Process heat exchanger - contg. free-running catalyst, for easy exchange and internally heated tube nests

摘要

Process heat exchanger consists of a pressure-tight tank, filled with a catalyst material, and a nest of tubes which can be heated from the inside. The catalyst is free-running; and can be admitted through an inlet at the top and discharged through an outlet at the bottom of the tank. Efficient heat transfer from the heating fluid to the process gas is achieved. Spent catalyst material can be simply exchanged, without interrupting the heating fluid circuit. The overall plant height is half that of a conventional cracked gas furnace. Device is used for cracking a mixture of methane and steam into hydrogen and carbon monoxide, using Ni2O3 as the catalyst.