Devices for controlling the reaction rate of a hydrocarbon to an intermediate oxidation product by pressure drop adjustments

A device for controlling the oxidation of a hydrocarbon to an intermediate oxidation product comprising:

• a reaction chamber;
• oxidant feeding means connected to the reaction chamber for feeding predetermined amounts or rates of a gaseous oxidant into said reaction chamber;
• gas outlet means for removing gases from the reactor;
• at least one of temperature monitoring means for monitoring the temperature in the reaction chamber;
• hydrocarbon feeding means connected to the reaction chamber for feeding a predetermined amount or rate of a hydrocarbon into said reaction chamber;
• solvent feeding means connected to the reaction chamber for feeding a predetermined amount or rate of a solvent into said reaction chamber;
• catalyst feeding means connected to the reaction chamber for feeding a predetermined amount or rate of a catalyst into said reaction chamber;
• and promoter feeding means connected to the reaction chamber for feeding a predetermined amount or rate of a promoter into said reaction chamber;
• pressure monitoring means connected to the reaction chamber for measuring pressure inside the reaction chamber;
• interrupting means for stopping temporarily in predetermined intervals feeding of gases in the reaction chamber and exiting of gases from the reaction chamber;
• and
• a controller connected to the pressure monitoring means for obtaining pressure related information from said pressure monitoring means, the controller being programmed to actuate said interruption means in said predetermined intervals and calculate pressure drop rate during said predetermined intervals, the controller also being connected to the at least one temperature monitoring means, the oxidant feeding means, the hydrocarbon feeding means, the solvent feeding means, the catalyst feeding means, and the promoter feeding means, the controller being programmed to adjust at least one of said temperature monitoring means, oxidant feeding means, hydrocarbon feeding means, solvent feeding means, catalyst feeding means, and promoter feeding means, in a manner to maintain the pressure drop rate within a desired range.