Countercurrent reactor, for use in oxidative preparation of (meth)acrylic acid, comprising contact tube bundle and having system for improving flow of circulating heat exchange medium

摘要

A reactor includes a bundle of contact tubes, through which a reaction mixture is passed from top to bottom while a heat exchange medium (HEM) is circulated through the space surrounding the tubes. Part of the HEM stream in the lower half of the reactor is fed directly into the intermediate space in the uppermost part of the reactor via a central conduit which widens to a funnel. A reactor includes a bundle of contact tubes, through which a reaction mixture is passed from top to bottom while a heat exchange medium (HEM) is circulated through the space surrounding the tubes. Ring lines are provided at both ends of the reactor. HEM is supplied and removed via jacket openings using pump(s), and HEM (or its partial stream) is optionally passed through external heat exchanger(s). HEM is supplied to the lower ring line and recycled via the upper ring line. Diverting plates are fitted alternately at the middle and sides of the reactor. Part of the HEM stream in the lower half of the reactor is fed directly into the intermediate space in the uppermost part of the reactor via a central conduit which widens to a funnel. Independent claims are also included for three alternative types of reactors: (a) A reactor as previously described where openings are provided in the upper ring line to draw off the HEM stream via the uppermost region of the contact tubes; (b) A reactor as previously described where one or more annular intermediate walls, with openings for HEM in the uppermost region of the contact tube bundle, are provided in the region above the uppermost diverting plate; or (c) A reactor as previously described where the contact tube bundle is formed with one or more tube-free hollow cylindrical intermediate spaces and a static mixer is optionally provided in the intermediate spaces and/or in the tube-free internal space of the reactor.