Richard A Bauman

US Patent:

7096931, Aug 29, 2006

Filed:

Jun 8, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/877610

Inventors:

Min Chang - McLean VA, US
Richard Frank Bauman - Bellingham WA, US

Assignee:

ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company - Annandale NJ

International Classification:

F28F 13/18
F28F 19/02
F28F 9/04
F28F 1/36
F28F 1/14

US Classification:

165133, 165 803, 16510416, 165163, 165111, 165113, 165117, 165177, 165179, 165183, 165184, 165185, 422146, 422173, 422175

Abstract:

Ribbed heat exchange tubes in which the aspect ratio of the ribs is less than 5, provide greater indirect heat exchange than conventional heat exchange tubes with or without fins, when used in a slurry comprising a liquid phase, in which is dispersed flowing gas bubbles or particulate solids and flowing gas bubbles. The ribs, and typically also the longitudinal axis of the heat exchange tubes, are aligned in a direction parallel to, or spirally along the gas bubble flow direction. This is useful to increase either (i) the productivity of a slurry Fischer-Tropsch hydrocarbon synthesis reactor without an increase in the temperature in the reactor or (ii) increasing the production of higher molecular weight hydrocarbons by reducing the reaction temperature at a given feed conversion.