# US 7,410,622 B2 · Reactor for partial oxidations having thermoplate modules > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,410,622 B2 - Document ID: US7410622B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/888,977 - Filed: 2004-07-13 - Published: 2005-02-24 - Granted: 2008-08-12 - Earliest claimed: 2003-07-24 - Assignees: BASF SE - Inventors: Gerhard Olbert; Claus Hechler - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7410622B2 ## CPC - B01J 19/32: Packing elements in the form of grids or built-up elements for forming a unit or module inside the apparatus for mass or heat transfer - B01J 19/249: {Plate-type reactors} - C07C 45/35: in propene or isobutene - C07C 51/215: of saturated hydrocarbyl groups - C07C 51/252: {of propene, butenes, acrolein or methacrolein} - B01J 2219/2453: Plates arranged in parallel - B01J 2219/2459: Corrugated plates - B01J 2219/2462: the reactants being in indirect heat exchange with a non reacting heat exchange medium - B01J 2219/2469: Feeding means - B01J 2219/2481: Catalysts in granular from between plates - B01J 2219/2497: Size aspects, i.e. concrete sizes are being mentioned in the classified document - B01J 2219/2498: Additional structures inserted in the channels, e.g. plates, catalyst holding meshes - B01J 2219/3221: Corrugated sheets - B01J 2219/32213: Plurality of essentially parallel sheets - B01J 2219/32227: Vertical orientation - B01J 2219/32268: relating to blocks in the same horizontal level - B01J 2219/32275: Mounting or joining of the blocks or sheets within the column or vessel - B01J 2219/32466: comprising catalytically active material - B01J 2219/32475: involving heat exchange - B01J 2219/3306: Dimensions or size aspects - B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS - C07C: ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS ## Abstract A reactor is proposed for partial oxidations of a fluid reaction mixture in the presence of a heterogeneous particulate catalyst, comprising one or more cuboidal thermoplate modules (1) which are each formed from two or more rectangular thermoplates (2) arranged parallel to each other while in each case leaving a gap (3) which can be filled with the heterogeneous particulate catalyst and is flowed through by the fluid reaction mixture; the heat of reaction being absorbed by a heat carrier which flows through the thermoplates (2) and thus at least partly evaporates, and also having a predominantly cylindrical shell (4, 15, 16) which releases the pressure at the thermoplate modules, completely surrounds them and comprises a cylinder jacket (4) and hoods (15, 16) which seal it at both ends and whose longitudinal axis is aligned parallel to the plane of the thermoplates (2), and also having one or more sealing elements (7, 23) which are arranged in such a way that the fluid reaction mixture, apart from flowing through the reactor interior spaces bounded by the hoods (15, 16), only flows through the gap (3). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A reactor for partial oxidations of a fluid reaction mixture in the presence of a heterogeneous particulate catalyst, comprising: at least one cuboidal thermoplate module that includes at least two rectangular thermoplates arranged parallel to each other such that a gap in the at least one cuboidal thermoplate module between respective adjacent rectangular thermoplates is configured to be filled with the heterogeneous particulate catalyst and is configured to receive a flow of the fluid reaction mixture, the at least two rectangular thermoplates being configured to receive a flow of a heat carrier that is configured to absorb a heat of reaction between the fluid reaction mixture and the heterogeneous particulate catalyst and at least partly evaporate; a predominantly cylindrical shell configured to release a pressure formed at the at least one cuboidal thermoplate module, the shell completely surrounding the at least one cuboidal thermoplate module and including a cylinder jacket, a bottom hood configured to seal a bottom end of the shell, a top hood configured to seal a top end of the shell, a longitudinal axis that is aligned parallel to a vertical plane of the at least two thermoplates, a first interior space between the bottom hood and a bottom portion of the at least one cuboidal thermoplate module, and a second interior space between a top portion of the at least one cuboidal thermoplate module and the top hood; and at least one sealing element arranged to limit the flow of the fluid reaction mixture within the shell from the first interior space to the second interior space to only flow through the gap. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A reactor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reactor includes at least two cuboidal thermoplate modules each having the same dimensions. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A reactor as claimed in claim 2, wherein the reactor comprises 4, 7, 10 or 14 thermoplate modules. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A reactor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least two thermoplates include two rectangular metal sheets joined at longitudinal and end sides by roll seam welding, and wherein an edge of the two rectangular metal sheets that protrudes over the roll seam is removed at an outer edge of the roll seam or in the roll seam itself. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A reactor as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the at least one cuboidal thermoplate modules is arranged in a pressure-stable rectangular stabilization frame. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A reactor as claimed in claim 5, wherein the reactor includes at least two cuboidal thermoplate modules, and wherein rectangular stabilization frames of adjacent cuboidal thermoplate modules are welded and sealed together. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A reactor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one sealing element is a holding base which seals an intermediate space between the at least one cuboidal thermoplate module and the predominantly cylindrical shell at the bottom portion of the at least one cuboidal thermoplate module. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A reactor as claimed in claim 7, wherein a metal sheet cover seals the intermediate space between the thermoplate modules and the predominantly cylindrical shell at the top portion of the at least one cuboidal thermoplate module. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A reactor as claimed in claim 8, wherein the metal sheet cover includes a plurality of orifices. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A reactor as claimed in claim 1, wherein an intermediate space between the at least one cuboidal thermoplate module and the shell is filled with an inert material. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A reactor as claimed in claim 10, wherein the inert material is expanded perlite or expanded vermiculite. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A reactor as claimed in claim 1, wherein pressure is applied to an intermediate space between the at least one cuboidal thermoplate module and the predominantly cylindrical shell with a gas. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A reactor as claimed in claim 12, wherein the pressure applied is substantially constant. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A reactor as claimed in claim 13, wherein the substantially constant application of pressure is effected by pressure-regulated feed and removal of nitrogen. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) A reactor as claimed in claim 12, wherein the pressure is applied by continuously feeding the gas through the intermediate space, and wherein the gas is inert or intrinsic to the process. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A reactor as claimed in claim 15, wherein the gas is combined with the fluid reaction mixture at an outlet from the thermoplate modules. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) A reactor as claimed in claim 1, wherein compensators for radial expansion are provided in or on the holding base. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) A reactor as claimed in claim 1, wherein compensators for axial or radial expansion are provided in or on the metal sheet cover. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) A reactor as claimed in claim 1, wherein each thermoplate module includes at least one distribution device and at least one collection device configured to receive the heat carrier. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) A reactor as claimed in claim 1, wherein each thermoplate module includes one distribution device and two collection devices configured to receive the heat carrier. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) A reactor as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of distribution and collection devices that are configured to receive the heat carrier and that have equal nominal widths. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) A reactor as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of distribution devices and collection devices that are configured to receive the heat carrier and that are welded into a slotted base. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) A reactor as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of distribution devices and collection devices that are configured to receive the heat carrier that flows through the thermoplates and that each include compensation for the accommodation of the thermal expansion of the thermoplate modules relative to the predominantly cylindrical shell. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) A reactor as claimed in claim 1, wherein a thermal expansion of the thermoplate modules relative to the predominantly cylindrical shell is accommodated by a curved geometric design of the tubing of a plurality of distribution devices and collection devices that are configured to receive the heat carrier that flows through the thermoplates. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) A reactor as claimed in claim 1, wherein each thermoplate modules includes two catalyst holding grates per thermoplate module are used. ### Claim 26 (depends on 1) A reactor as claimed in claim 1, further comprising manholes configured to facilitate the introduction of a plurality of catalyst holding grates into the cylinder jacket. ### Claim 27 (depends on 1) A reactor as claimed in claims 1, wherein the cylinder jacket includes at least one compensator configured to accommodate axial thermal expansion.