Process of carrying out reactions in a membrane-type reaction vessel

摘要

A reaction vessel (1) including an oxygen-containing gas chamber (8) separated from a source gas chamber (9) by an oxygen-permeable membrane (3) that allows oxygen selectively to pass therethrough to contact and react with source gas contained in the source gas chamber (9). The ratio of at least one of (i) the volume of the oxygen-containing gas chamber (8) to the total volume of the vessel (1) and (ii) the volume of the source gas chamber (9) to the total volume of the vessel (1), is outside a range within which explosion would occur if the oxygen-containing gas and source gas were allowed to combine directly. Preferably, the ratio also is outside a range within which explosion would occur if the oxygen-containing gas and products resulting from reactions between oxygen supplied through the oxygen-permeable membrane and the source gas were allowed to combine directly. The vessel is safer to operate in that the risk of explosion, due to direct mixing of the gases when the oxygen-permeable membrane (3) is damaged or cracked, is greatly reduced.