(47c) Compact Heat Exchange Reactor for In Process Improvement

Chart has developed a next generation reactor that is very suitable for highly exothermic or endothermic reactions such as Fischer-Tropsch (FT) synthesis or Steam Methane Reforming (SMR). Chart’s Compact Heat Exchange Reactor (CHER) is an advanced technology which combines heat exchanger, mixer, and reactor together in a compact structure. The reactor consists of multiple reaction and cooling layers alternately arranged. Each reaction layer contains multiple mini-channels each in the mm scale size range.

A study of FT synthesis using Chart’s CHER was performed. Mini-channels in this reactor were packed with catalysts provided by Burt Davis’s group at Kentucky University. The reactor was continuously running for three weeks at operating conditions of 220C and 15 bars. The tested reactor was made of aluminum which provides an excellent heat transfer characteristics. The results indicated that the compact heat exchange reactor provided unique features to improve the process efficiency and productivity. One of the significant benefits by using CHER in FT or SMR processes is improved temperature control which allows the reactor to operate efficiently at higher conversions than traditional tubular reactors.