US20020085975A1 - Method to equalize heat distribution in reactor tube - Google Patents

Method to equalize heat distribution in reactor tube Download PDF

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Publication number
US20020085975A1
US20020085975A1 US09/754,793 US75479301A US2002085975A1 US 20020085975 A1 US20020085975 A1 US 20020085975A1 US 75479301 A US75479301 A US 75479301A US 2002085975 A1 US2002085975 A1 US 2002085975A1
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United States
Prior art keywords
tube
catalytic
monolith
center
catalyst
Prior art date
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Abandoned
Application number
US09/754,793
Inventor
James Wambaugh
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Shell USA Inc
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Individual
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Publication date
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Priority to US09/754,793 priority Critical patent/US20020085975A1/en
Priority to JP2001393138A priority patent/JP2002263476A/en
Priority to DE10200050A priority patent/DE10200050A1/en
Publication of US20020085975A1 publication Critical patent/US20020085975A1/en
Assigned to SHELL OIL COMPANY reassignment SHELL OIL COMPANY ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: WAMBAUGH, JAMES ALLEN
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01JCHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
    • B01J19/00Chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general; Their relevant apparatus
    • B01J19/24Stationary reactors without moving elements inside
    • B01J19/248Reactors comprising multiple separated flow channels
    • B01J19/2485Monolithic reactors
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01JCHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
    • B01J19/00Chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general; Their relevant apparatus
    • B01J19/24Stationary reactors without moving elements inside
    • B01J19/2415Tubular reactors
    • B01J19/2425Tubular reactors in parallel
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07CACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
    • C07C5/00Preparation of hydrocarbons from hydrocarbons containing the same number of carbon atoms
    • C07C5/32Preparation of hydrocarbons from hydrocarbons containing the same number of carbon atoms by dehydrogenation with formation of free hydrogen
    • C07C5/327Formation of non-aromatic carbon-to-carbon double bonds only
    • C07C5/333Catalytic processes
    • C07C5/3332Catalytic processes with metal oxides or metal sulfides
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01JCHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
    • B01J2208/00Processes carried out in the presence of solid particles; Reactors therefor
    • B01J2208/02Processes carried out in the presence of solid particles; Reactors therefor with stationary particles
    • B01J2208/023Details
    • B01J2208/024Particulate material
    • B01J2208/025Two or more types of catalyst
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01JCHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
    • B01J23/00Catalysts comprising metals or metal oxides or hydroxides, not provided for in group B01J21/00
    • B01J23/38Catalysts comprising metals or metal oxides or hydroxides, not provided for in group B01J21/00 of noble metals
    • B01J23/48Silver or gold
    • B01J23/50Silver
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01JCHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
    • B01J23/00Catalysts comprising metals or metal oxides or hydroxides, not provided for in group B01J21/00
    • B01J23/70Catalysts comprising metals or metal oxides or hydroxides, not provided for in group B01J21/00 of the iron group metals or copper
    • B01J23/74Iron group metals
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01JCHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
    • B01J23/00Catalysts comprising metals or metal oxides or hydroxides, not provided for in group B01J21/00
    • B01J23/70Catalysts comprising metals or metal oxides or hydroxides, not provided for in group B01J21/00 of the iron group metals or copper
    • B01J23/76Catalysts comprising metals or metal oxides or hydroxides, not provided for in group B01J21/00 of the iron group metals or copper combined with metals, oxides or hydroxides provided for in groups B01J23/02 - B01J23/36
    • B01J23/84Catalysts comprising metals or metal oxides or hydroxides, not provided for in group B01J21/00 of the iron group metals or copper combined with metals, oxides or hydroxides provided for in groups B01J23/02 - B01J23/36 with arsenic, antimony, bismuth, vanadium, niobium, tantalum, polonium, chromium, molybdenum, tungsten, manganese, technetium or rhenium
    • B01J23/85Chromium, molybdenum or tungsten
    • B01J35/56
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01JCHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
    • B01J37/00Processes, in general, for preparing catalysts; Processes, in general, for activation of catalysts
    • B01J37/02Impregnation, coating or precipitation
    • B01J37/0201Impregnation
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07CACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
    • C07C2523/00Catalysts comprising metals or metal oxides or hydroxides, not provided for in group C07C2521/00
    • C07C2523/70Catalysts comprising metals or metal oxides or hydroxides, not provided for in group C07C2521/00 of the iron group metals or copper
    • C07C2523/74Iron group metals
    • C07C2523/745Iron

Definitions

  • the invention is to a process to equalize heat distribution in reactor tubes containing catalyst.
  • Isothermic tube reactors loaded with catalyst are limited in performance by heat transfer in the catalyst-loaded tubes.
  • heat is removed from the center of the tube, making the tube wall temperature substantially higher than the temperature at the tube center.
  • the heat of the reaction causes the catalyst in the center zone of the catalyst bed to be substantially higher in temperature than the outside regions of the catalyst bed near the tube wall.
  • the temperature differential may have various adverse affects.
  • the cool portion of a load may remain too cool for effective catalytic processing and the hot portion of a load may have a shorter than anticipated life center. In all instances the processing efficiency is sacrificed.
  • catalytic monoliths allow heat to be directed in the desired direction(s), reducing heat gradients and increasing efficiency and catalyst performance.
  • a method for equalizing heat distribution across a catalyst in a tube reactor comprising loading each tube of the tube reactor with one or more catalytic monoliths.
  • monolith catalysts catalyst with ceramic supports having uni- or multi-directional channels.
  • One or more catalytically reactive metals may be impregnated on the support, or the support material itself may be catalytically reactive.
  • Monolith catalysts have an advantage of being able to be formed to a shape which approximates the shape of the container.
  • monolith catalysts for tube reactors may be quite long (inches to feet in length) and cylindrical in shape, typically of a diameter just smaller than the inner diameter of the tube in which the monolith catalyst will be placed.
  • Uni- or multi-directional channels may be molded into the monoliths to direct the flow of feed as desired. In this manner, each individual channel is equivalent in surface area to many loose catalyst particles.
  • the surfaces of the channels are impregnated with catalytically reactive metals or metal compounds, making each channel effective as a catalyst having a surface area equal to the surface area of the channel.
  • the monolith may be made of a catalytically reactive material.
  • the heat distribution across the catalyst in a tube reactor is equalized by directing the heat as desired down the channels of the monolith catalysts loaded in the tubes of tube reactors. Heat may be directed inwardly, to equalize the temperature profile across the tube of an endothermic reactor, or outwardly, to equalize the temperature profile across the tubes of an exothermic reactor.
  • Monolith catalysts used as described have the additional advantage of reducing pressure drop through the catalyst bed.
  • Tubular isothermal reactors have inherently high pressure drops in comparison to radial flow adiabatic reactors. This places the tubular reactors at an activity and selectivity disadvantage.
  • the monolith catalysts thus described are useful to control the tubular temperature profile of other endothermic reactions, such as dehydrogenation processes and olefin cracking processes.
  • the monolith catalysts may also be modified such that the channels direct heat away from the center of the reactor tubes, thus making them useful for exothermic reactions, such as the vapor phase production of epoxides and other oxygenation processes, and hydrocracking processes.

Abstract

There is provided a method for equalizing heat distribution across a catalyst in a tube reactor comprising loading each tube of the tube reactor with one or more catalytic monoliths.

Description

    FIELD OF THE INVENTION
  • The invention is to a process to equalize heat distribution in reactor tubes containing catalyst. [0001]
  • BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  • Isothermic tube reactors loaded with catalyst are limited in performance by heat transfer in the catalyst-loaded tubes. For endothermic reactions, heat is removed from the center of the tube, making the tube wall temperature substantially higher than the temperature at the tube center. For exothermic reactions, the heat of the reaction causes the catalyst in the center zone of the catalyst bed to be substantially higher in temperature than the outside regions of the catalyst bed near the tube wall. The temperature differential may have various adverse affects. The cool portion of a load may remain too cool for effective catalytic processing and the hot portion of a load may have a shorter than anticipated life center. In all instances the processing efficiency is sacrificed. [0002]
  • Heat transfer problems make isothermic reactors less efficient and less commercially attractive than adiabatic systems. This is especially true in endothermic systems, where high tube wall temperatures are needed in isothermic reactors to get sufficient heat to the center of the tubes, resulting in high temperature gradients and non-optimal performance. [0003]
  • SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
  • Use of catalytic monoliths allow heat to be directed in the desired direction(s), reducing heat gradients and increasing efficiency and catalyst performance. There is provided a method for equalizing heat distribution across a catalyst in a tube reactor comprising loading each tube of the tube reactor with one or more catalytic monoliths. [0004]
  • DETAILED DESCRIPTION
  • By “monolith catalysts” is meant catalyst with ceramic supports having uni- or multi-directional channels. One or more catalytically reactive metals may be impregnated on the support, or the support material itself may be catalytically reactive. Monolith catalysts have an advantage of being able to be formed to a shape which approximates the shape of the container. Thus monolith catalysts for tube reactors may be quite long (inches to feet in length) and cylindrical in shape, typically of a diameter just smaller than the inner diameter of the tube in which the monolith catalyst will be placed. Uni- or multi-directional channels may be molded into the monoliths to direct the flow of feed as desired. In this manner, each individual channel is equivalent in surface area to many loose catalyst particles. [0005]
  • The surfaces of the channels are impregnated with catalytically reactive metals or metal compounds, making each channel effective as a catalyst having a surface area equal to the surface area of the channel. Or alternatively, the monolith may be made of a catalytically reactive material. [0006]
  • The heat distribution across the catalyst in a tube reactor is equalized by directing the heat as desired down the channels of the monolith catalysts loaded in the tubes of tube reactors. Heat may be directed inwardly, to equalize the temperature profile across the tube of an endothermic reactor, or outwardly, to equalize the temperature profile across the tubes of an exothermic reactor. [0007]
  • Monolith catalysts used as described have the additional advantage of reducing pressure drop through the catalyst bed. [0008]
  • A particular use of the process occurs in commercial isothermal reactors for styrene production by dehydrogenation of ethyl benzene, an endothermic reaction. These type reactors are plagued by three main problems: [0009]
  • Low liquid hourly space velocities are required for the reaction, making large diameter tubes necessary. Since the styrene reaction is endothermic heat must be added and the larger tubes increase the temperature differentials from the outside of the tube to the center of the catalyst bed, resulting in poor catalyst performance. Further, as the tube wall temperatures are increased to try and drive heat to the center of the load, the temperatures at the tube walls may reach a level in which cracking of the ethyl benzene and styrene may occur, resulting in undesirable by-products. [0010]
  • Tubular isothermal reactors have inherently high pressure drops in comparison to radial flow adiabatic reactors. This places the tubular reactors at an activity and selectivity disadvantage. [0011]
  • One (1) mole of feed (ethyl benzene) becomes two (2) moles of product (styrene+hydrogen), exasperating the above described problems. [0012]
  • Use of monolith catalysts allow heat to be directed to the center of the catalyst bed in each tube, reducing tube wall temperatures and cracking of the feed and product to undesirable by—products. Also, the pressure drop achieved favors the styrene reaction. [0013]
  • The monolith catalysts thus described are useful to control the tubular temperature profile of other endothermic reactions, such as dehydrogenation processes and olefin cracking processes. The monolith catalysts may also be modified such that the channels direct heat away from the center of the reactor tubes, thus making them useful for exothermic reactions, such as the vapor phase production of epoxides and other oxygenation processes, and hydrocracking processes. [0014]
  • It will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that many changes and modifications may be made to the invention without departing from its spirit or scope as set forth herein. [0015]

Claims (5)

I claim:
1. A method for equalizing heat distribution across a catalyst in a tube reactor comprising loading each tube of the tube reactor with one or more catalytic monoliths.
2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said catalytic monolith is a ceramic monolith support impregnated with one or more catalytically reactive metals.
3. A method according to claim 1 wherein said catalytic monolith is an iron oxide useful in the catalytic dehydrogenation of ethyl benzene to styrene; and wherein flow paths in the catalytic monoliths are oriented to direct heat towards a center of each tube.
4. A method according to claim 2 wherein said catalytically reactive metal is selected from the group nickel, cobalt, and molybdenum; wherein said catalytic monolith is useful in the dehydrogenation of hydrocarbons; and wherein flow paths in the catalytic monoliths are oriented to direct heat towards a center of each tube.
5. A method according to claim 2 wherein said catalytically reactive metal is silver; wherein said catalytic monolith is useful in the vapor phase production of epoxides; and wherein flow paths in the catalytic monoliths are oriented to direct heat away from a center of each tube.
US09/754,793 2001-01-04 2001-01-04 Method to equalize heat distribution in reactor tube Abandoned US20020085975A1 (en)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US09/754,793 US20020085975A1 (en) 2001-01-04 2001-01-04 Method to equalize heat distribution in reactor tube
JP2001393138A JP2002263476A (en) 2001-01-04 2001-12-26 Method of equalizing heat distribution in reactor tube
DE10200050A DE10200050A1 (en) 2001-01-04 2002-01-02 Process for equalizing the heat distribution in a reactor tube

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Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US09/754,793 US20020085975A1 (en) 2001-01-04 2001-01-04 Method to equalize heat distribution in reactor tube

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US20020085975A1 true US20020085975A1 (en) 2002-07-04

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JP (1) JP2002263476A (en)
DE (1) DE10200050A1 (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP3573746A4 (en) * 2017-01-24 2020-10-21 BASF Corporation Monolithic catalysts for epoxidation

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CA3004298C (en) * 2015-11-04 2020-04-28 Exxonmobil Chemical Patents Inc. Fired tube conversion system and process

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4912077A (en) * 1988-07-15 1990-03-27 Corning Incorporated Catalytically active materials and method for their preparation
US5217936A (en) * 1989-10-16 1993-06-08 Haldor Topsoe A/S Catalyst for preparing aldehyde
US6005143A (en) * 1998-08-07 1999-12-21 Air Products And Chemicals, Inc. Use of a monolith catalyst for the hydrogenation of dinitrotoluene to toluenediamine
US6166283A (en) * 1998-09-03 2000-12-26 The Dow Chemical Company On-line synthesis and regenerating of a catalyst used in autothermal oxidation
US6623707B1 (en) * 2000-06-19 2003-09-23 Corning Incorporated Monolithic catalyst dehydrogenation reactor

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4912077A (en) * 1988-07-15 1990-03-27 Corning Incorporated Catalytically active materials and method for their preparation
US5217936A (en) * 1989-10-16 1993-06-08 Haldor Topsoe A/S Catalyst for preparing aldehyde
US6005143A (en) * 1998-08-07 1999-12-21 Air Products And Chemicals, Inc. Use of a monolith catalyst for the hydrogenation of dinitrotoluene to toluenediamine
US6166283A (en) * 1998-09-03 2000-12-26 The Dow Chemical Company On-line synthesis and regenerating of a catalyst used in autothermal oxidation
US6623707B1 (en) * 2000-06-19 2003-09-23 Corning Incorporated Monolithic catalyst dehydrogenation reactor

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP3573746A4 (en) * 2017-01-24 2020-10-21 BASF Corporation Monolithic catalysts for epoxidation

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DE10200050A1 (en) 2003-02-06
JP2002263476A (en) 2002-09-17

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Owner name: SHELL OIL COMPANY, TEXAS

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:WAMBAUGH, JAMES ALLEN;REEL/FRAME:013850/0203

Effective date: 20001114

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

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