Reactor and method for producing phosgene

A process for preparing phosgene by gas-phase reaction of carbon monoxide and chlorine in the presence of a solid catalyst in one or more cylindrical reactors which has/have a bundle of parallel catalyst tubes which are aligned in the longitudinal direction of the reactor and whose ends are fixed in tube plates which have discharge holes therein, with a cap at each end of the reactor and deflection plates which are aligned perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the reactor in the intermediate space between the catalyst tubes and leave free passages located alternately opposite one another on the interior wall of the reactor, and a compensator positioned in the reactor wall and ports or part-ring channels provided on the reactor wall for the introduction and discharge of the heat transfer medium and the openings of these ports or part-ring channels to the interior of the reactor have a circular or rectangular cross-section and an opening ratio in the range from 5 to 50%, the process consisting essentially of:

• charging the catalyst tubes with the solid catalyst;
• passing a gaseous reaction mixture consisting of carbon monoxide and chlorine into the space defined by one of said caps and a fixed tube plate at one end of the reactor and then through the catalyst tubes;
• discharging a gaseous reaction product mixture containing phosgene into the space defined by a fixed tube plate at the opposite end of the reactor and the second cap;
• and
• passing a liquid heat transfer medium via at least one point of entry in the reactor body through the intermediate space which surrounds the catalyst tubes and then exiting the reactor body through the at least exit, wherein the reactor (the reactors) for carrying out the process has/have no tubes in the region of the passages.