A heterogeneous catalytic reaction apparatus and method

• Main Authors: MCKINLEY DONALD HUGH, KIPPAX JOHN WILSON, HENSMAN JOHN RICHARD
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 27.02.2015
• Subjects: ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS; CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOIDCHEMISTRY; CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY; ORGANIC CHEMISTRY; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL; SEPARATION; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS; TRANSPORTING

An apparatus for use in heterogeneous catalytic reactions comprising a column reactor (1) comprising a plurality of trays (2) mounted one above another, each adapted to hold a predetermined liquid volume and a charge of particles of a solid catalyst thereon; means for introducing a liquid phase reactant above the uppermost tray; means for introducing a vapour phase reactant below the lowermost tray; means for removing a liquid phase post-reaction stream from below the lowermost tray; means for removing a vapour phase post-reaction stream from above the uppermost tray; vapour upcomer means (14) associated with each tray (2a, 2b, 2c) adapted to allow vapour to enter that tray from below; underflow means (7) associated with each tray adapted to remove liquid from that tray and the column reactor before being introduced into the column reactor at a lower tray; means for temporarily directing the liquid removed from a tray to bypass at least one lower tray and be reintroduced to the column reactor at a tray located below the at least one bypassed tray; means for removing the liquid and catalyst from the at least one bypassed tray: and means for replacing a liquid and catalyst inventory on the at least one bypassed tray.