Catalytic reactor with tangential flow distribution

A process for the catalytic oxidation of a hydrocarbonaceous fuel, comprising:

• contacting the fuel and an oxygen-containing gas in a reactor comprising:
• an annular catalyst bed comprising:
• a central longitudinal axis;
• and,
• an upstream surface perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis;
• and,
• an annular distribution chamber for directing a gaseous mixture of reactants to the upstream surface of the catalyst bed, which chamber comprises:
• an inlet for tangentially introducing the mixture into the distribution chamber;
• a surface defined by the upstream surface of the catalyst bed;
• a side surface having a central longitudinal axis that coincides with the central longitudinal axis of the catalyst bed;
• and,
• a covering surface formed such that the distance between the upstream surface of the catalyst bed and the covering surface is constant.

A reactor comprising:

• a catalyst bed comprising
• a central longitudinal axis,
• an upstream surface perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis;
• and,
• a distribution chamber for directing a gaseous mixture of reactants to the upstream surface of the catalyst bed, which chamber comprises:
• an inlet for tangentially introducing the mixture into the distribution chamber;
• a surface defined by the upstream surface of the catalyst bed;
• a side surface having a central longitudinal axis that coincides with the central longitudinal axis of the catalyst bed;
• and,
• a covering surface formed such that the distance between the upstream surface of the catalyst bed and the covering surface is monotonically decreasing towards the central longitudinal axis.

A reactor comprising:

• an annular catalyst bed comprising:
• a central longitudinal axis;
• and,
• an upstream surface perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis;
• and,
• an annular distribution chamber for directing a gaseous mixture of reactants to the upstream surface of the catalyst bed, which chamber comprises:
• an inlet for tangentially introducing the mixture into the distribution chamber;
• a surface defined by the upstream surface of the catalyst bed;
• a side surface having a central longitudinal axis that coincides with the central longitudinal axis of the catalyst bed;
• and,
• a covering surface formed such that the distance between the upstream surface of the catalyst bed and the covering surface is constant.