INTER-BED MIXING IN FIXED BED REACTORS

摘要

A stator-type mixing device is used as a mixing device between fixed catalyst beds in a reactor. The mixing device includes a plurality of blades or surfaces arranged around a central hub. The blades are arranged at an angle relative to vertical so that a fluid cannot pass vertically through the mixing device without contacting at least one blade or surface. The blades or surfaces allow the stator-type mixing device to span the full cross-sectional surface area of the reactor, so that concentration of liquids in a localized portion of the reactor cross-sectional area is reduced or minimized. For reactors where at least part of the process fluid is a liquid under reaction conditions, a distributor tray can be included below the stator-type mixing device.

主权项

1. A reactor for exposing a reaction fluid to catalyst in a plurality of fixed. catalyst beds, comprising:
at least one reactor inlet and at least one reactor outlet; a first catalyst bed and a second catalyst bed, the second catalyst bed being downstream from the first catalyst bed during operation of the reactor; and a mixing device located between the first catalyst bed and the second catalyst bed, the mixing device comprising a plurality blades attached to a central hub, the blades being oriented at an angle of from about 15° to about 75° relative to a reference axis of the mixing device, a cross sectional area of the mixing device being at least about 85% of a cross sectional area of the reactor, wherein a ratio of a minimum path length for the mixing device to the height of the mixing device is about 4.0:1 or less.