Multiphase Reactor Star Bridge Grounding

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Solution Overview

Problem

In chemical reaction processes, especially those that are endothermic, the use of fired reactors for heating leads to high carbon dioxide emissions, and electrical heating methods face challenges with electrical insulation and potential safety hazards due to unintended current flows through feed and discharge sections.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus using a reactor with reaction tubes connected by an electrically conductive star bridge, powered by a multiphase alternating current source where the star point is not grounded, ensuring no current flow to ground and reducing safety hazards and corrosion risks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If fired reactors are used for heating in chemical reaction processes, then the heating requirement is met, but carbon dioxide emissions increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheating capabilityVSAvoidcarbon dioxide emissions

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical/chemical heating system (fired reactors using combustion) with an electrical heating system. Reaction tubes are electrically heated by passing current through them, substituting the combustion-based thermal field with an electrically generated thermal field, thereby eliminating CO2 emissions from the heating process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Object-generated harmful factors

If electrical heating is used in reactors, then carbon dioxide emissions are reduced, but electrical insulation problems and safety hazards arise due to unintended current flows

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecarbon dioxide emissionsVSAvoidelectrical safety

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-generated harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements equipotentiality by grounding all reaction tubes at their feed and discharge sections. This creates a common potential reference (ground potential) for all tube ends outside the reactor, preventing potential differences that would drive unintended current flows through the process system, thereby ensuring electrical safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #12Equipotentiality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the grounding function from the process system by providing dedicated ground connections at the feed and discharge sections. This separates the electrical safety function (grounding) from the process fluid flow function, allowing independent optimization of both.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Use of energy by moving object

If reaction tubes are electrically heated without proper grounding, then heating efficiency is maintained, but current flows outside the reactor causing damage and safety hazards

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheating efficiencyVSAvoidelectrical damage and safety hazards

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

By grounding all reaction tube ends at feed and discharge sections, the patent establishes a common potential reference that prevents potential differences along the tubes. This eliminates the driving force for current leakage outside the reactor while maintaining the electrical heating function within the tubes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #12Equipotentiality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces ground connections as intermediary elements between the reaction tubes and the earth. These ground connections act as intermediaries that provide a safe path for any stray currents and prevent hazardous potential differences, mediating between the electrical heating system and the process environment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

This configuration effectively reduces carbon dioxide emissions and prevents electrical hazards by ensuring no current flow from feed or discharge sections to ground, enhancing electrical safety and reducing corrosion risks in chemical reaction processes.

Implementation Method 1

Each reaction tube has a number of electrically heatable tube segments

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 2

The tube segments are connected to one another in a current output area by an electrically conductive star bridge

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentUS20230398513A1Device for Conducting a Chemical Reaction in a Process Fluid in a Production Facility

Publication Date: 2023.12.14 LINDE AG

AI summary

An apparatus for carrying out a chemical reaction in a process fluid includes a reactor comprising one or more reaction tubes which have a number of electrically heatable tube segments which are connected to one another by an electrically conductive star bridge, and at least one power source configured to provide a multiphase alternating current with N phases to N phase lines at a predetermined voltage. N is an integer greater than or equal to 2. For each of the at least one power source, a number of power connections is provided, each of which is connected to at least one of the tube segments and to one of the phase lines of the power source. In the at least one power source, a star point is formed at which the phase lines of the power source are connected, wherein the star point is not connected to a ground connection.