# US 9,751,073 B2 · Stackable structural reactors

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- Number: US 9,751,073 B2
- Document ID: US9751073B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/887,852
- Filed: 2015-10-20
- Published: 2016-02-11
- Granted: 2017-09-05
- Earliest claimed: 2011-01-28
- Assignees: Johnson Matthey Public Limited Company
- Applicants: Johnson Matthey Public Limited Company
- Inventors: William A. Whittenberger; Gordon W. Brunson; Brian L. Davis; Todd A. Romesberg; Randall J. Bartos; Joseph W. Whittenberger
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9751073B2

## 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 8/0242: {the fluid flow within the bed being predominantly vertical}
- B01J 19/249: {Plate-type reactors}
- C01B 3/382: Processes with two or more reaction steps, of which at least one is catalytic, e.g. steam reforming and partial oxidation
- B01J 2219/1944: spiral
- B01J 2219/2453: Plates arranged in parallel
- B01J 2219/2459: Corrugated plates
- B01J 2219/2461: Heat exchange aspects
- B01J 2219/2479: Catalysts coated on the surface of plates or inserts
- B01J 2219/2485: Metals or alloys
- B01J 2219/2493: Means for assembling plates together, e.g. sealing means, screws, bolts
- B01J 2219/2496: Means for assembling modules together, e.g. casings, holders, fluidic connectors
- B01J 2219/3221: Corrugated sheets
- B01J 2219/32231: Horizontal orientation
- B01J 2219/32408: Metal
- B01J 2219/32466: comprising catalytically active material
- C01B 2203/0227: containing a catalytic reforming step
- C01B 2203/1035: Catalyst coated on equipment surfaces, e.g. reactor walls
- C01B 2203/143: Three or more reforming, decomposition or partial oxidation steps in series
- Y02E 60/32: Hydrogen storage
- B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
- C01B: NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; {METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C}
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

A reactor for carrying out catalytic reactions. The reactor includes a reactor component optionally arranged on a central rod in a reactor tube. The reactor component can have fluid ducts for directing fluid flow through the reactor. The fluid ducts are effective for increasing heat transfer in the reactor. The reactor component can further have a washer attached to a top or bottom surface for directing fluid flow.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A reactor comprising:
a fan arranged on a central rod in a reactor tube, the fan having an outer diameter face facing the reactor tube for directing fluid flow to contact the reactor tube and promote heat transfer along the reactor tube,
the outer diameter face of the fan having a notch extending around the perimeter of the outer diameter face, the notch being a recessed portion of the outer diameter face of the fan.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The reactor of claim 1, wherein the notch extends uniformly around the perimeter of the outer diameter face of the fan.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The reactor of claim 1, wherein the notch creates a radial gap between the outer diameter face and the reactor tube.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The reactor of claim 1, wherein the notch has a radial depth that extends inward from the outer diameter face of the fan, the radial depth being in the range of 1 to 15 mm.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The reactor of claim 1, wherein the fan has a circular outer diameter face.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The reactor of claim 1, wherein the outer diameter face of the fan has two or more notches.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The reactor of claim 1, wherein the notch has a height and the height is defined by a nose portion of the fan.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The reactor of claim 7, wherein the height is in the range of 4 to 50 mm.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The reactor of claim 7, wherein the nose portion is in contact with the reactor tube.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The reactor of claim 1, wherein the fan has an upper nose portion and a lower nose portion, the upper nose portion and the lower nose portion extend radially around the outer diameter face of the fan.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The reactor of claim 10, wherein the upper nose portion and the lower nose portion define the opening of the notch extending around the perimeter of the outer diameter face of the fan.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The reactor of claim 10, wherein the fan has a middle nose portion and the outer diameter face of the fan has at least two notches.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The reactor of claim 1, wherein the fan has radial fluid ducts for directing fluid flow through the reactor, the fluid ducts being effective to radially guide the fluid flow to contact the reactor tube.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The reactor of claim 13, wherein the fan has a top surface, a bottom surface and the outer diameter face such that the radial fluid ducts terminate along the outer diameter face of the fan to form fluid duct openings facing the reactor tube.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The reactor of claim 13, wherein the fan is a corrugated disk having a center aperture for receiving the central rod.