Reactor with reflux protection

Abstract

The invention relates to a reactor system comprising a reactor (1), a reactant conduit (2) for feeding a raw material into the reactor (1), and a product conduit (9) for discharging an at least partially liquid reaction product from the reactor (1), the reactant conduit (2) having a deflection (10), the reactant conduit (2) has a deflector (10) which opens upwards from an inlet (3) of the feedstock into the reactant conduit to an apex (11) of the deflector (10) and downwards from the apex (11) to the reactant conduit into an outlet opening (4) of the reactor (1), and the reactant conduit (2) has a closable ventilation opening (12), the vent opening is at a higher level relative to the earth's gravitational field than the inlet (3) of the feedstock into the reactant conduit and above the highest possible liquid level of the liquid reaction product in the reactor system.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a reactor system comprising a reactor, a reactant conduit for feeding raw materials into the reactor, and a product conduit for withdrawing liquid reaction products from the reactor. The present invention further relates to a method for protecting a reactor system.

[0002] Chemical reactions are usually carried out in closed equipment, which are also referred to as "reactors" below. For safety reasons, it must be ensured that the chemical reaction only occurs in the equipment intended for that purpose and does not continue to occur uncontrolled in equipment other than those intended for that purpose. It is usually the case that the raw materials intended for the reaction are fed into the reactor via pipes from a storage tank or other container. In particular, in applications where the raw materials can react with each other when they come into contact, it must be ensured that the raw materials or reaction mixture in the reactor do not flow back from the reactor into the storage tank or container in order to avoid uncontrolled reactions in these containers. For example, as the reaction proceeds, the pressure in the reactor increases, and some of the reactor contents are pushed back through the pipes, or the pump used to transport the raw materials is turned off, which may cause backflow.

[0003] The prior art discloses so-called backflow protection measures, which are intended to prevent an undesired backflow from the reactor into an upstream vessel. For example, it is known to provide at least one shut-off valve in a conduit through which the feedstock flows to the reactor, the at least one shut-off valve being configured to close automatically upon detection of a backflow.

[0004] Document EP 3 417 935 A1 discloses a system and a method for controlling chemical reactions, in which the reaction in a reactor is monitored and the following measures are taken to prevent uncontrolled reactions: the inlet and outlet of the reactor are blocked, the reactor is actively depressurized, and the reactor is purged with an inert substance.

[0005] Document DE 10 2020 126 882 A1 discloses a device for monitoring deflagration or thermal explosion in a continuously operated chemical tubular reactor, with the goal of preventing the spread of a heat front. The device comprises at least one barrier for blocking an inlet and / or outlet, the barrier comprising at least a valve and a body. The body is designed to block the heat front of a deflagration or thermal explosion until the valve is closed.

[0006] This protection is sufficient for some types of reactor systems. However, it has the disadvantage that minor, but still potentially undesirable or even dangerous, backflows can occur due to leaks in the stop valve or due to the stop valve closing too slowly. Furthermore, in the event of a stop valve failure or malfunction, there is a risk that significant amounts of reactor product will flow back into the feed and connected vessels.

[0007] To address the aforementioned issues, backflow protection systems are known that utilize at least two shutoff valves connected in series. In addition to providing redundancy in the event of a failure or malfunction of one of these shutoff valves, these systems also provide a degree of leakage protection. For example, if the shutoff valve closest to the reactor does not close quickly enough due to a rapid increase in pressure, a certain amount of reflux reactor contents may still flow through it. However, if the shutoff valve further from the reactor closes quickly enough, the reflux reactor contents may be trapped in the pipe section between the two shutoff valves. In such systems, the pipe section between the shutoff valves may be equipped with a drain, by means of which any trapped reactor product can be safely disposed of. While this type of backflow protection system offers advantages over the simpler systems described above, it does not completely prevent potential backflow, particularly if it occurs suddenly, for example due to a rapid increase in pressure in the reactor.

[0008] The object is to further develop the backflow protection measures for the known reactor system in such a way that a potential backflow of the reactor contents from the reactor into upstream containers, such as storage tanks or other process engineering equipment, is reliably prevented.

[0009] This object is achieved according to the invention by a reactor system according to claim 1 and a method for protecting a reactor system according to claims 8 and 9. Advantageous configurations of the reactor system are specified in claims 2 to 7.

[0010] The present invention first provides a reactor system comprising a reactor, a reactant conduit for feeding a feedstock into the reactor, and a product conduit for discharging a reaction product, which is at least partially liquid, from the reactor. The reactant conduit has a deflection portion that leads upward from an inlet through which the feedstock enters the reactant conduit to a vertex of the deflection portion and downward from the vertex to an outlet opening through which the reactant conduit enters the reactor. The reactant conduit also has a closable vent opening that is at a higher level relative to the Earth's gravitational field than the inlet through which the feedstock enters the reactant conduit and is above the highest possible level of the liquid reaction product in the reactor system.

[0011] The present invention further provides a method for protecting a reactor system, the reactor system comprising a reactor, a reactant conduit for feeding a raw material into the reactor, and a product conduit for discharging a reaction product that is at least partially liquid from the reactor, wherein the reactant conduit has a deflection portion that leads upward from an inlet of the reactant conduit through which the raw material enters the reactant conduit to an apex of the deflection portion and downward from the apex to an outlet opening of the reactant conduit through which the reactant conduit enters the reactor, and wherein the reactant conduit has a closable vent opening that is located at a higher level relative to the Earth's gravitational field than the inlet of the reactant conduit through which the raw material enters the reactant conduit and is above a maximum possible level of liquid reaction product in the reactor system. The method comprises the steps of: metering a signal representative of the flow of the raw material in the reactant conduit, and opening the vent opening when the characteristic signal violates a predetermined limit.

[0012] The reactor system and the method according to the invention have the following advantages: gas bubbles can be generated in the reactant conduit by means of the vent opening, which reliably prevents the flow of feedstock toward the reactor and the backflow of portions of the reactor contents toward the reactant conduit. Because the gas bubbles formed after opening the vent opening are at a higher level in the reactant conduit than the inlet of the feedstock into the reactant conduit and above the highest possible level of liquid reaction products in the reactor system, the gas bubbles in the reactant conduit constitute an insurmountable barrier to potential backflow from the reactor into the reactant conduit. A further advantage of the reactor system according to the invention is that the backflow protection can be implemented in a simple manner using robust and proven components that require little maintenance.

[0013] "Up," "upward," "downward," and similar directional or positional statements are to be understood relative to the Earth's gravitational field. Thus, a first component positioned "above" a second component is located farther from the Earth's surface than a second component. Thus, the "apex" is the highest point of the deflection portion in the reactant conduit relative to the Earth's gravitational field.

[0014] The reactor system comprises at least one reactor. The reactor system may also comprise two or more reactors, which are arranged in series, in parallel, or partially in series and partially in parallel for flow purposes. The reactor system may comprise further components, for example, typical devices of chemical engineering plants, such as pumps, pipes, containers, tanks, heat exchangers or separation devices (such as phase separators, extraction columns, distillation columns or other separation devices).

[0015] The at least one reactor is a container that is closed to the environment and in which a chemical reaction can occur. The reactor can have any known shape and function and be designed as a single device or as a reaction zone integrated into another device, such as a stirred tank reactor, a tubular reactor or a reactive distillation column.

[0016] The reactor system of the present invention has no restrictions on the chemical reaction carried out therein. For example, the reaction carried out in the reactor can be carried out spontaneously by contact of the raw materials, or can be started by a catalyst. The catalyst here can be homogeneous or heterogeneous. The reaction system can be intended to be used to perform the reaction in any mode, such as batch mode, semi-batch mode or continuous mode.

[0017] The reactor system is designed to supply at least one feedstock to the reactor. Two or more feedstocks may also be supplied to the reactor system. In the case of two or more feedstocks, these feedstocks may be fed together into the reactor via a single reactant conduit or separately into the reactor via separate reactant conduits. Furthermore, a catalyst may be supplied to the reactor to promote or initiate a reaction of the feedstocks in the reactor.

[0018] The reactant conduit for supplying the at least one raw material and the product conduit for discharging the reaction product can be designed in a known manner, for example as a pipeline connecting the reactor to a tank or other container or chemical engineering equipment. Additional components such as pumps, heat exchangers, control valves, measuring devices or stop valves can be arranged in the reactant conduit or the product conduit.

[0019] The reaction product produced by the reaction of the raw materials supplied to the reactor is at least partially liquid. The reaction product may be entirely liquid. It may also contain a certain proportion of vapor or gas, either as a separate phase or dissolved in the liquid. The reaction product may also include one or more liquid phases and a vapor or gas phase. Depending on the type of raw materials used and the chemical reaction being performed, solids may also be present in the reaction product, for example, in the case of precipitation or crystallization.

[0020] According to the present invention, the closable vent opening is located at a level relative to the Earth's gravitational field that is higher than the highest possible level of the liquid reaction product in the reactor system. The highest possible level is influenced primarily by the structural and geometrical characteristics of the reactor system and secondarily by the processes carried out in the reactor system. The highest possible level corresponds to the maximum level that the liquid reaction product can reach in the reactor system. This may be the fluid level reached during the normal course of the process being carried out. It may also be a level that is reached only in exceptional circumstances, such as during an unplanned pressure increase in the reactor system.

[0021] The highest possible liquid level can be established in the reactor or in a vessel or device connected to the reactor. Examples of connected devices or vessels are heat exchangers (e.g. condensers), phase separators, separation devices (e.g. columns), pressure reducers (e.g. expansion valves), storage tanks and the pipes connecting these devices and / or vessels.

[0022] In one embodiment of the reactor system of the present invention, a stop valve is arranged in the reactant conduit, upstream of the deflection portion in the direction of flow of the raw material. The presence of a stop valve in the reactant conduit has the additional advantage of preventing backflow. In addition, it can be ensured that no other reactants are transported toward the reactor. The stop valve is preferably provided with a driver that can be controlled via an electronic signal. The stop valve is preferably a controllable ball valve or a control valve. In a modification of this embodiment, at least two stop valves are arranged in series in the reactant conduit, upstream of the deflection portion in the direction of flow of the raw material.

[0023] According to the present invention, the vent opening in the reactant conduit is at a level higher than the inlet of the raw materials into the reactant conduit and at a level higher than the highest possible level of the liquid reaction products in the reactor system. Therefore, the vent opening can be located at different positions in the reactant conduit. In one embodiment, the vent opening is arranged at the apex of the deflection portion.

[0024] Vent opening can be implemented in different ways.Vent opening is preferably configured so that when vent opening is opened, no potential harmful substances (such as gaseous components of raw materials or from reactor interior) can pass through vent opening and enter the environment. In one embodiment of reactor system of the present invention, vent conduit for supplying gas to reactant conduit is connected to vent opening, wherein vent conduit has stop valve. For example, inert gas can be introduced into reactant conduit by vent conduit, so that formation prevents the bubble of backflow, and this inert gas is inert relative to the raw material present in reactant conduit. Particularly suitable inert gas is nitrogen. Depending on the characteristic of raw material, other substances also can be suitable as inert gas.

[0025] In an advantageous development, the reactor system further comprises a container into which a product conduit for discharging liquid reaction products from the reactor opens, the container being configured to provide a gas volume and a liquid volume, the liquid volume being provided with at least one outlet for the liquid reaction product, and the gas volume having at least one outlet opening into a conduit connected in a closable manner to the vent opening. In this embodiment of the reactor system, a self-contained system can advantageously be implemented, since, if desired, the gas volume from the container can be introduced into the reactant conduit via the vent opening in the deflector section in order to form a gas bubble therein that prevents backflow.

[0026] The gas volume in the container can be the gas formed in the reactor during the reaction of the starting materials and flowing from the reactor into the container. However, there can also be another connection between the gas conduit and the container, via which gas can be introduced into the container in a controlled manner. This variant is advantageous, for example, if an inert gas (e.g., nitrogen) is to be provided as the gas volume in the container.

[0027] In an advantageous development, the reactor system further comprises a sensor system and a safety circuit having a comparison unit and an output means, wherein the sensor system is configured to determine a signal representative of the flow of the feedstock in the reactant conduit, the comparison unit is configured to compare the signal with a preset limit, and if the signal violates the limit, the output means causes the shutoff valve in the reactant conduit to close and the vent opening to open. With the aid of the sensor system and the safety circuit, fully automatic monitoring of the reactor system can be implemented.

[0028] The sensor system can include sensors for different state variables in chemical engineering processes as known in the prior art, such as sensors for detecting pressure, temperature, flow velocity, density. The signal characterizing the flow of raw materials in the reactant conduit is considered to be all signals that allow to draw conclusions about the flow in the reactant conduit. In one embodiment of the invention, the signal characterizing the flow of raw materials in the reactant conduit is a quantitative measurement value, a pressure differential measurement value, or both a quantitative measurement value and a pressure differential measurement value of the flowing raw materials. An advantage of these signals is that there is sufficiently mature technology to reliably provide signal and maintenance cost is low. Another advantage is that a limit can be set in a simple and intuitive manner for this type of signal, and the value determined from the sensor can be compared with the limit.

[0029] The safety loop includes a comparison unit configured to compare the sensor signal with preset limits. This comparison can be performed in any suitable computing unit, such as a microcontroller implemented in a safety-oriented controller, a programmable controller, or a process control system (PCS). The safety loop can be implemented as a software component, a hardware component, or a combination of hardware and software components. The sensor signal can be read via any communication method that can transmit the data signal from the measuring device to the data processing device. These communication methods can be wired, wireless, or a combination of these. The choice of the appropriate method depends on the application requirements.

[0030] The limits in the comparison unit can be defined in various ways. In one embodiment, the limits are manually entered via an operating unit (e.g., a keyboard, an operating panel, a writable display, or a microphone for voice input). This embodiment is particularly suitable for applications where backflow protection is provided as a standalone application. In another embodiment, the limits in the comparison unit are transmitted via a communication interface. This embodiment is particularly suitable for applications where the backflow protection measure is part of a more comprehensive automation system or monitoring system, for example, when the backflow protection measure is integrated into a process control system.

[0031] The output means of the safety loop is suitable for closing the stop valve in the reactant conduit and opening the vent. In one embodiment, the output means is a signal sent to the stop valve and the vent via a communication interface. In this case, the stop valve and the vent are correspondingly configured to receive signals. These signals can be transmitted via wired communication means, wireless communication means or a combination thereof. The selection of the corresponding means depends on the requirement of application.

[0032] The present invention further provides a method for protecting a reactor system, the reactor system comprising a reactor, a reactant conduit for feeding a raw material into the reactor, and a product conduit for discharging a reaction product which is at least partially liquid from the reactor, wherein the reactant conduit has a deflection portion which leads upward from an inlet through which the raw material enters the reactant conduit to an apex of the deflection portion and downward from the apex to an outlet opening through which the reactant conduit enters the reactor, and the reactant conduit has a closable vent opening which is located at a higher level relative to the earth's gravitational field than an inlet through which the raw material enters the reactant conduit and is higher than a highest possible level of liquid reaction products in the reactor system, a shut-off valve being arranged in the reactant conduit upstream of the deflection portion in the flow direction of the raw material, and the reactor system further comprising a sensor system and a safety circuit having a comparison unit and an output means, wherein the method comprises the following steps:

[0033] a) determining in the sensor system a signal indicative of the flow of the feedstock in the reactant conduit,

[0034] b) comparing the characteristic signal with a preset limit in the comparison unit, and

[0035] c) using the output means to output output signals, which close the shutoff valve in the reactant conduit and open the vent opening, if the characteristic signal violates the limit.

[0036] The present invention further provides for the use of the reactor system of the invention in processes in which starting materials are converted into products in a chemical reaction, wherein at least one starting material is selected from the group consisting of aldehydes, alcohols, epoxides, amines and organic acids, and / or wherein the chemical reaction is selected from the group consisting of olefination, ethoxylation, amidation and esterification.

[0037] The invention will be explained in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings should be considered schematic diagrams. They do not constitute a limitation of the invention, for example with respect to specific dimensions or configuration variants, unless otherwise indicated in the description of the drawings. The drawings show:

[0038] Figure 1 : Flow diagram of the first embodiment of the reactor system of the present invention

[0039] Figure 2 : Flow diagram of the second embodiment of the reactor system of the present invention

[0040] List of reference symbols used

[0041] 1…reactor

[0042] 2…Reactant conduit

[0043] 3…Inlet of the reactant conduit

[0044] 4…Outlet of the reactant conduit

[0045] 5…Additional reactant conduits

[0046] 6…circulatory system

[0047] 7…Pump

[0048] 8…Heat exchanger

[0049] 9…Product catheter

[0050] 10…Deflection unit

[0051] 11…Vertex of the deflection unit

[0052] 12…Ventilation opening

[0053] 13…Ventilation tube

[0054] 14…Stop valve

[0055] 15…Stop valve

[0056] 16…Measuring orifice

[0057] 17…Differential pressure controller

[0058] 18…Container

[0059] 19…Liquid volume

[0060] 20…Gas volume

[0061] Figure 1The schematic diagram of the flow diagram of the first embodiment of the reactor system of the present invention is shown. The reactor system includes a reactor 1, in which raw materials (reactants) are converted into products in a chemical reaction by contacting with other substances. Other substances can be, for example, other raw materials (other reactants) or catalysts. The chemical reaction occurs at least partially in the liquid phase, and the product of the reaction is at least partially liquid. The raw materials to be converted are fed to the reactor 1 via a reactant conduit 2, for example, from a storage tank (not shown). Other raw materials or catalysts are fed to the reactor 1 via another reactant conduit 5, for example, from another storage tank (also not shown). In the example shown, the reactor 1 has a circulation system 6, in which a portion of the liquid reactor contents is extracted at the bottom of the reactor, fed to a heat exchanger 8 via a pump 7, and returned to the reactor 1 after leaving the heat exchanger. Depending on the type of reaction to be carried out, heat can be supplied to the reaction mixture in a suitable manner via the heat exchanger 8 via the circulation system 6, or heat can be removed from the reaction mixture. In the example shown, another reactant conduit 5 leads to a circulation conduit between the outlet of the reactor and the inlet of the pump 7. However, further starting materials or catalyst can also be fed elsewhere into the circulation system 6 or directly into the reactor 1. At the top of the reactor 1, the at least partly liquid reaction product is withdrawn via a product conduit 9.

[0062] The reactant conduit 2 has a deflection 10 that leads upward from an inlet 3 for the raw materials into the reactant conduit to an apex 11 of the deflection and downward from the apex 11 to the outlet opening 4 of the reactant conduit into the reactor 1. In the example shown, the inlet 3 of the reactant conduit is at a lower level relative to the Earth's gravitational field than the outlet 4 of the reactant conduit. However, the inlet 3 and outlet may also be at the same height, or the inlet 3 may be at a higher level than the outlet 4.

[0063] The reactant conduit 2 has a closable vent opening 12, which is located at a higher level relative to the Earth's gravitational field than the inlet 3 for the feedstock into the reactant conduit 2 and above the highest possible level of the liquid reaction products in the reactor system. In the example shown, the product conduit 9 leading from the top of the reactor 1 constitutes the highest possible level of the liquid reaction products in the reactor system. In this example, the vent opening 12 is designed as a shutoff valve 14 in the form of a three-way valve, to which the vent conduit 13 leads. The shutoff valve 14 is arranged at the apex 11 of the deflection section 10 and above the product discharge pipe 9. A further shutoff valve 15 is arranged in the reactant conduit 2 upstream of the deflection section 10 in the direction of feedstock flow.

[0064] Reliably protects the Figure 1The reactor system is designed to prevent a possible backflow of the liquid reactor contents toward the reactant conduit 2. If backflow occurs, for example due to a pressure increase in the reactor 1, the shutoff valve 15 in the reactant conduit 2 is first closed. Furthermore, the shutoff valve 14 in the deflection section 10 is switched so that gas (e.g., an inert gas such as nitrogen) is introduced into the vent opening 12 of the deflection section 10 via the vent conduit 13. Since the vent opening 12 is located above all components of the reactor system that could carry liquid, the gas volume present in the vent opening 12 of the reactant conduit 2 constitutes an insurmountable barrier to any possible liquid backflow. Therefore, even in the event of a leak in the shutoff valve 15 in the reactant conduit 2, liquid from the reactor 1 cannot reach the shutoff valve 15.

[0065] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a flow diagram of a second embodiment of a reactor system according to the invention is shown. The basic configuration of the reactor including the reactant feed and the circulation system 6 via the heat exchanger 8 corresponds substantially to the above combined Figure 1 The reactor system described. Reactor 1 has a nozzle, and the outlet 4 of reactant conduit 2 leads to this nozzle. The circulation system 6 that returns to reactor 1 also leads to nozzle and ensures that reactor contents and the raw materials supplied during operation are mixed vigorously. The product conduit 9 via the top of reactor 1 is extracted from the product formed in reactor 1 and fed to container 18, in which the reaction product can be physically separated. In the container 18 (it is also referred to as "phase separator") shown in this example, the reaction product is separated into gas phase and two different liquid phases. Depending on the composition of the reaction product, this can be, for example, an organic phase and an aqueous phase. Therefore, there is a gas volume 20 and a liquid volume 19 in container 18. These phases or volumes can be extracted independently from container 18 by conduit. In this example, the gas volume 20 of container 18 is connected to vent conduit 13 via conduit and two stop valves 14, and these two stop valves are arranged in parallel for flow purposes. By another conduit leading to the gas phase of container 18, for example, inert gas can be fed to the gas volume 20 in container 18.

[0066] In the reactant conduit 2, in the example shown, two stop valves 15 are arranged in sequence upstream of the deflection portion 10 in the flow direction of the raw material. A measuring orifice 16 is installed between the inlet 3 and the first stop valve 15 in the reactant conduit. A pressure sensor (not shown) is used to determine the signal of the pressure upstream and downstream of the measuring orifice 16 observed in the flow direction. The two sensor signals are used to calculate the value of the determined pressure differential in the pressure differential controller 17. The limit of the maximum pressure differential allowed is preset in the pressure differential controller 17. Once the pressure differential calculated based on the measured pressure signal exceeds the preset limit, the pressure differential controller 17 transmits an output signal to the two stop valves 15 in the reactant conduit 2 and the two stop valves 14 in the vent conduit 13. The output signal closes the two stop valves 15 in the reactant conduit 2 and opens the two stop valves 14 in the vent conduit. The result of this is that a portion of the gas volume 20 in the container 18 flows through the vent conduit 13 and enters the reactant conduit 2 via the vent opening 12 at the apex 11 of the deflection portion 10. Since the vent opening 12 is above all possible liquid-carrying components of the reactor system, the gas volume present in the vent opening 12 of the reactant conduit 2 constitutes an insurmountable barrier to possible liquid backflow and, therefore, even in the event of a leak in the stop valve 15 in the reactant conduit 2, liquid from the reactor 1 cannot reach the stop valve 15.

[0067] In the example shown, a signal measuring the pressure difference upstream and downstream of the orifice 16 provides a reliable value as an indicator of possible backflow of a portion of the reactor contents into the reactant conduit. The pressure difference is a signal that characterizes the flow of the raw material in the reactant conduit 2. However, other characteristic signals can also be used to detect possible backflow, such as a measurement of the amount of raw material flowing through the reactant conduit 2. Appropriate technical measuring instruments for determining mass flow rate or volume flow rate are known and available in the prior art.

Claims

1. A reactor system comprising a reactor (1), a reactant conduit (2) for feeding a raw material into the reactor (1), and a product conduit (9) for discharging an at least partially liquid reaction product from the reactor (1), wherein: The reactant conduit (2) has a deflection portion (10) which leads upward from the inlet (3) through which the raw materials enter the reactant conduit to the apex (11) of the deflection portion (10) and downward from the apex (11) to the outlet opening (4) through which the reactant conduit enters the reactor (1), and the reactant conduit (2) has a closable vent opening (12) which is at a higher level relative to the earth's gravitational field than the inlet (3) through which the raw materials enter the reactant conduit and is higher than the highest possible level of liquid reaction products in the reactor system.

2. The reactor system according to claim 1, wherein A shut-off valve (15) is provided in the reactant conduit (2) upstream of the deflection portion (10) in the flow direction of the raw material.

3. The reactor system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein The ventilation opening (12) is arranged at the apex (11) of the deflection portion (10).

4. The reactor system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein A vent conduit (13) for supplying gas to the reactant conduit (2) is connected to the vent opening (12), wherein the vent conduit (13) has a shutoff valve (14).

5. The reactor system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein The reactor system further comprises a vessel (18) into which the product conduit (9) for discharging the liquid reaction product from the reactor (1) opens, the vessel (18) being arranged to provide a gas volume (20) and a liquid volume (19), the liquid volume (19) being provided with at least one outlet for the liquid reaction product, and the gas volume (20) having at least one outlet which enters a conduit connected in a closable manner to the vent opening (12).

6. The reactor system according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein The reactor system further comprises a sensor system and a safety circuit having a comparison unit and an output means, wherein the sensor system is arranged to determine a signal representative of the flow of the raw material in the reactant conduit (2), the comparison unit is arranged to compare the signal with a preset limit, and if the signal violates the limit, the output means causes the shut-off valve (15) in the reactant conduit (2) to close and the vent opening (12) to open.

7. The reactor system according to claim 6, wherein The signal indicative of the flow of the feedstock in the reactant conduit (2) is a quantitative measurement of the flowing feedstock and / or a differential pressure measurement.

8. A method for protecting a reactor system, the reactor system comprising a reactor (1), a reactant conduit (2) for feeding a raw material into the reactor (1), and a product conduit (9) for discharging a reaction product which is at least partially liquid from the reactor (1), wherein the reactant conduit (2) has a deflection portion (10) which leads upward from an inlet (3) through which the raw material enters the reactant conduit to an apex (11) of the deflection portion (10) and downward from the apex (11) to an outlet opening (4) through which the reactant conduit enters the reactor (1), and the reactant conduit (2) has a closable vent opening (12) which is located at a higher level relative to the Earth's gravitational field than the inlet (3) through which the raw material enters the reactant conduit and is above the highest possible level of the liquid reaction product in the reactor system, the method comprising the following steps: A signal characteristic of the flow of the raw material in the reactant conduit (2) is determined by metering, and the vent opening (12) is opened when the characteristic signal violates a preset limit.

9. A method for protecting a reactor system comprising a reactor (1), a reactant conduit (2) for feeding a raw material into the reactor (1), and a product conduit (9) for withdrawing an at least partially liquid reaction product from the reactor (1), wherein: The reactant conduit (2) has a deflection portion (10), which leads upward from the inlet (3) through which the raw material enters the reactant conduit to the apex (11) of the deflection portion (10) and downward from the apex (11) to the outlet opening (4) through which the reactant conduit enters the reactor (1), and the reactant conduit (2) has a closable vent opening (12), which is located at a higher level relative to the earth's gravitational field than the inlet (3) through which the raw material enters the reactant conduit and is higher than the highest possible level of liquid reaction products in the reactor system, a shut-off valve (15) is arranged in the reactant conduit (2) upstream of the deflection portion (10) in the flow direction of the raw material, and the reactor system further comprises a sensor system and a safety circuit having a comparison unit and an output means, and the method comprises the following steps: a) determining in the sensor system a signal representative of the flow of the feedstock in the reactant conduit (2), b) comparing the characteristic signal with a preset limit in the comparison unit, and c) using the output means to output output signals, which close the shutoff valve (15) in the reactant conduit (2) and open the vent opening (12), if the characteristic signal violates the limit.

10. Use of the reactor system according to any one of claims 1 to 7 in processes in which starting materials are converted into products in a chemical reaction, wherein at least one starting material is selected from the group consisting of aldehydes, alcohols, epoxides, amines and organic acids, and / or wherein the chemical reaction is selected from the group consisting of olefination, ethoxylation, amidation and esterification.

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