Reactor Catalyst Placement for Preheating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Heat exchanger-type reactors require a preheating device to raise the reaction fluid to a reaction temperature, increasing system costs.
Innovation Solution
A reactor design with a catalyst body placed in regions between the reaction fluid flow channels and heat medium flow channels, allowing the reaction fluid to be preliminarily heated through exothermic reactions without a preheating device, by extending the catalyst region to include areas where the reaction fluid is introduced and before it enters the reaction region.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a preheating device is added to heat the reaction fluid to reaction temperature, then the reaction fluid temperature is improved, but the system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the preheating function with the reaction region by extending the catalyst body into the heat medium flow channel. The heat medium flow channel serves dual purposes: as a thermal management channel and as a preheating zone where the reaction fluid is heated by the heat medium before entering the main reaction region. This merging eliminates the need for a separate preheating device.
Solution Approach 2:
The catalyst body is extended upstream into the heat medium flow channel to perform preliminary exothermic reactions before the reaction fluid enters the main reaction region. This preliminary action generates heat in advance, which preheats the reaction fluid, eliminating the need for external preheating equipment.
2Temperature
If the catalyst body is extended into the heat medium flow channel, then the preheating function is achieved, but the reaction region structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The heat medium flow channel is designed to serve multiple functions: thermal management of the reaction region and preheating of the reaction fluid. By making the channel multifunctional, the patent avoids adding separate structures, thereby achieving preheating without significantly increasing structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The catalyst body is selectively extended only into the portion of the heat medium flow channel that is most effective for preheating, rather than uniformly throughout. This localized extension optimizes the preheating function while minimizing the increase in structural complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Eliminates the need for a preheating device, reducing system costs and efficiently raising the reaction fluid temperature to the required level for exothermic reactions.
Implementation Method 1
a catalyst body provided in the first flow channel to promote an exothermic reaction of the reaction fluid
Implementation Method 2
a second flow channel through which a heat medium flows, the second flow channel being stacked parallel to the first flow channel
Data Source
AI summary
In a reactor, a first reference position is presumed to be defined by a straight line in contact with a first open end of the introduction port on the side bent toward the second flow channel and extending in the direction intersecting with the second flow channels, and a second reference position is presumed to be defined by a straight line in contact with a second open end of the introduction port on the opposite side of the first open end and extending in the direction intersecting with the second flow channel. At least part of the catalyst body is provided at least either in a region defined between the first reference position and the second reference position, or in a region defined between the second reference position and an inlet position of the first flow channels.