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US 9,039,980 B2Granted
Slurry bubble column reactor
AssigneeGtl.Fi AG
InventorsManfred Ruppel, Thomas Gutermuth, Dag Schanke, Pal Soraker
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A slurry bubble column reactor with a gas distribution arrangement comprising an upper sparger, a lower sparger, and an open-ended tube. Gas from the lower sparger enters the tube and lowers the density of slurry in the tube. The difference in slurry density causes the slurry in the tube to rise, causing slurry outside the tube to move down, maintaining circulation and flushing catalyst from the vessel wall.
Claims36
A slurry bubble column reactor comprising:
- a reactor vessel having a gas outlet and a liquid outlet, wherein a bottom of the vessel comprises a downwardly tapering part-conical portion that joins a curved base, and
- a gas distributor arrangement in the region of the bottom of the vessel when in an orientation for use, the gas distributor arrangement including—
- an upper gas sparger,
- a lower gas sparger spaced from the upper gas sparger to a position nearer the bottom of the vessel, and
- a tube having a upper end and a lower end, the tube being open at both ends, and a longitudinal axis of the tube extending generally vertically when the vessel is in the orientation for use,
- wherein the upper gas sparger surrounds the outside of the tube at a position located at a level of or below the upper end of the tube, and the lower gas sparger is located at a level close to the lower end of the tube, whereby in use gas from the lower gas sparger rises into the tube, reduces a density of a slurry within the tube, and causes the slurry in the tube to rise;
- and
- wherein the bottom end of the tube is at substantially the position where the part-conical portion joins the curved base.
5 more elements
A method of conducting a chemical reaction involving gaseous reactants, the method comprising:
- providing a slurry bubble column reactor comprising—
- a reactor vessel having a gas outlet and a liquid outlet, wherein a bottom of the vessel comprises a downwardly tapering part-conical portion that joins a curved base, and
- a gas distributor arrangement in the region of the bottom of the vessel when in an orientation for use, the gas distributor arrangement including—
- an upper gas sparger,
- a lower gas sparger spaced from the upper gas sparger to a position nearer the bottom of the vessel, and
- a tube having a upper end and a lower end, the tube being open at both ends, and a longitudinal axis of the tube extending generally vertically when the vessel is in the orientation for use,
- wherein the upper gas sparger surrounds the outside of the tube at a position located at a level of or below the upper end of the tube, and the lower gas sparger is located at a level close to the lower end of the tube, whereby in use gas from the lower gas sparger rises into the tube, reduces a density of a slurry within the tube, and causes the slurry in the tube to rise, and wherein the bottom end of the tube is at substantially the position where the part-conical portion joins the curved base;
- and
- supplying the gaseous reactants to the reactor by way of the upper and lower gas spargers,
- wherein the reactor contains a volume of slurry comprising a liquid phase and solid catalyst particles, and the catalyst particles are maintained in suspension in the slurry by rising gas bubbles from the gas spargers.
7 more elements
A slurry bubble column reactor comprising:
- a reactor vessel having a gas outlet and a liquid outlet, wherein beneath a main cylindrical portion of the vessel a bottom of the vessel comprises a curved portion extending from the main cylindrical portion, a downwardly tapering part-conical portion extending from the curved portion, and the part-conical portion joining a curved base;
- and
- a gas distributor arrangement in the region of the bottom of the vessel when in an orientation for use, the gas distributor arrangement including—
- an upper gas sparger,
- a lower gas sparger spaced from the upper gas sparger to a position nearer the bottom of the vessel, and
- a tube having a upper end and a lower end, the tube being open at both ends, and a longitudinal axis of the tube extending generally vertically when the vessel is in the orientation for use,
- wherein the upper gas sparger surrounds the outside of the tube at a position located at a level of or below the upper end of the tube, and the lower gas sparger is located at a level close to the lower end of the tube, whereby in use gas from the lower gas sparger rises into the tube, reduces a density of a slurry within the tube, and causes the slurry in the tube to rise;
- and
- wherein the bottom end of the tube is at substantially the position where the part-conical portion joins the curved base.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.