Process and structure for effecting catalytic reactions in distillation structure

A mass transfer column having a catalytic with distillation structure, said column comprising:

• means for presenting an elongated upright tower into which reactants can be introduced at varying vertical heights;
• a plurality of vertically extending vapor permeable plates disposed in closely spaced adjacent pairs.
• at least one plate of each pair presenting a plurality of catalyst receiving areas while the other plate of the pair cooperates with the first-mentioned plate to retain catalyst in said areas;
• a particulate catalyst substantially filling at least some of said areas;
• and
• means coupled with each pair of plates to cooperate with the latter and present a catalyst enclosing envelope to retain said catalyst in said areas,
• each adjacent pair of plates being in contact with at least one adjoining pair to present a plurality of contiguous pairs of said plates extending in a horizontal plane across said tower,
• there being a plurality of vertically spaced rows of said contiguous pairs of plates in said tower.

A process for concurrent catalytic reaction with distillation of fluid streams within a mass transfer column, said process comprising the steps of:

• directing a liquid stream over a plurality of pairs of vertically extending vapor permeable plates disposed in closely spaced adjacent pairs, said plurality of plates presenting mass transfer zones for liquid-vapor interaction,
• at least one plate of each pair presenting a plurality of catalyst receiving areas while the other plate of the pair cooperates with the firstmentioned plate to retain catalyst in said areas, a particulate catalyst substantially filling at least some of said areas and being retained in an enclosing envelope presented by said plates, each adjacent pair of plates being in contact with at least one adjoining pair to present a plurality of contiguous pairs of said plates;
• moving said liquid stream through said particulate catalyst to effect a catalytic reaction;
• concurrently distilling a portion of the liquid stream in said column to present a vapor stream;
• directing the vapor stream and said liquid stream to said mass transfer zones for interaction;
• and
• withdrawing distillation products from said zones and reaction products from said areas.