CATALYTIC REACTOR

摘要

A catalytic reactor (10) comprises a stack of sheets (12) defining flow channels (14) between them. Within each flow channel (14) is a flexible wire structure (16) whose surfaces are coated with catalytic material. Flow channels (14, 14a) for a first gas extend along S-shaped curved paths whereas the flow channels (14b) for a second gas are straight. The reactor (10) incorporates header chambers (18) to supply gas mixtures to the flow channels (14), each header chamber being a square cap attached to a face of the stack. The reactor (10) enables different gas mixtures to be supplied to adjacent channels (14), which may be at different pressures, and the corresponding chemical reactions are also different. Where one of the reactions is endothermic while the other reaction is exothermic, heat is transferred through the sheets (12) separating the adjacent channels (14), from the exothermic reaction to the endothermic reaction. When the catalyst in one set of flow channels becomes spent, it can be replaced by removing a header (18). The reactor (10) may be used in a compact plant to perform steam/methane reforming, obtaining the necessary heat by catalytic methane combustion, and also for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, so that the overall process involves conversion of methane to long-chain hydrocarbons.