THERMOSYPHONIC REACTION OF OXYGEN WITH ISOBUTANE AND REACTOR

摘要

THERMOSYPHONIC REACTION OF OXYGEN WITH ISOBUTANE AND REACTOR (Docket No. 80,805-F) A method and apparatus for continuously conducting an exothermic chemical reaction between a reactant feedstock such as isobutane and a chemical reactant such as oxygen wherein a circulating stream of the reaction mixture continuously flows up an upstanding draft tube coaxially mounted in a closed upstanding cylindrical reactor and then down the annulus between the cylindrical reactor and the draft tube to establish circulatory motion, and wherein the circulatory motion is thermosyphonically maintained by charging oxygen adjacent the bottom of the draft tube for exothermal reaction with isobutane in the draft tube to thereby heat the upflowing circulating stream, wherein a stream of cold isobutane is continuously introduced adjacent the top of the annulus to cool the circulating stream by direct heat exchange contact, wherein indirect heat exchange cooling coils are provided in the annulus adjacent the top thereof for further cooling the downflowing circulating stream and wherein a discharge line is provided at the top of the reactor for continuously removing a discharge stream from the reactor.