Reactor Temperature Control via Makeup Water Preheating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current reactor designs for oligomerization processes face challenges in achieving isothermal operation due to temperature differences between the water exiting and entering the steam drum, leading to inefficient heat transfer and difficulties in maintaining consistent reactor temperatures across multiple reactors.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves connecting the makeup water conduit and the circulating fluid conduit into the same phase of the steam drum, either both entering as vapor above the liquid level or both entering as liquid, to ensure that the water/steam exiting the reactor preheats the makeup water before it enters the drum, thereby maintaining isothermal conditions and optimizing heat transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If water/steam exits the reactor and enters the steam drum, then heat transfer occurs, but temperature difference between exiting and entering water causes inefficient heat transfer and difficulty in achieving isothermal operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by preheating the makeup water using the hot water/steam stream from the reactor before it enters the steam drum. This preliminary heating of the makeup water reduces the temperature difference between the water exiting and entering the reactor, thereby improving heat transfer efficiency and enabling closer approach to isothermal operation without requiring external preheating systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the makeup water inlet with the circulating water/steam stream by connecting the makeup water conduit to the first conduit (carrying water/steam from reactor to drum). This merging allows the makeup water to be heated by the hot stream before entering the drum, eliminating the need for separate external preheating equipment and improving overall heat transfer efficiency
2Temperature
If external preheating is used to heat makeup water, then temperature consistency improves, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies self-service by using its own hot water/steam stream to preheat the makeup water automatically. The hot stream from the reactor serves dual purposes: maintaining reactor temperature and preheating incoming makeup water. This eliminates the need for external preheating systems, reducing device complexity and operational costs while maintaining temperature consistency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies multi-functionality by making the water/steam stream serve multiple functions: (1) heat transfer medium in the reactor, (2) preheating medium for makeup water, and (3) temperature control mechanism. This universal use of the water/steam stream eliminates the need for separate external preheating equipment, reducing system 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
This approach allows for more efficient heat transfer and closer achievement of isothermal operation, reducing the need for external preheating and enabling simultaneous isothermal operation across multiple reactors, thus improving the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the process.
Implementation Method 1
the water/steam exiting the reactor preheats the makeup water before it enters the drum
Implementation Method 2
optimizing heat transfer
Implementation Method 3
Some of the large exothermic heat of reaction may be absorbed by heating up the reactants
Implementation Method 4
The shell side typically contains a circulating heat exchange fluid
Implementation Method 5
it is often preferred to select this fluid such that shell-side conditions can be applied under which the selected fluid at least partly evaporates
Implementation Method 6
water/steam because inter alia water is readily available, the temperature of the reactor can be controlled by controlling steam pressure
Data Source
AI summary
The invention is directed to a reactor system comprising at least one reactor wherein makeup water for said system is preheated by water/steam exiting said reactor. In a preferred embodiment the system comprises plural reactors and the invention provides for each reactor to independently achieve isothermal operating conditions.