Method and apparatus for carrying out catalyzed chemical reactions and for studying catalysis
AssigneeMonsanto Company
InventorsJerry R. Ebner, John T. Gleaves
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for carrying out and studying catalysis and catalyzed chemical reactions. Disclosed is a reactor with a catalyst zone, under vacuum, into which a very rapid pulse of reactant gas is pulsed. The products are analyzed by a real-time method of analysis, such as mass spectrometry. The apparatus and method can detect reaction intermediates and products, and can indicate their sequence of production.
Claims25
A catalytic reactor system capable of use for Temporal Analysis of Products comprising a reaction chamber having a reaction zone defined therewithin, said reaction zone containing a solid state catalyst for catalyzing the reaction of reactant materials supplied to the reactor in the gaseous phase, inlet means for delivery of a reactant gas to said reaction chamber, a fluid flow channel for a heat transfer fluid, means for transfer of heat to the contents of the chamber from a heat transfer fluid flowing in said channel, an electrical heater remote from said reaction chamber and within said heat transfer fluid flow channel for supplying heat to said heat transfer fluid, means for sensing temperature within said reaction zone, and a temperature controller which controls the power supplied to said electrical heater to control the temperature of said temperature regulating fluid, and thereby the temperature within said reaction zone, in response to said temperature sensing means.
A catalytic reactor system capable of use for Temporal Analysis of Products comprising a reaction chamber having a reaction zone defined therewithin, said reaction zone containing a solid state catalyst for catalyzing the reaction of reactant materials supplied to the reactor in the gaseous phase, inlet means for delivery of a reactant gas to said chamber, an electrical heating element surrounding said chamber, means for transferring heat from said heating element to the contents of the chamber, a conduit for flow of a temperature regulating fluid also surrounding said chamber, and means for transfer of heat between the contents of said chamber and said temperature regulating fluid.
A system as set forth in claim 16 further comprising a housing within which said reaction chamber is enclosed and means for applying a vacuum to the interior of said housing.
A catalytic reactor system capable of use for Temporal Analysis of Products comprising a reaction chamber having a reaction zone defined therewithin, said reaction zone containing a solid state catalyst for catalyzing the reaction of reactant materials supplied to the reactor in the gaseous phase, a sleeve of high conductivity material surrounding said chamber, an electrical heating element outside said sleeve for supplying heat to said chamber by transfer of heat through said sleeve, a conduit for flow of a temperature regulating fluid, and means for transfer of heat between said sleeve and said temperature regulating fluid in said conduit.
An apparatus capable of use for Temporal Analysis of Products comprising:
- an enclosed housing and means for producing a vacuum within the housing;
- within said housing, a catalytic reactor system comprising a reaction chamber having a reaction zone defined therewithin, said reaction zone containing a solid state catalyst for catalyzing the reaction of reactant materials supplied to the reactor in the gaseous phase, inlet means for delivery of a reactant gas to said reaction chamber, a fluid flow channel for a heat transfer fluid, means for transfer of heat to the contents of the chamber from a heat transfer fluid flowing in said channel, an electrical heater remote from said reaction chamber and within said heat transfer fluid flow channel for supplying heat to said heat transfer fluid, means for sensing temperature within said reaction zone, and a temperature controller which controls the power supplied to said electrical heater to control the temperature of said temperature regulating fluid, and thereby the temperature within said reaction zone, in response to said temperature sensing means;
- means for introducing a rapid pulse of reactant gas to the reactor;
- means for withdrawing from said reactor a pulse of product gas;
- within said housing, means for resolving said pulse of product gas to produce a resolved pulse of product gas in which molecules of product gas move in substantially parallel paths;
- means for providing real time analysis of said resolved pulse of product gas;
- and
- means for coordinating the actions of said rapid pulse introducing means and said analysis means so that scanning by said analysis means coincides with arrival of a resolved pulse of product gas.
An apparatus capable of use for Temporal Analysis of Products comprising:
- an enclosed housing and means for producing a vacuum within the housing;
- within said housing, a catalytic reactor system comprising a reaction chamber having a reaction zone defined therewithin, said reaction zone containing a solid state catalyst for catalyzing the reaction of reactant materials supplied to the reactor in the gaseous phase, inlet means for delivery of a reactant gas to said reaction chamber, an electrical heating element surrounding said chamber, means for transferring heat from said heating element to the contents of the chamber, a conduit for flow of a temperature regulating fluid also surrounding said chamber, and means for transfer of heat between the contents of said chamber and said temperature regulating fluid;
- means for introducing a rapid pulse of reactant gas to the reactor;
- means for withdrawing form said reactor a pulse of product gas;
- within said housing, means for resolving said pulse of product gas to produce a resolved pulse of product gas in which means for providing real time analysis of said resolved pulse of product gas;
- and
- means for coordinating the actions of said rapid pulse introducing means and said analysis means so that scanning by said analysis mean coincides with arrival of a resolved pulse of product gas.
An apparatus capable of use for Temporal Analysis of Products comprising:
- an enclosed housing and means for producing a vacuum within the housing;
- within said housing, a catalytic reactor system comprising a reaction chamber having a reaction zone defined therewithin, said reaction zone containing a solid state catalyst for catalyzing the reaction of reactant materials supplied to the reactor in the gaseous phase, a sleeve of high conductivity material surrounding said chamber, an electrical heating element outside said sleeve for supplying heat to said chamber by transfer of heat through said sleeve, a conduit for flow of a temperature regulating fluid, and means for transfer of heat between said sleeve and said temperature regulating fluid in said conduit;
- means for introducing a rapid pulse of reactant gas to the reactor;
- means for withdrawing from said reactor a pulse of product gas;
- within said housing, means for resolving said pulse of product gas to produce a resolved pulse of product gas in which molecules of product gas move in substantially parallel paths;
- means for providing real time analysis of said resolved pulse of product gas;
- and
- means for coordinating the actions of said rapid pulse introducing means and said analysis means so that scanning by said analysis means coincides with arrival of a resolved pulse of product gas.
A catalytic reactor system capable of use for Temporal Analysis of Products comprising a reaction chamber having a reaction zone define therewithin, said reaction zone containing a solid state catalyst for catalyzing the reaction of reactant materials supplied to the reactor in the gaseous phase, a fluid flow channel for a heat transfer fluid, means for transfer of heat to the contents of the chamber from a heat transfer fluid flowing in said channel, an electrical heater within said heat transfer fluid flow channel for supplying heat to said heat transfer fluid, said heater being disposed within said heat transfer channel adjacent said heat transfer means, and internal heat transfer means within said chamber, said internal heat transfer means comprising a conduit contained within said chamber and in fluid flow communication with said channel, whereby heat transfer fluid passing through said channel also flows through said internal heat transfer means.
An apparatus capable of use for Temporal Analysis of Products comprising:
- an enclosed housing and means for producing a vacuum within the housing;
- within said housing, a catalytic reactor system comprising a reaction chamber having a reaction zone defined therewithin, said reaction zone containing a solid state catalyst for catalyzing the reaction of reactant materials supplied to the reactor in the gaseous phase, a fluid flow channel for a heat transfer fluid, means for transfer of heat to the contents of the chamber from a heat transfer fluid flowing in said channel, an electrical heater within said heat transfer fluid flow channel for supplying heat to said heat transfer fluid, said heater being disposed within said heat transfer channel adjacent said heat transfer means, and internal heat transfer means within said chamber, said internal heat transfer means comprising a conduit contained within said chamber and in fluid flow communication with said channel, whereby heat transfer fluid passing through said channel also flows through said internal heat transfer means;
- means for introducing a rapid pulse of reactant gas to the reactor;
- means for withdrawing from said reactor a pulse of product gas;
- within said housing, means for resolving said pulse of product gas to produce a resolved pulse of product gas in which molecules of product gas move in substantially parallel paths;
- means for providing real time analysis of said resolved pulse of product gas;
- and
- means for coordinating the actions of said rapid pulse introducing means and said analysis means so that scanning by said analysis means coincides with arrival of a resolved pulse of product gas.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.