Electric heating reactor

Abstract

An electrically heated reactor is disclosed, which includes a reaction tube having a longitudinal passage formed therein through which reactants pass, a power source configured to supply power to the reaction tube so as to heat the reactants passing through the passage, a pair of conductive sockets connecting the power source and the reaction tube so as to allow current to flow, and a heating element extending longitudinally within the reaction tube, electrically connected to the reaction tube, and configured to receive power from the power source to generate heat and further heat the reactants passing through the passage.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] [Cross - reference to Related Applications] This application claims the benefit of priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10 - 2023 - 0190927 filed on December 26, 2023, and all the contents disclosed in the document of the Korean patent application are included as part of this specification.

[0002] The present invention relates to an electric heating reactor, and more particularly, to an electric heating reactor capable of operating for a long time by arranging a reaction tube so as to cancel out the electromagnetic force continuously applied to the reaction tube during operation.

Background Art

[0003] In the chemical industry, the temperature of various facilities (e.g., crackers, reformers, reactors, boilers, etc.) is maintained high using natural gas as fuel. However, heating by burning natural gas is not only inefficient in terms of energy consumption but also a major cause of carbon emissions. Therefore, efforts are being made to replace the heating method by burning natural gas with an electric heating method.

[0004] As part of such efforts, a technique has been proposed in which a plurality of reaction tubes are arranged in a row and an electric current in the same direction is applied to the reaction tubes. According to such a technique, an attractive force may be generated between adjacent reaction tubes. When an electric current of the same magnitude is applied to reaction tubes of the same specification, the resultant force applied to the reaction tube located in the middle of the plurality of reaction tubes may become 0, but the reaction tubes located at both ends of the plurality of reaction tubes will continuously receive a force. For example, according to a conventional naphtha cracking apparatus in which two reaction tubes are arranged side by side, the length of the reaction tube is about 10 m, the distance between the reaction tubes is about 0.1 m, a current of 3500 A is applied, and a force of about 245 N is continuously applied to the reaction tube, thereby generating a stress of about 4836 psi.

[0005] The information contained in this background section is intended to enhance understanding of the background of the invention and may include information that is not prior art already known to those with ordinary skill in the art to which this art belongs. [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0006] The embodiments of the present invention aim to provide an electric heating reactor capable of long-term operation by optimizing the arrangement of reaction tubes. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] An electric heating reactor according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of reaction tubes, each having a passage formed in the longitudinal direction through which a reactant passes; and a power supply configured to supply an electric current to the plurality of reaction tubes to heat the reactant passing through the passage, wherein the plurality of reaction tubes can be arranged such that the resultant force of the electromagnetic forces due to the electric current supplied to the plurality of reaction tubes is less than or equal to a set value.

[0008] In one aspect, the set value may be 10% or less of the electromagnetic force that the first reaction tube exerts on the second reaction tube adjacent to the first reaction tube.

[0009] In another aspect, the plurality of reaction tubes may be arranged such that the resultant force of the electromagnetic forces supplied to the plurality of reaction tubes is zero.

[0010] The plurality of reaction tubes can be arranged in one or more modules such that the resultant force of the electromagnetic forces acting on each reaction tube is less than or equal to a set value.

[0011] In one aspect, the setting value may be 10% or less of the electromagnetic force exerted by the first reaction tube, located in each module, on the second reaction tube adjacent to the first reaction tube.

[0012] In another aspect, the plurality of reaction tubes may be arranged in one or more modules such that the resultant force of the electromagnetic forces acting on each reaction tube is zero.

[0013] The electric heating reactor may further include a shielding housing that surrounds the reaction tubes included in each module and shields them from external electromagnetic forces.

[0014] Four reaction tubes having the same resistance, diameter, and length constitute a single module, with three reaction tubes arranged in an equilateral triangle and the remaining reaction tube positioned in the center of the equilateral triangle. A current of the same magnitude can flow through the three reaction tubes arranged in the equilateral triangle in a first direction, and a current of the same magnitude can flow through the reaction tube positioned in the center in a second direction, which is opposite to the first direction.

[0015] The electric heating reactor may further include a shielding housing that surrounds the four reaction tubes contained in the module and shields them from external electromagnetic forces.

[0016] The shielding housing can be formed as an equilateral triangle surrounding the four reaction tubes.

[0017] The electric heating reactor may include a plurality of modules, including the shielding housing.

[0018] The electric heating reactor may further include a cooler for cooling at least one of the pair of conductive sockets.

[0019] The heat generated by the reaction tube and the heat generated by the heating element can be controlled by adjusting the resistance between the reaction tube and the heating element. [Effects of the Invention]

[0020] According to the present invention, the reaction tubes are arranged such that the resultant force applied to each reaction tube by the current flowing through the reaction tubes becomes zero, enabling long-term operation without failure.

[0021] In addition, the electromagnetic force applied to the reaction tubes decreases, the replacement period of the reaction tubes becomes longer, and maintenance costs can be reduced.

[0022] In addition, effects obtained or predicted by embodiments of the present invention are directly or implicitly disclosed in the detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention. That is, various effects predicted by the embodiments of the present invention are disclosed in the detailed description described later.

[0023] Embodiments of this specification should be better understood by referring to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to the same or functionally similar elements.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0024] [Figure 1] It is a schematic diagram showing an electric heating reactor according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] It schematically shows the arrangement of reaction tubes in an electric heating reactor according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] It schematically shows the resultant force applied to one reaction tube. [Figure 4] It is a schematic diagram showing an electric heating reactor according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0025] The drawings referred to above are not necessarily shown to scale and should be understood as presenting somewhat simplified representations of various preferred features illustrative of the basic principles of the present disclosure. For example, certain design features of the present disclosure, including specific dimensions, directions, positions, and shapes, are determined in part by the particular intended application and use environment.

[0026] The terms used herein are for the sole purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the invention. As used herein, singular forms are intended to include plural forms unless expressly indicated otherwise in the context. The terms “including” and / or “containing,” as used herein, identify the presence of the mentioned features, integers, stages, operations, components and / or parts, but should not be understood as excluding the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, stages, operations, components and / or groups thereof. As used herein, the terms “and / or” include any one or all combinations of the items listed relating to them.

[0027] Furthermore, it will be understood that one or more of the methods or embodiments described below can be performed by at least one controller. The term “controller” may refer to a hardware device including memory and a processor. The memory is configured to store program instructions, and the processor is specifically programmed to execute program instructions to perform one or more processes, which are described in more detail below. A controller can control the operation of a unit, module, component, device, or similar, as described herein. It will also be understood that the methods described below can be performed by a device including a controller together with one or more other components, as will be recognized by those skilled in the art.

[0028] Furthermore, the controllers of this disclosure can be implemented as non-temporary computer-readable recording media containing executable program instructions executed by a processor. Examples of computer-readable recording media include, but are not limited to, ROM, RAM, compact disk (CD) ROM, magnetic tape, floppy disk, flash drive, smart card, and optical data storage device. Computer-readable recording media can also store and execute program instructions distributed across a computer network, for example, in a telematics server or a controller area network (CAN).

[0029] According to the present invention, an electric heating reactor includes a plurality of reaction tubes, each having a passage formed longitudinally through which reactants pass, and a power supply configured to supply current to the plurality of reaction tubes to heat the reactants passing through the passage. The plurality of reaction tubes may be arranged such that the resultant force of the electromagnetic force due to the applied current is less than or equal to a set value. The set value is not limited to this, but may be 10% or less of the electromagnetic force that a first reaction tube applies to a second reaction tube adjacent to the first reaction tube. The plurality of reaction tubes may be arranged such that the resultant force of the electromagnetic force due to the applied current is zero. Since the resultant force applied to each reaction tube is zero, the stress applied to the reaction tubes during operation becomes zero, enabling long-term operation without failure. In addition, the stress applied to the reaction tubes is reduced, the replacement cycle of the reaction tubes is extended, and maintenance costs can be reduced.

[0030] In one example, four reaction tubes are arranged in a single module, with three reaction tubes forming an equilateral triangle and one reaction tube positioned at the center of the triangle. Current flows in the three reaction tubes positioned at the vertices of the triangle in a first direction, while current flows in the one reaction tube at the center in a second direction, opposite to the first direction. As a result, the resultant force acting on each of the four reaction tubes becomes zero.

[0031] Furthermore, the electric heating reactor further includes a shielding housing that surrounds the reaction tube of one module and shields it from external electromagnetic forces. This eliminates the need to consider electromagnetic forces between modules when arranging reaction tubes of multiple modules.

[0032] The embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings.

[0033] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing an electric heating reactor according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 shows a schematic arrangement of reaction tubes in an electric heating reactor according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 3 shows a schematic resultant force applied to one reaction tube.

[0034] As shown in Figure 1, the electric heating reactor 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is configured to generate heat when an electric current is supplied, and to use the generated heat to heat the reactants to be reacted. The electric heating reactor 10 includes a plurality of reaction tubes 20 and a power supply 30.

[0035] The reaction tube 20 is made of an alloy material having high resistivity (e.g., Ni-Cr, Fe-Cr, Fe-Ni-Cr, Fe-Cr-Al, etc.), and a passage for the reactants to pass through is formed inside it in the longitudinal direction. For example, the reaction tube 20 may be formed in an annular pipe shape with a passage formed inside it in the longitudinal direction. However, the shape of the reaction tube 20 is not limited to an annular pipe shape. Because the reaction tube 20 has high resistivity, when an electric current is applied to the reaction tube 20, heat is generated in the reaction tube 20, and this heat can be transferred to the reactants in the passage.

[0036] An inlet is formed at one end of the reaction tube 20, and the reactants to be reacted flow into the reaction tube 20 through the inlet. An outlet is formed at the other end of the reaction tube 20, and the product of the completed reaction and / or unreacted material that has not been reacted flows out of the reaction tube 20 through the outlet.

[0037] The multiple reaction tubes 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d are arranged such that the resultant force of the electromagnetic forces applied to each reaction tube 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d is zero. The multiple reaction tubes 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d are continuously supplied with a high current to heat the reactants inside, and the high current causes an electromagnetic force to be applied between adjacent reaction tubes 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d. If the electromagnetic forces do not cancel each other out, the multiple reaction tubes 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d will be continuously subjected to a strong electromagnetic force while the reactants are reacting, and this electromagnetic force may cause the multiple reaction tubes 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d to deform. To prevent deformation of the multiple reaction tubes 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d, the multiple reaction tubes 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d may be arranged such that the resultant force of the electromagnetic forces applied to each reaction tube 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d is less than or equal to a set value. The set value is not limited to this, but may be 10% or less of the electromagnetic force that the first reaction tube 20a applies to the second reaction tube 20b adjacent to the first reaction tube 20a. The multiple reaction tubes 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d may be arranged such that the resultant force of the electromagnetic forces is zero due to the applied current.

[0038] For example, as shown in Figure 2, four reaction tubes 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d having the same resistance, diameter, and length can be arranged in one module. Three of the four reaction tubes 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d, the first, second, and third reaction tubes 20a, 20b, and 20c, can be arranged in an equilateral triangle, and one reaction tube (the fourth reaction tube 20d) can be placed at the center of the equilateral triangle. If the distance between the first, second, and third reaction tubes 20a, 20b, and 20c, which are placed at the vertices of the equilateral triangle, is d, then the distance between one of the first, second, and third reaction tubes 20a, 20b, and 20c and the fourth reaction tube 20d is

number

[0039] Furthermore, the first, second, and third reaction tubes 20a, 20b, and 20c have the same current flowing in the first direction, while the fourth reaction tube 20d, located in the center, has the same current flowing in the second direction, which is opposite to the first direction. As shown in Figure 3, if the force that the second reaction tube 20b applies to the first reaction tube 20a is F, then the force that the third reaction tube 20c applies to the first reaction tube 20a is F, and the force that the fourth reaction tube 20d applies to the first reaction tube 20a is

number

number

[0040] The power supply 30 is configured to supply current to the reaction tube 20. The power supply 40 may be an AC power supply or a DC power supply. For example, the power supply 30 can supply the same current to four reaction tubes 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d, supplying current to the first, second, and third reaction tubes 20a, 20b, and 20c in a first direction, and supplying current to the fourth reaction tube 20d in a second direction, which is opposite to the first direction. As a result, the resultant force of the electromagnetic forces applied to each of the four reaction tubes 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d becomes zero.

[0041] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showing an electric heating reactor according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0042] As shown in Figure 4, an electric heating reactor 10 according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of modules of reaction tubes 20 according to the embodiment of the present invention and a power supply 30. Each module includes four reaction tubes 20 and a shielding housing 40.

[0043] For example, the four reaction tubes 20 in each module may have the same resistance, diameter, and length, and three of the four reaction tubes 20 may be arranged in an equilateral triangle, with one reaction tube 20 positioned at the center of the equilateral triangle. The same current flows in a first direction through the three reaction tubes 20 positioned at the vertices of the equilateral triangle, and the same current flows in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, through the one reaction tube positioned at the center. As a result, the resultant electromagnetic force acting on each of the four reaction tubes 20 contained in each module becomes zero.

[0044] The shielding housing 40 is configured to surround the reaction tube 20 of one module and shield it from electromagnetic forces to the outside. As shown in Figure 4, the shielding housing 40 may also be formed as an equilateral triangle surrounding the reaction tube 20 of one module, but is not limited to this. By surrounding the reaction tube 20 with the shielding housing 40 while the resultant force of the electromagnetic forces acting on each reaction tube 20 contained in each module is zero, it is possible to prevent external electromagnetic forces from being applied to the reaction tube 20 inside the shielding housing 40. Furthermore, when arranging reaction tubes 20 of multiple modules, it is not necessary to consider the interaction of electromagnetic forces between modules, making module arrangement easier.

[0045] In another example, three of the four reaction tubes 20 in each module may be arranged in a triangle, with one reaction tube 20 positioned at the center of the triangle. Current flows in a first direction through the three reaction tubes 20 positioned at the vertices of the triangle, and current flows in a second direction opposite to the first direction through the one reaction tube at the center, so that the resultant electromagnetic force acting on each of the four reaction tubes 20 in each module is less than or equal to a set value. The set value is not limited to this, but may be less than or equal to 10% of the electromagnetic force acting between any one reaction tube 20 positioned at the vertices of the triangle and the other reaction tube 20 at the center, or between any two reaction tubes 20 positioned at the vertices of the triangle.

[0046] Preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and includes all modifications that are readily available and equivalent to the embodiments of the present invention by a person with ordinary skill in the art to which the invention pertains.

Claims

1. Multiple reaction tubes, each with a passage formed along its length through which reactants pass; A power supply configured to supply current to the plurality of reaction tubes so as to heat the reactants passing through the passage; Includes, An electric heating reactor in which the plurality of reaction tubes are arranged such that the resultant force of the electromagnetic forces due to the electric current supplied to the plurality of reaction tubes is less than or equal to a set value.

2. The electric heating reactor according to claim 1, wherein the set value is 10% or less of the electromagnetic force that the first reaction tube applies to the second reaction tube adjacent to the first reaction tube.

3. The electric heating reactor according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of reaction tubes are arranged such that the resultant force of the electromagnetic forces due to the current supplied to the plurality of reaction tubes is zero.

4. The electric heating reactor according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of reaction tubes are arranged in one or more modules such that the resultant force of the electromagnetic forces acting on each reaction tube is less than or equal to a set value.

5. The electric heating reactor according to claim 4, wherein the setting value is 10% or less of the electromagnetic force that the first reaction tubes arranged in each module exert on the second reaction tube adjacent to the first reaction tube.

6. The electric heating reactor according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of reaction tubes are arranged in one or more modules such that the resultant force of the electromagnetic forces acting on each reaction tube is zero.

7. The electric heating reactor according to claim 5, further comprising a shielding housing that surrounds the reaction tubes included in each of the modules and shields them from external electromagnetic forces.

8. Four reaction tubes having the same resistance, diameter, and length constitute one module. The three reaction tubes are arranged in an equilateral triangle. The remaining reaction tube is positioned in the center of the equilateral triangle. The electric heating reactor according to claim 1, wherein a current of the same magnitude flows in a first direction through three reaction tubes arranged in an equilateral triangle, and a current of the same magnitude flows in a second direction opposite to the first direction through one reaction tube located in the center.

9. The electric heating reactor according to claim 8, further comprising a shielding housing that surrounds the four reaction tubes included in one module and shields against external electromagnetic forces.

10. The electric heating reactor according to claim 9, wherein the shielding housing is formed in the shape of an equilateral triangle surrounding four reaction tubes.

11. The electric heating reactor according to claim 9, comprising a plurality of modules including the shielding housing.

12. The electric heating reactor according to claim 1, further comprising a cooler for cooling at least one of a pair of conductive sockets.

13. The electric heating reactor according to claim 1, wherein the amount of heat generated by the reaction tube and the amount of heat generated by the heating element are controlled by adjusting the resistance of the reaction tube and the heating element.

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