Chemical reactor with heat pipe cooling

Abstract

A polymerization reactor (10) for exothermic liquid phase reactions comprises a reaction zone (31) which is divided into a plurality of channels by thermally conductive heat transfer fins (22) which are conductively mounted on one or more heat pipes (20) for the removal of heat of reaction from reactants and reaction products flowing between the heat transfer fins. The reactor (10) of the invention is capable of maintaining essentially isothermal conditions without the use of complicated and maintenance intensive agitators. The reactor (10) is particularly useful when viscosity of the reactants and / or reaction products is high, when the reaction conducted has a fast reaction rate and when consistent polymer properties are desired.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an improved chemical reaction apparatus which is capable of removing large heat fluxes from a viscous reaction mixture while maintaining the reaction mixture at essentially isothermal conditions. The invention also relates to a method of conducting chemical reactions, and in particular, polymerization reactions, at essentially isothermal conditions using the novel reactor of the invention. [0003] 2. Description of Related Art [0004] A variety of commercially important chemical reactions, and in particular polymerization reactions, require that reactants be maintained within a narrow temperature range to achieve desired product properties. [0005] In the case of certain polymerization reactions, due to the low conductivity and high viscosity of the reaction mixture, heat transfer is a limiting factor in reactor design. Further, it is frequently not possible to compensate for the low co...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The reactor achieves superior heat transfer and maintains isothermal conditions, ensuring consistent polymer properties and reducing maintenance costs by utilizing high heat flux rates through evaporative and condensation processes, while allowing for efficient heat removal without product contamination.

Problems solved by technology

Convection heat transfer is limited by many factors, including the velocity of the heat transfer fluid, the temperature differential between the reaction mixture and the cooling fluid, the viscosity of the heat transfer fluids, the surface area available for heat transfer, the materials of construction of the heat transfer device and the condition of the heat transfer surfaces, i.e., whether they are fouled.

Conventional evaporative cooling from a submerged heat transfer surface enjoys higher heat transfer coefficients than convection cooling, but is limited by the liquid phase surrounding the submerged tubes.

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