DE1667388A1 - Process and device for the production of hydrogen by reacting carbon monoxide with water vapor - Google Patents

Description

BADISCHE ALTILIlI- & SODA-FABRIK AG

Our reference: O.Z. 24 926 Gr / Wst Ludwigshafen / Rhine, June 16, 1967

Method and device for the production of hydrogen by reacting carbon monoxide with water vapor

It is known - in the production of hydrogen by reaction of carbon monoxide with water vapor in the presence of catalysts at normal or elevated pressure in two or more stages to work. The conversion, also known as CO conversion, is usually carried out in vertical, cylindrical reaction ovens, as the catalyst is more easily removed from these can be used as from the also known horizontally arranged ovens. It has proven particularly useful for CO conversion the so-called ring furnace, where the reaction takes place in a vertical, cylindrical reaction chamber in which the catalyst is in one or more vertical, also cylindrical, layers is arranged. The reaction space is mostly in two superimposed Partial spaces by a horizontal one located approximately in the middle of the height of the entire reaction space Split floor. In this process, the transfer of the heat content of the converted is of particular importance or partially converted gas to the fresh gas to be converted to preheat the same. Heat exchangers are used for this mostly with a so-called cooler-saturator system, in

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which the converted or partially converted gas is part of releases its heat and water vapor content to water, with which the gas in a trickle cooler comes into direct contact is brought, and in a saturator in which the fresh gas is sprinkled with the hot circulating water coming from the cooler will. In this process, the partially converted gas leaving the first catalyst layer is passed out of the reaction furnace and wholly or partially passed through an intermediate heat exchanger before it enters the second catalyst layer of the reaction furnace.

This mode of operation has the disadvantage that in the heat exchangers located outside the reactor there is an increased pressure and heat loss occurs. The wall of the reactor and the pipelines are at a high temperature and must therefore insulated on the inside or made of high-alloy steels.

It has now been found that these disadvantages can be avoided,
if the gases to be converted are first placed in the upper part of the reaction space in an inner cavity formed by the installation of a vertical, cylindrical catalyst layer
conducts, from there passes horizontally from the inside to the outside through the cylindrical catalyst layer, cools, collects in the cylindrical outer cavity formed between the wall of the reaction space and the catalyst layer and uses baffles or baffle plates for thorough mixing of the gases in the next conversion stage in the lower part of the reaction space leads.

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Such a process preserves the advantages of the previously known mode of operation with a cross-flow catalyst annulus, but simplified by the wall cooling with considerably reduced stress on the reactor wall on the construction of the reactor in terms of material and thickness. Even with this way of working a quick and simplified catalyst change is possible by switching between the upper and lower catalyst layer a connection is created by suitable drainage devices,

A suitable device for performing this procedure is shown in the figure. The device consists from a vertical, cylindrical reaction furnace in which the catalyst is arranged in a concentric, vertical, annular layer. The reaction space is also horizontally divided into two superimposed sub-rooms. A special feature of this device is a cylindrical one Inner cavity '(1) and an annular outer cavity (3)> which are formed by the installation of the catalyst layer (2) and in which the gases to be converted from the upper subspace (A) Inner cavity ago the catalyst layer in the horizontal direction must wander through before they get into the outer cavity and a cooling device (4) in the upper sub-space (A), , through which the gases are cooled before they pass through suitable baffles and baffle plates (5) on the floor (6) of this sub-space there are arranged to get into the outer cavity of the lower sub-space (3).

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ORIGINAL INSPECTED

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The cooling equipment in this mode of operation, e.g. cooling coils, can both on the inner wall of the reactor and in the inner cavity (1) be arranged. But you can also use the cooling coils within the catalyst layer, e.g. in the outer, part to be located after the annular outer cavity, arrange. Advantages of this wall and internal cooling compared to the previously customary external cooling of the converted or partially converted Gases in an intermediate heat exchanger located outside the reactor are: Low heat and pressure losses as well as simplified equipment design. Also on the one so far required use of high-alloy steels for the construction of the reactor wall and the pipelines or the otherwise required Internal insulation of these parts can be dispensed with.

The catalyst layer can be conveniently arranged in the upper as well as in the lower part of the reactor in such a way that the annular outer cavity (3) into which the gases from the catalyst layer enter is closed on its upper side by a widening of the catalyst layer (7) so that no gas short circuit can occur. The two catalyst layers are separated from each other in a gas-tight manner, with the reaction gases after the first layer, already cooled, via the baffles or baffle plates arranged on the bottom (6) of the upper sub-space, which cause good mixing and heat equalization, into the part of the reactor below , preferably in its outer cavity (3) _s »

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The simplest and. the most advantageous procedure provides that the gases to be converted from the outer cavity of the The upper sub-space A can flow directly into the outer cavity of the lower sub-space B and from there into the inner cavity. The catalyst slides can be found both in the upper part of the reactor and in its lower part in the direction of flow subdivide into sub-layers with catalysts of different composition, different grain size or shape.

The reactor can be used for the two catalyst layers arranged one above the other be provided with facilities for easier pulling and emptying of the catalytic converter, e.g. by using the Catalyst layers are connected by two pipe systems, one of which extends from the bottom of the upper catalyst layer to the one below protruding freely ending, and the other from the ceiling of the lower lying catalyst layer into the overlying one Catalyst layer protrudes ending freely.

The method and the device according to the invention can be used in the production of hydrogen at normal or elevated pressure, for example at a pressure of 1 to 150 atmospheres, and at low or elevated temperatures, for example at 160 to 30O ⁰ C, ie the so-called low temperature Conversion, and at temperatures of 300 to 600 ⁰ C, ie the so-called. High-temperature conversion, are used. The process according to the invention can also be generally used with regard to the origin of the gases to be converted and, moreover, those per se apply to the CO conversion

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ORIGINAL INSPECTED

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known conditions regarding steam / gas ratio, pressure and temperature gradient as well as sales.

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ORIGINAL INSPECTBD

Claims (2)

- 7 - O.Z. 24,926 claims 1. Process for the production of hydrogen by reacting carbon monoxide with water vapor in the presence of catalysts at normal or elevated pressure in two stages in a vertical, cylindrical reaction chamber in which the catalyst is arranged in a vertical, also cylindrical layer and the one in two superimposed layers Subspaces is divided, characterized in that the gases to be converted are first passed in the upper part of the reaction space into the inner cavity formed by the installation of the vertical, cylindrical catalyst layer, from there horizontally from the inside to the outside through the cylindrical catalyst layer, cooled, in which between The cylindrical outer cavity formed on the wall of the reaction space and the catalyst layer collects and leads via baffles or baffles for thorough mixing of the gases into the next reaction stage in the lower part of the reaction space. 2. Apparatus for carrying out the method according to claim 1, consisting of a vertical, cylindrical reaction furnace in which the catalysts are arranged in a concentric, vertical, annular layer and which is horizontally divided into two superimposed partial spaces, characterized by a cylindrical inner cavity (1 ) 109624/1469 ORIGINAL INSPECTlD 8 - O.Z. 24 926 and an annular outer cavity (3) »through the Installation of the catalyst layer (2) are formed and in which in the upper subspace A the gases to be converted from the inner cavity must wander through the catalyst layer in a horizontal direction before they get into the outer cavity, and a cooling device (4) in the upper sub-space (A), through which the gases are cooled before they are passed through suitable ones Baffles (5), which are arranged on the floor (6) of this sub-space, into the outer cavity of the lower sub-space (B) reach. BAOISCHE ANIIIN- & SODA-FABRIK AG Ten. 109824/1469