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US 4,692,306 AGranted
Catalytic reaction apparatus
AssigneeKinetics Technology International Corporation
InventorsRonald G. Minet, David Warren
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A compact concentric-tube catalytic reaction apparatus for converting distillable hydrocarbon feedstock or methanol to useful industrial gases, such as hydrogen and carbon monoxide, comprises an annular reaction chamber concentrically disposed around an internal burner chamber. An infrared burner assembly vertically disposed within the burner chamber provides a uniformly radiating source for heat transfer to the reaction chamber. The burner chamber employs a convective section of enhanced thermal efficiency. The present invention eliminates the problems of flame impingement and local heat maldistribution associated with compact designs employing flame burners directly radiating to the reaction chamber wall.
Claims17
Endothermic catalytic reaction apparatus comprising:
- (a) an axially extending reaction chamber, and an axially extending regenerative heat transfer chamber,
- (b) an internally disposed, axially extending burner chamber about which the reaction chamber extends, the burner chamber containing an infrared burner assembly, means defining a radiant chamber, and means defining a convection chamber wherein said burner chamber supplies endothermic reaction heat to the reaction chamber, said burner chamber defined by a generally cylindrical inner wall means of said reaction chamber, said burner chamber also including burner gas exhaust means associated therewith,
- (c) said axially extending reaction chamber being disposed generally concentrically about said burner chamber, said reaction chamber defined by said inner wall means which is exposed to burner gases within said burner chamber and also by a generally concentric cylindrical outer wall means exposed to hot product gases within said regenerative heat transfer chamber, there being a first space between said reaction chamber inner and outer wall means defining a generally annular chamber which is substantially filled with catalyst and which is a passageway for conducting reactant gases over said catalyst,
- (d) said axially extending regenerative heat transfer chamber disposed in a generally concentric arrangement about said reaction chamber, said regenerative heat transfer chamber defined by said outer wall means of the reaction chamber and by a generally concentric cylindrical outer shell means of the catalytic reaction apparatus, there being a second space between said outer wall means and said outer shell means defining a generally annular passageway for flow of said hot product gases,
- (e) said infrared burner assembly comprising an upper radiant burner portion and a lower burner stock portion, said radiant burner portion being vertically disposed within said radiant chamber of the burner chamber, and said burner stock portion defining an inner wall means of said convection chamber,
- (f) and wherein said radiant burner portion comprises a gas permeable support structure having an internal volume defining a burner core and wherein said support structure includes a ceramic fiber material defining a radiant skin enclosing a substantial portion on said support structure.
3 more elements
Endothermic catalytic reaction apparatus comprising:
- (a) an axially extending reaction chamber, and an axially extending regenerative heat transfer chamber,
- (b) an internally disposed, axially extending burner chamber comprising an infrared burner assembly, means defining a radiant chamber, and means defining a convection chamber wherein said burner chamber supplies endothermic reaction heat to the reacton chamber, said burner chamber defined by a generally cylindrical inner wall means of said reaction chamber, said burner chamber also including burner gas exhaust means associated therewith,
- (c) said axially extending reaction chamber being disposed generally concentrically about said burner chamber, said reaction chamber defined by said inner wall means which is exposed to burner gases within said burner chamber and also by a generally concentric cylindrical outer wall means which is exposed to hot product gases within a regenerative heat transfer chamber, there being a first space between said reaction chamber inner and outer wall means defining a generally annular chamber which is substantially filled with catalyst and which is a passageway for conducting reactant gases over said catalyst,
- (d) said axially extending regenerative heat transfer chamber disposed in a generally concentric arrangement about said reaction chamber, said regenerative heat transfer chamber defined by said outer wall means of the reaction chamber and by a generally concentric cylindrical outer shell means of the catalytic reaction apparatus, there being a second space between said outer wall means and said outer shell means defining a generally annular passageway for flow of said hot product gases,
- (e) said infrared burner assembly comprising an upper radiant burner portion and a lower burner stock portion, said radiant burner portion being vertically disposed within said radiant chamber of the burner chamber, and said burner stock portion defining an inner wall means of said convection chamber, said radiant burner portion comprising a cylindrical non-permeable ceramic burner gas conduit defining a radiant skin having an internal volume defining a burner core, said burner core receiving hot burner gases from combustion at a burner tip disposed within said burner core, said radiant burner portion including outlet means for burner gases exiting to said radiant chamber.
2 more elements
A catalytic reaction apparatus comprising:
- (a) an upright burner chamber, and an upright infrared burner assembly therein,
- (b) an upright inner wall within said burner chamber and surrounding the burner assembly and spaced therefrom to receive radiant heat transfer from the burner,
- (c) and means including a catalyst bed located about said inner wall to receive a supply of feed gas to be heated by heat transfer from said wall to said bed, for reaction of said feed gas and subsequent removal of the gas from said apparatus,
- (d) wherein the burner includes an outlet means for burner exhaust gases located to cause exhaust flow thereof downwardly in a space between said upright inner wall and the burner chamber to convectively heat said inner wall,
- (e) the burner chamber including an upper radiant sub-chamber, and a lower convection sub-chamber;
- and the burner assembly also including a radiant burner in the upper sub-chamber, and a burner stock in the lower sub-chamber, said radiant burner including a porous ceramic fiber upright outer skin, and a gas permeable core surrounded by the skin, said radiant burner having an upper discharge means.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.