Process of oxidizing hydrocarbons using catalysts with high heat conductivity
AssigneeBrunswick Corporation
InventorsSandy Y. Lew, Edward F. Conley
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Abstract
An improved catalyst structure for use in catalytic processes, consisting of a powdered catalyst, carrier, and metal fiber thoroughly mixed to assure a permanent uniform distribution of the metal fiber, the catalyst-metal fiber mixture then pressed into any desired shape for its intended use. The permanent uniform dispersion of metal fibers results in a catalyst structure having increased thermal conductivity and more uniform porosity, the improved heat transfer characteristics increasing selectivity and minimizing temperature gradients in the catalytic structure thereby assuring constant reactor temperature and imparting stability, improved yield and temperature control in highly exothermic and endothermic catalytic reactions.
Claims4
In a method for the catalytic oxidation of a fluid hydrocarbon material which comprises the steps of:
- 1. contacting the hydrocarbon with a catalyst, the catalytic material being an oxide of a metal selected from Group I through Group VIII of the Periodic Table and (2) recovering the product:
- the improvement comprising using as the catalyst a plurality of pellets comprised of:
- a compacted powdered catalytic matrix material and
- a plurality of textile metal fibers uniformly dispersed in a random orientation throughout the matrix, the fibers being free of a catalytic coating and having a diameter less than 1 mil and comprising from about 2% to about 25% of the pellet weight.
In a hydrocarbon oxidation process comprising the steps of
- a. providing a bed of catalyst particles, each containing compatibly inert, catalytic coating free, finely divided, heat conducting, metallic materials in a uniform, isotropic distribution throughout a catalytic mass, the catalyst being a metal oxide selected from Groups I through VIII of the Periodic Table;
- b. passing reactants including a fluid hydrocarbon through the bed;
- c. maintaining the bed at a temperature high enough to produce, in conjunction with the catalyst particles, oxidation of said fluid hydrocarbon;
- and
- d. recovering the product;
- the improvement step comprising:
- providing the metallic materials in the form of a plurality of textile metal fibers having a diameter of under 1 mil and an aspect ratio of from 10 to 400;
- whereby the metallic materials are permanently dispersed in uniform distribution without parallel clumps, assuring exceptional heat conductivity in the bed.
A method of producing phthalic anhydride which comprises the steps of:
- 1. providing a bed of catalytic pellets, each comprised of:
- a compacted powdered catalytic matrix material, the catalytic material consisting of a mixture of about 6% by weight of calcinated activated vanadium oxide and about 94% by weight silica gel;
- and,
- a plurality of textile metal fibers uniformly dispersed in a random orientation throughout the matrix, the fibers being free of a catalytic coating and having a diameter of less than 1 mil and comprising from about 2% to about 25% of the pellet weight;
- 2. heating and maintaining the bed of catalytic pellets to a temperature within the range of about 350.degree. - 370.degree. C;
- and
- 3. passing a mixture of napthalene vapor and air in contact with the bed of heated catalytic pellets to produce phthalic anhydride.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.