Method and reactor for preparing nitric oxide

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for the production of nitric oxide from a gaseous reactant mixture containing oxygen and nitrogen in a reactor comprising a reaction zone (1) with a heat input device (2) and at least two regenerator zones (3, 4, 5, 6), each regenerator zone having a low temperature section on one end and a high temperature section at the other end of the regenerator zone, the high temperature sections being fluidically connected to the reaction zone (1), the method comprising the steps of: e) supplying heat through the heat input device (2) to the reaction zone (1) until a temperature of from 1500° C. to 2500° C. is reached in the reaction zone (1); f) passing the reactant mixture through a first regenerator zone (3) into the reaction zone (1) in which the reactant mixture reacts to form a product mixture, passing the product mixture from the reaction zone (1) through a second regenerator zone (4) and withdrawing at least part of the product mixture from the second regenerator zone (4); g) reversing the direction of flow and passing the reactant mixture through the second regenerator zone (4) into the reaction zone (1) in which the reactant mixture reacts to form a product mixture, passing the product mixture from the reaction zone (1) through the first regenerator zone (3) and withdrawing at least part of the product mixture from the first regenerator zone (3); and h) reversing the direction of flow and periodically repeating steps b) and c); wherein the high temperature sections of the regenerator zones (3, 4, 5, 6) comprise a plurality of channels with a hydraulic diameter of 0.5 mm to 5 mm each, the inner walls of which are made of oxide ceramics.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.