Mixer/flow distributors

摘要

The invention relates mixer/flow distributors and their use, e.g., in regenerative reactors. The invention encompasses a process and apparatus for controlling oxidation, e.g., for thermally regenerating a reactor, such as a regenerative, reverse-flow reactor.

主权项

1. A regeneration method, comprising:
(a) conducting fuel through at least one first conduit and oxidant through at least one second conduit, the first and second conduits being located in a recuperation zone of a reactor system; (b) combining and reacting at least a portion of the fuel with at least a portion of the oxidant in a mixing-distributing zone to produce heat and a first reaction product, the mixing-distributing zone being located (i) in the reactor system and (ii) downstream of the recuperation zone and upstream of a reaction zone, the mixing-distributing zone comprising a mixer-distributor having a Maldistribution ≦15.0%, a pressure drop ≦0.3 bar, and a combined fuel-oxidant flow rate ≧10.0 kg/hr; and (c) conducting the reaction product through the reaction zone and transferring at least a portion of the heat from the reaction product to the reaction zone;wherein
(A)the mixer-distributor comprises a plurality of first orifices in a first location; at least one second orifice at a second location, the first location being upstream of the second location with respect to the fuel-oxidant flow; and a fuel-oxidant flow preventer for preventing fuel-oxidant flow through the mixer-distributor except via the orifices, the fuel-oxidant flow preventer comprising a first plate proximate to the first location and a second plate proximate to the second location, the first orifices being perforations in the first plate and the second orifice being a perforation in the second plate, wherein the number of orifices at the first location is greater than the number of orifices at the second location; (B) (i) the first and second plates are of substantially circular cross-section;
(ii) the first plate has a cross-sectional area Ap1 and the second plate has a cross-sectional area Ap2, Ap1 being within +/−10.0% of Ap2;(iii) the first plate has a cross-sectional area of the plurality of orifices Ahl and the second plate has a cross-sectional area of the substantially-centered orifice Ah2, Ah1 being within +/−10.0% Ah2,(iv) Ap1≦2.0 Ah1; (v) the first plate has a thickness Tp1 and the second plate has a thickness Tp2, Tp1 and Tp2 are each ≦0.5·Dp, where Dp is the effective plate diameter; and(vi) a distance between the downstream face of first plate and the upstream face of second plate Sp1-p2 is in the range of 0.25·Sb to 5.0·Sb, where Sb equals Ah1 divided by the perimeter of plate 1; and (C) the mixer-distributor further comprises third, fourth, and fifth perforated plates of substantially circular cross-section, the fifth plate being upstream of the first plate, the third plate being downstream of the second plate, and the fourth plate being downstream of the third plate, wherein
(i) the fifth plate has a number of perforations in the range of 3 to 6 times the number of perforations in the first plate, a cross-sectional area Ap5 being within +/−10.0% of Ap, a cross-sectional area of the plurality of orifices Ah5 being within +/−10.0% of Ah1, a thickness Tp5 being within +/−10.0% of Tp1, and a distance between the downstream face of fifth plate and the upstream face of first plate Sp5-p1 being within +/−10.0% of Sp1-p2;(ii) the third plate has substantially the same number of perforations as the first plate, with a cross-sectional area Ap3 being within +/−10.0% of Ap1, a cross-sectional area of the plurality of orifices Ah3 being within +/−10.0% of Ah1, a thickness Tp3 being within +/−10.0% of Tp1, and a distance between the downstream face of second plate and the upstream face of third plate Sp2-p3 being within +/−10.0% of Sp1-p2; and(iii) the fourth plate has substantially the same number of perforations as the fifth plate, with a cross-sectional area Ap4 being within +/−10.0% of Ap1, a cross-sectional area of the plurality of orifices Ah4 being within +/−10.0% of Ah1, a thickness Tp4 being within +/− 10.0% of Tp1, and a distance between the downstream face of third plate and the upstream face of fourth plate Sp3-p4 being within +/−10.0% of Sp1-p2.