward the perimeter of the disk;
- wherein the first set of channels comprise a plurality of channels wherein each of the channels in the plurality of channels comprise at least one inlet disposed around the central axis;
- a fluid inlet disposed parallel to and along the central axis;
- a plurality of connections between the fluid inlet and the at least one inlet of each of the channels;
- wherein each channel has a first cross-sectional area that is perpendicular to channel length and each single inlet or plurality of inlets has a second cross-sectional area;
- wherein the disk comprises a circular top wall over a major surface of the disk and a cylindrical side wall around the perimeter of the disk;
- and further comprising one or any combination of the following features:
- wherein each channel in the plurality of channels comprises an expansion joint along the channel length;
- wherein the side wall is thicker or stiffer than the top wall;
- wherein each of the channels in the plurality of channels have a width that is perpendicular to length and thickness and wherein the width narrows toward the perimeter of the disk so that the wall thickness increases toward the perimeter;
- or
- wherein the second cross-sectional area is at least 20%, or 50%, or 70% less than the first cross-sectional area.
10 more elements
A method of conducting a thermal chemical reaction, comprising:
- providing a disk shaped apparatus, comprising:
- a central axis;
- a disk comprising a first set of channels radiating from the central axis toward the perimeter of the disk;
- wherein the first set of channels comprise a plurality of channels wherein each of the channels in the plurality of channels comprise at least one inlet disposed around the central axis;
- a fluid inlet disposed parallel to and along the central axis;
- a plurality of connections between the fluid inlet and the at least one inlet of each of the channels;
- wherein the disk comprises a circular top wall over a major surface of the disk and a cylindrical side wall around the perimeter of the disk;
- applying heat through the major surface of the disk (e.g., the Exterior Horizontal plate of FIG. 8c)
- wherein the heat flux is higher near the center of the reactor and decreases toward the perimeter of the reactor.
6 more elements
A disk shaped apparatus, comprising:
- a central axis;
- a disk comprising a first set of channels radiating from the central axis toward the perimeter of the disk;
- wherein the first set of channels comprise a plurality of channels wherein each of the channels in the plurality of channels comprise at least one inlet disposed around the central axis;
- a fluid inlet disposed parallel to and along the central axis;
- a plurality of connections between the fluid inlet and the at least one inlet of each of the channels;
- wherein the disk comprises a circular top wall over a major surface of the disk and a cylindrical side wall around the perimeter of the disk;
- wherein the first set of channels define a first layer;
- and further comprising a second layer adjacent to the first layer;
- wherein the second layer comprises a second set of channels extending from the perimeter of the disk to the central axis, and wherein the first set of channels connect to the second set of channels at the perimeter so that flow from the first set of channels passes into the second set of channels;
- and
- wherein a catalyst is present in the first set of channels and wherein the catalyst is present in the second set of channels such that at least 90 mass % of the catalyst in the second set of channels is present in the 50% of channel length closest to the perimeter.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.