James P Hester

US Patent:

57595003, Jun 2, 1998

Filed:

Jan 16, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/586415

Inventors:

John Byron Garner - Newark DE
James Olden Hester - Victoria TX
Geoffry Wallar Smith - Elkton MD

Assignee:

E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company - Wilmington DE

International Classification:

B01J 800

US Classification:

422201

Abstract:

A fluid-reactor, heat exchange device and method of reacting a fluid in the device. The device embodies a bundle of heat-exchange tubes mounted internally of an elongated reactor shell to a stationary tubesheet attached to the reactor shell near one end of the shell. The heat-exchange tubes are also mounted to a floating tubesheet which is located near the other end of the shell. Attached to the floating tubesheet is a catalyst basket which when the device is in operation will contain catalyst. The catalyst is supported in the basket, and the fluid to be reacted will enter the shell near the point of attachment to the stationary tubesheet, where it will contact the heat exchange tubes. The fluid will flow along the outside of the tubes and into the catalyst basket where it will contact the catalyst and react. The fluid will then pass into the heat exchange tubes and finally be removed from the device near the end of the reactor where it was introduced.