# US 6,294,138 B1 · Reactor for performing endothermic catalytic reactions > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 6,294,138 B1 - Document ID: US6294138B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 09/459,977 - Filed: 1999-12-14 - Granted: 2001-09-25 - Earliest claimed: 1996-12-21 - Assignees: Degussa AG - Inventors: Lukas von Hippel; Dietrich Arntz; Bernd Kuttruf; Brigitta Walter - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6294138B1 ## CPC - F28F 7/02: Blocks traversed by passages for heat-exchange media {(F28D7/0008 takes precedence)} - B01J 4/001: {Feed or outlet devices as such, e.g. feeding tubes} - B01J 12/007: {in the presence of catalytically active bodies, e.g. porous plates} - B01J 19/0013: {Controlling the temperature of the process} - B01J 19/2425: {in parallel} - B01J 19/2485: {Monolithic reactors} - C01C 3/0233: {making use of fluidised beds, e.g. the Shawinigan-process} - B01J 35/56: Foraminous structures having flow-through passages or channels, e.g. grids or three-dimensional [3D] monoliths - B01J 2208/021: comprising a plurality of beds with flow of reactants in parallel - B01J 2219/00063: of the reactants - B01J 2219/00117: with two or more reactions in heat exchange with each other, such as an endothermic reaction in heat exchange with an exothermic reaction - Y02P 20/10: Process efficiency - F28F: DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION (water and air traps, air venting F16) - B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS - C01C: AMMONIA; CYANOGEN; COMPOUNDS THEREOF ({metal hydrides, monoborane, diborane or addition complexes thereof C01B6/00}; salts of oxyacids of halogens C01B11/00; peroxides, salts of peroxyacids C01B15/00; thiosulfates, dithionites, polythionates C01B17/64; compounds containing selenium or tellurium C01B19/00; azides C01B21/08; {compounds other than ammonia or cyanogen, containing nitrogen, non-metals and optionally metals C01B21/082}; metal imides or amides C01B21/092; nitrites C01B21/50; {compounds of noble gases C01B23/0005}; phosphides C01B25/08; salts of oxyacids of phosphorus C01B25/16; compounds containing silicon C01B33/00; compounds containing boron C01B35/00) - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## Abstract A reactor for performing endothermic catalytic reactions is disclosed formed of a monolithic counterflow reactor with parallel heating and reaction channels. The internal walls of the reaction channels are coated with a catalyst for the catalytic reaction to be performed, while the internal walls of the heating channels have a catalyst for the catalytic combustion of a fuel gas/air mixture. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A reactor for performing an endothermic catalytic reaction, comprising: an arrangement of a plurality of heating channels and a plurality of reaction channels running parallel to each other in a monolithic block, the heating channels and the reaction channels having walls containing a heat-resistant and gas-impermeable ceramic material, wherein: the reaction channels have internal walls coated with a catalyst for an endothermic catalytic reaction, the heating channels have internal walls coated with a catalyst for catalytic combustion, and the heating channels and the reaction channels are arranged in parallel strata which contain one or more layers of heating channels or reaction channels respectively in each strata. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The reactor according to claim 1, wherein the heating channels and the reaction channels are arranged over a cross-section of the reactor in any pattern at all with respect to on another. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The reactor according to claim 1, wherein the heating channels and the reaction channels are each sealed in an axial direction at opposite end faces, and vent openings are provided in said channels which connect all the channels in one layer with each other. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The reactor according to claim 3, wherein gas supply pipes for a fuel gas/air mixture and for a reaction mixture, respectively, are mounted on the end faces of the reactor, and wherein lateral openings for the heating channels and for the reaction channels, respectively, are combined by mounted gas pipes. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The reactor according to claim 4, wherein the heating channels beginning at a point of entry of the fuel gas/air mixture, up to a depth of 50 to 90% of a total length of the heating channels, are not coated with a combustion catalyst. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The reactor according to claim 4, further comprising a plurality of flame injector pipes extending into the heating channels from a point of entry of the fuel gas/air mixture for a distance of 50 to 90% of a length of the heating channels. ### Claim 7 A reactor for performing an endothermic catalytic reaction, comprising: an arrangement of a plurality of heating channels and a plurality of reaction channels running parallel to each other in a monolithic block, the heating channels and the reaction channels having walls containing a heat-resistant and gas-impermeable ceramic material, wherein: the reaction channels have internal walls coated with a catalyst for an endothermic catalytic reaction, the heating channels have internal walls coated with a catalyst for catalytic combustion, and wherein the reactor has channel densities between 0.1 and 100 channels per square centimeter. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The reactor according to claim 1, wherein the monolithic block comprises a material selected from the group consisting of oxide ceramics, carbide ceramics, nitride ceramics, mixed ceramics, and mixtures thereof. ### Claim 9 A reactor for performing an endothermic catalytic reaction, comprising: a monolithic block; a plurality of heating channels, running lengthwise in the monolithic block, the heating channels having walls comprised of a heat-resistant and gas-impermeable ceramic material, wherein the heating channel walls include a catalyst for catalytic combustion on at least a portion of their length, and wherein the catalyst for catalytic combustion includes at least one member selected from the group consisting of palladium and platinum; and a plurality of reaction channels in the monolithic block, separate from the heating channels, the reaction channels having walls comprised of a heat-resistant and gas-impermeable ceramic material, wherein the reaction channel walls include a catalyst for an endothermic catalytic reaction on at least a portion of their length. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The reactor for performing an endothermic catalytic reaction according to claim 9, wherein the catalyst for the endothermic catalytic reaction includes platinum and aluminum hydride. ### Claim 11 A reactor for performing an endothermic catalytic reaction, comprising: a monolithic block; a plurality of heating channels, running lengthwise in the monolithic block, the heating channels having walls comprised of a heat-resistant and gas-impermeable ceramic material, wherein the heating channel walls include a catalyst for catalytic combustion on at least a portion of their length; and a plurality of reaction channels in the monolithic block, separate from the heating channels, the reaction channels having walls comprised of a heat-resistant and gas-impermeable ceramic material, wherein the reaction channel walls include a catalyst for an endothermic catalytic reaction on at least a portion of their length, wherein the heating channels do not contain the catalyst for catalytic combustion along the first 50-98% of the length of the channels.