PROCESS AND STRUCTURE FOR EFFECTING CATALYTIC REACTIONS IN DISTILLATION STRUCTURE

摘要

A concurrent catalytic reaction with distillation struc- ture comprises a plurality of vapor permeable plates (14, 16) which are arranged in spaced apart relationship with a catalyst (24) placed in the open space between two adjacent plates. The catalyst filled area (22) presents a reaction zone where catalytic reaction can take place and the vapor permeable plates present a large surface area for vapor and liquid phase exchange. The invention also encompasses a process for concurrent catalytic reaction with distillation employing structure as afo- redescribed and including the steps of feeding a liquid stream to a column employing such structure and directing the stream through the catalytic reaction zone while concurrently distilling a portion of the liquid to present a vapor stream which is directed in countercur- rent relationship to the liquid stream flow.