Catalytic reaction apparatus

Catalytic reaction apparatus comprising:

• means defining a burner cavity for burning fuel therein to produce hot gases;
• at least one tubular reactor, said reactor including a first portion extending into said burner cavity and a second portion disposed outside said burner cavity, said reactor having an outer wall and an inner wall, said inner wall spaced from said outer wall defining an annular reaction chamber therebetween containing a reaction catalyst, said inner wall also defining a cylindrical conduit coaxial with said annular reaction chamber, said reaction chamber having an inlet end and an outlet end, said outlet end being disposed in said first portion;
• wall means spaced from said outer wall of said reaction chamber surrounding said second portion of said reactor defining a narrow annular burner gas passageway therebetween extending coaxially with and adjacent said reaction chamber and in heat exchange relationship thereto, said passageway having an inlet end in gas communication with said burner cavity and an outlet end substantially adjacent said inlet end of said reaction chamber;
• means for directing hot gases in the burner cavity into said burner gas passageway inlet end and through said burner gas passageway countercurrent to flow through said reaction chamber;
• and
• cylindrical plug means disposed within said cylindrical conduit and having an outer wall surface spaced inwardly from said inner wall of said reactor defining a narrow annular heat regeneration chamber therebetween coaxial with and adjacent said annular reaction chamber and in heat exchange relationship thereto, said annular regeneration chamber having an inlet end and an outlet end, said reactor including means for directing reaction products from said reaction chamber outlet end into said regeneration chamber inlet end and through said regeneration chamber countercurrent to the flow in said reaction chamber, said regeneration chamber being substantially isolated from heat in the burner cavity and burner gas passageway, wherein the spacing between the walls of the regeneration chamber is between 0.1 and 1.0 inch, the spacing between the walls of the burner gas passageway is between 0.1 and 3.0 inches, and the spacing between the walls of the reaction chamber is between 0.3 and 2.0 inches.