Process and apparatus for controlling temperatures in reactant channels

A reactor for controlling temperature profiles in a reaction zone, said reactor comprising:

• a plurality of spaced apart heat exchange plates with each plate having an extended length and defining a boundary of a heat exchange flow channel on one side of said plate and a boundary of a reaction flow channel on an opposite side of said plate and each plate defining corrugations;
• means for passing a reaction fluid through a plurality of said reaction flow channels defined by said plates along a first flow path;
• means for passing a heat exchange fluid through a plurality of said heat exchange channels defined by said plates along a second flow path;
• and,
• a heat adjustment plate sandwiched between said corrugations in said heat exchange channels said heat adjustment plate defining a plurality of protrusions that project into said heat exchange channels, said protrusions having an area of projection into said heat exchange flow channels that varies over the length of said heat adjustment plate to produce varied turbulence across said channels.