18282574. APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR HOTSPOT DETECTION IN A TUBE BUNDLE REACTOR simplified abstract (BASF SE)

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APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR HOTSPOT DETECTION IN A TUBE BUNDLE REACTOR

Organization Name

BASF SE

Inventor(s)

Gerhard Olbert of Ludwigshafen am Rhein (DE)

Torsten Mattke of Ludwigshafen am Rhein (DE)

Jens Ferbitz of Ludwigshafen am Rhein (DE)

Koenraad Vandewalle of Antwerp (BE)

Kai Thiele of Antwerp (BE)

Peter Van Den Abeel of Antwerp (BE)

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR HOTSPOT DETECTION IN A TUBE BUNDLE REACTOR - A simplified explanation of the abstract

This abstract first appeared for US patent application 18282574 titled 'APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR HOTSPOT DETECTION IN A TUBE BUNDLE REACTOR

Simplified Explanation

The patent application describes a chemical reactor with a tube bundle containing heterogeneous catalysts, surrounded by a cooling liquid space with a specific flow path and temperature measuring devices.

  • Tube bundle with heterogeneous catalysts:
 - The reactor includes a plurality of parallel tubes containing at least one heterogeneous catalyst.
 - These tubes extend from the educt space to the product space in an axial direction, forming a tube bundle.
  • Cooling liquid space with flow path:
 - Surrounding at least a section of the tube bundle is a cooling liquid space with an inlet and outlet for the cooling liquid.
 - The cooling liquid space defines a specific flow path between the inlet and outlet to efficiently cool the reactor.
  • Temperature measuring devices:
 - Inside the cooling liquid space, there are n temperature measuring devices (MD(i), i=1...n, n>2) to monitor the cooling process.
 - The devices are strategically placed along the flow path to ensure proper cooling of the reactor.

Potential Applications

The technology can be applied in chemical manufacturing processes where catalytic reactions are involved, such as in the production of chemicals, fuels, or pharmaceuticals.

Problems Solved

1. Efficient cooling of the reactor to maintain optimal operating temperatures. 2. Enhanced catalytic activity and selectivity due to the use of heterogeneous catalysts in the tube bundle.

Benefits

1. Improved reaction efficiency and product yield. 2. Extended catalyst lifespan and reduced maintenance costs. 3. Precise temperature control for better process optimization.

Potential Commercial Applications

Optimized chemical reactors with improved cooling systems can find applications in industries such as petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, and specialty chemicals production.

Possible Prior Art

Previous patents or publications may exist related to chemical reactors with cooling systems or heterogeneous catalysts, but specific details would need to be researched to determine the novelty of this particular design.

Unanswered Questions

How does the design of the cooling liquid flow path contribute to the overall efficiency of the reactor cooling system?

The article explains the presence of a specific flow path for the cooling liquid, but it does not delve into the specific design considerations or the impact of this flow path on the reactor's performance.

What are the specific types of heterogeneous catalysts that can be used in the tube bundle of this reactor?

While the abstract mentions the presence of at least one heterogeneous catalyst in the tubes, it does not specify the types of catalysts that are suitable for this application. Further information on the selection criteria or examples of catalysts would be beneficial for a deeper understanding of the technology.


Original Abstract Submitted

Chemical reactor comprising an educt space with inlet means for feeding at least one educt stream into said space: a product space with outlet means for removing at least one product stream from said space: a plurality of parallel tubes extending from the educt space to the product space in an axial direction, forming a tube bundle, wherein the tubes comprise at least one heterogeneous catalyst: a cooling liquid space surrounding at least a section of the tube bundle, wherein said space has an inlet and an outlet spaced from the inlet at least in the axial direction, and wherein the cooling liquid space defines a cooling liquid flow path between inlet and outlet: n cooling liquid temperature measuring devices MD(i), i=1 . . . n, n>2, inside the cooling liquid space, wherein MD(i+1), is located upstream of MD(i) in the cooling liquid flow path.