Catalytic heat exchanger

A catalytic heat exchanger useful for carrying out a catalytic reaction wherein a gaseous or vaporized mixture is flowed into contact with catalytic material reactive with such mixture, said catalytic heat exchanger comprising:

• (a) a hollow container defining a reaction zone for the gaseous or vaporized mixture and the catalytic material;
• (b) an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit for the gaseous or vaporized mixture respectively located at opposite ends of said reaction zone;
• (c) baffle means disposed within said reaction zone transversed to the flow of the gaseous or vaporized mixture, said baffle means occupying a substantial but incomplete cross-section of said reaction zone available for the flow of the gaseous or vaporized mixture so as to form a tortuous flow path for the gaseous or vaporized mixture and to divide said reaction zone into at least first and second regions having first and second transverse volumes, respectively, which vary as a function of the distance from said inlet conduit;
• (d) means for supporting catalytic material within said first and second regions of said reaction zone;
• and
• (e) heat exchange means disposed within said first and second regions of said reaction zone and adapted to circulate a heat exchange fluid therethrough in a manner such that a gaseous or vaporized mixture flowing through said reaction zone sequentially (1) flows across said heat exchange means, (2) flows through the catalytic material located in said first region, (3) flows around said baffle means, (4) flows across said heat exchange means, and (5) flows through the catalytic material located in said second region.